Authentic Buckwheat and the Civil War.

[major bill]

I ate sabo noodles a couple of days ago. Sabo is made from buckwheat and sabo is probably the only buckwheat I eat. However buckwheat was popular in America before and during the Civil War. The use of buckwheat declined in America in the twentieth century.

Buckwheat is not related to wheat and isn't even a cereal grain type plant. Buckwheat was one of the first or perhaps the first domesticated plant. It came to North America in the 1600s. Both Washington and Jefferson had buckwheat fields.

So now that we have a little background on buckwheat, how was buckwheat used during the Civil War? Anyone want to share an authentic Civil War buckwheat recipe?

 

[donna]

I always enjoyed buckwheat pancakes. Will have to look for some old recipes. Maybe some others have some to add.

 

[Elliot Crumblemuffin]

One of my favorite things to do while in Kingwood W.V. was go to the Down Home Diner for buckwheat panackes. I'm sure if Civil War era folks ate buckwheat pancakes they enjoyed them as much as I did

 

[donna]

Both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson loved pancakes. They would probably been from buckwheat. Both had fields of buckwheat at their homes. It is written Thomas Jefferson had a special recipe for pancakes. He had it at White House and had sent home to Monticello. I am researching on old recipe. Have found a few newer ones. They write they based on older ones.

 

[major bill]

Today Russians eat the most Buckwheat. I am not sure this was true at the time of the Civil War. Anyway, while there were limited numbers of Russian immigrants during the Civil War era, I wonder if they brought over some Russian recipes.

 

[major bill]

I assume that most Northern and Southern soldiers knew what buckwheat was and had likely eaten buckwheat pancakes or buckwheat cakes. Buckwheat was a good cover crop. It can grow in marginal or damp soil. Because of its fast maturity it was grown when a crop failure occured. Buckwheat was sometimes planted to keep down weeds where early vegetables had been harvested. Cattle can be grazed in buckwheat fields, but usually not horses.

 

[KianGaf]

I've tried buckwheat in the past. I think it was in Poland, it's not bad but I'd prefer bulgar wheat.

 

[7thWisconsin]

Buckwheat honey is dark and strongly flavored. It was used like molassas.