Wheat

THE HISTORY OF WHEAT  
(Triticum)

The history of modern western civilization would not have been possible without the cultivation of wheat.

Ancient wheat held its seeds tightly in the glumes making handpicking
 the seeds a hard and a tedious job.

Ten thousand years ago ancient people in Asia began to farm 'wild emmer' wheat in the area known as 'The Fertile Crescent' which includes Turkey. This was a major step forward for the 'origins of agriculture' but it was hard to release the seeds from the tightly enclosed glumes which encased the grains so it had to be handpicked, a slow and tedious process.  Emmer wheat is no longer in widespread use.

Early in human history people learned they could hybridize plants to
achieve their desired results.    

Five thousand years ago humans, most likely women* who did the farming, cultivated a wheat with softer glumes. This made it possible to harvest the grains by 'threshing'. Threshing enabled people to gather the grains by beating the wheat with sticks, making the process much faster. This new food source permitted tribes to settle in one area, farm and build villages, towns and eventually cities. This discovery marks the beginning of modern western civilization.

Women would plant and tend the fields but often the entire community would join together
to harvest and store the grains for winter.

In the modern era with the introduction of many other food sources from around the globe, wheat is the second most widely grown crop in the world (rice being number one and corn number three). There are over fifty thousand cultivars of wheat in existence. Different varieties of wheat are used to make bread, pasta, cakes and pastries. Wheat is also used to make couscous, beer, vodka and bio-fuel.

Although advancement was slow in agriculture, iron plows and horse drawn equipment
keep progress moving until the beginning of the 1900's.

Wheat is a member of the grass family. Humans cannot digest raw grass like many animals do but we do eat other parts such as the seeds. Today there are about ten thousand species of grasses worldwide. Other grasses we consume include rice, corn, sugar cane, oats, rye, millet and others.

Today many cultures and poor countries still depend on manpower
to grow and harvest the grains the eat.  

Today in America wheat is highly controversial because it contains a protein called gluten, which can trigger a harmful immune response in predisposed individuals.   However, for people who tolerate it, wheat especially whole grain wheat, can be a rich source of various antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

Today a modern, million dollar gluten free industry has developed.  For most non allergic Americans, wheat has many nutritional and digestive benefit.

Whole grain wheat is much higher in nutritional value and dietary fiber than processed wheat. The process to make white flour removes most of the positive nutritional value of the grain.

Wheat is the second most cultivated product in the world today
(rice is number one and corn is number three).

Throughout the history of Western civilization the fortunes of powerful empires depended greatly on the annual harvest of wheat. Today we take it for granted. Something to be thankful for as we celebrate the holiday season. 

For flavor, texture and nutritional value wheat deserves its place on the American table.
My mantra is "Everything in moderation".

*Scientist believe that woman also created language elevating human existence forever.

Enjoy The Holiday Season,

   James