Whole Grains are the Healthy Choice

Cooking & Baking

All BKW flour and berries are whole grain. Heritage grains are different from many of today’s modern grains. Baking with whole grain flour is different from using refined flour that has had the bran and germ removed. If you use recipes designed for modern grains or have been using refined flour, you may find that they need to be modified to achieve your desired result.

From Seed to Harvest

BKW Farms is committed to using organic methods to grow food and protect the environment. BKW has 294 acres of organic fields which are currently being used to grow heritage and modern varieties of wheat. As the demand for these grains grows, BKW can add more acreage to our organic program.

Heritage/Modern Grains

Every year, BKW plants several different kinds of wheat and other grains — both heritage and modern varieties — each having its own unique flavor, texture, color, and uses. After each harvest, BKW sends our grains to a laboratory to be tested for the constituents the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires on nutritional labels. Each package of BKW organic grain has a nutritional label.

Heritage Grains

White Sonora Wheat

A heritage grain brought to the southwestern United States in the 1600’s. White Sonora is a soft, low protein wheat that is excellent for pastries, tortillas, and pie crust.

Khorasan Wheat

An ancient grain type; Khorasan refers to a historical region in modern-day Afghanistan and the northeast of Iran. This grain is twice the size of modern-day wheat and is known for its rich nutty flavor.

Red Fife Wheat

Landrace wheat originating from Canada in the mid-1800’s. Excellent bread flour imparting a dark red hue to baked goods with a unique local flavor.

Modern Grains

The research and development initiatives of the Green Revolution (1930s–1960s) led to the creation of high-yield grain varieties that reflect the changes in agricultural practices, economics, and world food needs.

Durum Wheat

Durum is favored for pasta and semolina. Most Durum grown today is amber durum; the grains are amber-colored and larger than most other types of wheat. Durum has a yellow endosperm which gives pasta its color.

Hard Red Wheat

Hard, reddish, high-protein wheat used for bread and baked goods. Bread flour and high-gluten flours are commonly made from Hard Red Wheat which is also known as Bread Wheat.

Things to Know about White Sonora Wheat

Introduced to the American Southwest in the mid-1600s by missionaries, this heritage grain had almost gone out of production by the 1960s. Today, it is once again recognized for its superior culinary qualities. Higher in fiber than many modern grains, White Sonora adds a golden color to baked goods and cooking broth. It has become highly prized by bakers and brewers for its sweet, earthy flavor, the nutty texture of its flour, and its fermentation and malting properties. Recipes created for use with modern wheat varieties or refined flour may require modification to achieve the desired qualities.

Ways to Use White Sonora Wheat Berries

Add cooked wheat berries to soups and stews just before serving
Use cooked wheat berries instead of pasta or quinoa in salads
Serve cooked wheat berries topped with marinara or alfredo sauce
Eat cooked wheat berries as hot cereal with milk and honey
Mill uncooked wheat berries into flour

Visit these websites

For more resources on cooking and baking with heritage and whole grains:

White Sonora Wheat Berry Cooking Instructions

Rinse. Rinse 1 cup of dry wheat berries in cold water several times to remove grit and chaff.
Cook on the stovetop. Transfer the wheat berries into a sauce pan and add 3 cups of liquid (water and/or broth) and a big pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, and cover the pan. Add more hot water as needed.
Check for doneness. After about 30 minutes, the berries should be chewy, but not tough. If not quite done, continue cooking and check the berries every 5 minutes.
Drain. Drain the berries and transfer to a bowl. Toss with a splash of olive oil and a pinch of salt.
Store in refrigerator. Cooked wheat berries can be refrigerated in a tightly covered container for up to a week.