Uvelka — Green Buckwheat, Extra Grade (Гречка зелёная)

The pale, unroasted cousin of Russia's beloved buckwheat — milder, lighter, and still alive enough to sprout.

RUSSIA   ·   UVELKA   ·   450 g

What it is

Green buckwheat is the same kernel as the brown buckwheat Russian and Eastern European pantries are built around — only without the kilning step that gives the standard grain its toasty colour and flavour. The result is a pale jade-green kernel with a milder, almost-sweet taste and one important difference from the roasted version: it is still alive, which means it sprouts.

"Extra" grade means first-grade calibrated kernels: clean, uniform, no broken or dark seeds. Packed by Uvelka, the long-running Chelyabinsk-region grain house. Naturally gluten-free, popular with raw-food cooks and anyone who likes a lighter alternative to standard buckwheat.

Two ways to use it

Cook it. Rinse the grain under cold water. Combine 1 part buckwheat to 2 parts water in a heavy pot, add a pinch of salt, bring to a boil, then cover and simmer on the lowest heat for about 15 minutes, until the water is absorbed. Take off the heat, leave covered for 5–10 minutes, then fluff and stir in a knob of butter. Lighter and more delicate than roasted buckwheat — try it under stewed fruit or with sautéed mushrooms.

Sprout it. Rinse the grain thoroughly. Soak in plenty of cold water overnight (6–8 hours), then drain and rinse. Spread loosely in a glass jar or tray, cover with a piece of muslin, and rinse twice a day for 1–2 days until small white tails appear. Eat raw in salads, smoothies or grain bowls.

Composition

100% green buckwheat groats (зелёная гречневая ядрица), Extra grade. Single ingredient, unroasted, nothing added.

Per manufacturer (Uvelka, ООО «Ресурс»).

Nutrition (per 100 g, dry)

Manufacturer values — actual figures on the pack are definitive.

Allergens & storage

Allergens: none of the 14 statutory allergens. Buckwheat is naturally gluten-free — though if you are coeliac please check the pack for any "may contain" notice from shared facilities.

Store in a cool, dry place. Once opened, transfer to an airtight jar — green buckwheat is more delicate than the roasted version and goes off faster. Shelf life approximately 12 months from the date on the pack.

Net weight: 450 g  ·  Packed by: Uvelka (ООО «Ресурс»), Chelyabinsk Region, Russia

A quieter, more flexible buckwheat — eat it cooked, eat it raw, both work.