Organic Spelt Berries
From Oberkulmer Spelt which is grown on the farm
Available at the September 2024 Pickup
Oberkulmer Spelt is an old Swiss landrace, a pure spelt with no modern wheat genetics.
Higher than wheat in protein, minerals and vitamins.
Spelt berries have a chewy texture and nutty sweet flavor.
Organic Oberkulmer Spelt Berries
Use them as a hot cereal , in a salad or in place of rice for pilaf or soup.
A great way to add a tasty ancient grain to your diet.
2lbs* ($6.16 ); 5lbs* ($12.22)
Limited to 5lbs/person/order
* 2 and 5 pound bags are packaged in re-sealable bags .
Weatherbury Farm’s Spelt Berries are unique — they are traceable back to the field where they were grown!
Harvesting Oberkulmer Spelt at Weatherbury Farm
Weatherbury’s Spelt Tracker traces the Oberkulmer Spelt Berries back to the field where they were grown, here at Weatherbury Farm.
Weatherbury Farm is one of a handful of farms that produces local organic grain berries. But we take it a step further and provide, through our grain tracker, complete traceability — information & pictures of how, when, and where the grain was grown.
When you serve Weatherbury’s Spelt Berries either as a delicious hot cereal or use them as rice or in making soups, salads etc., you can pull out your cell phone and click on Weatherbury’s Oberkulmer Spelt Tracker and let folks see the spelt in the field.
Using Weatherbury Oberkulmer Spelt Berries
Cooked Spelt Berries
Weatherbury’s spelt berries offers a new dimension for breakfast and for use in other recipes. You’ll enjoy their nutty sweet flavor and chewy texture.
The terrior of the soil gives our spelt berries their wonderful flavor.
How to substitute Weatherbury Spelt Berries in your own recipes
Spelt berries can be used in any recipe calling for wheat berries or farro.
They make an healthy overnight breakfast cereal (as they have been used since ancient times), and can be cooked like rice or risotto for a recipe or used in a salad.
When you use Weatherbury’s Spelt Berries as a breakfast cereal, in a salad or in baked goods, you are sure to get comments about their great flavor. You needn’t tell the family that they are how nourishing they are.
Health Benefits of Spelt
Organic Oberkulmer Spelt Berries
Oberkulmer Spelt, a Swiss landrace with no wheat genetics; it has not been hybridized as many newer spelt varieties have been.
Spelt is one of the healthiest foods. Prized for its superior nutrition, spelt is higher than wheat in protein, minerals and vitamins and lower in calories than wheat. It is gentle for the whole digestive tract and strengthens your immune system and your nerves. With a gluten entirely different from wheat, spelt imparts a nutty flavor.
Nutrient rich, spelt contains all nine amino acids essential to human health. It also has significant levels of B-complex vitamins, vitamin E, vitamin K, copper, manganese, potassium, iron, zinc, niacin, phosphorous, and selenium. Spelt is low in sodium, saturated fat and cholesterol and is a good source of fiber.
And best of all, it tastes great.
Storing Spelt Berries
There are no preservatives in our spelt berries. Please refrigerate. If you will not be using the spelt berries immediately, please store in the freezer especially in warm weather.
More Information about Oberkulmer Spelt Berries
History of Spelt
Spelt in the hull (left) and dehulled spelt berries
Spelt is one of the three ancient grains. (Weatherbury Farm also grows the other two, einkorn and emmer.)
According to Greek mythology, spelt is a gift from the goddess of harvest, Demeter (when you taste it, you will no doubt agree). Mentioned in the bible (Exodus 9:32, Isaiah 28:25 & Ezekiel 4:9), cultivation of spelt goes back thousands of years to the Bronze Age. Estimates are that it was cultivated in the fertile crescent starting between 9000 and 5000 years ago.
Spelt remained a staple crop in Europe through the end of the 19th century. St. Hildegard (1098-1179) of Bingen (Germany) extolled spelt’s virtues. Today it is most widely used in Germany where it is known as “Dinkel” and Italy, “Farro Grande.”
Spelt arrived in the United States in the late 1800s, but common wheat replaced it in the 20th century. Recently, however, the artisanal and organic movements have revived interest in spelt, not only because it is nutritious, but because of its lovely flavor.
Oberkulmer Spelt, a Swiss landrace, has not been crossed with wheat and is recognized for its high genetic purity. Spelt that has been crossed with wheat has higher yields but raises the question if the characteristics of ancient spelt are present in these varieties.
Oberkulmer Rotkorn (its full German name) was collected and distributed under the auspices of Dr. Peter Franck (PZO Pflanzenzucht Oberlimpurg).
Spelt — the grain
Dehulling Spelt with Farmer Nigel’s dehuuler
Spelt (Triticum aestivum var. spelta) is a member of the wheat family but has a hard outer hull that protects it from the weather and from insects in storage. Unlike wheat, the hull is not removed during harvest and needs to be removed before it can be milled. Luckily for Weatherbury Farm, Farmer Nigel has built a spelt dehuller to do this job.
As a member of the wheat family, Spelt does have gluten (which can be likened to a glue that holds food together) but spelt’s gluten is different from the gluten in wheat. Gluten, a complex protein, has two parts – gliadin, which gives dough stretchiness and glutentin that provides elasticity and structure. In wheat, these two simpler proteins are in balance; however, spelt has a higher gliadin to glutenin ration.
Some people who have a wheat allergy or gluten sensitivity report that they are able to eat spelt berries. However, people with gluten allergies, gluten intolerance or celiac disease should not use them.
Other spelt products available from Weatherbury Farm:
Other grain berries available from Weatherbury Farm:
References:
- Boswell, James The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D, 1791