Give Up Putin

On this Shrove Tuesday, we’re reflecting on the forthcoming Lent by shining some light on the humble Buckwheat plant & who produces it. Originating from Asia, this pseudo-cereal has many characteristics of wheat but is missing the gluten gene, fortunately offering a welcome relief for many when digesting. Fagopyrum is nutritious & grown from May to October, first gaining popularity when winter wheat crops failed, as a versatile alternative.

In the UK, buckwheat is massively underused, we import 99% from eastern Europe & central Asia. It comes in many forms: nutty kernels are great for toasting to make tea, or puffed up in salads or crushed for condiments like gomasio. Bees produce amazing honey, & the flour is widely used in pancakes, biscuits, pasta & snacks. In Brittany they have mastered distilling it for whiskey, & I’ve now discovered it in bars of chocolate.

Breton Buckwheat has protected geographical status, but despite farming it for over 500 years the French still need to import 60% to satisfy local demands. China & Russia produce a third each of the world’s supply & the next largest producer is the Ukraine with 11%. The yellow of the Ukrainian flag represents fields of wheat or sunflowers.

We cannot begin to comprehend what life must now be like as the terrifying crisis unfolds across the farmlands of the Ukraine. Tanks, instead of tractors, ploughing up fields of death & destruction. Let’s pause to think about the farming communities snared in this tragic war, who work so hard to cultivate such beautiful crops. Please buy & try some buckwheat produce from your local store, there’s a good chance it will benefit a Ukrainian or Russian farmer, for this is not their war, this is Putin’s War. Let’s pray the people of Russia permanently give up Putin during Lent.