Why choose spelt flour?

Spelt, or “dinkel” is from the wheat family, but it is generally considered to be much softer and gentler on the digestive system than wheat. Spelt differs from wheat in that it has only 28 chromosomes compared to wheat’s 42. This means that although it has as much gluten as wheat, spelt has a different type of gluten which is more fragile and water-soluble. The high-water solubility of spelt enables the nutrients to be absorbed more easily by the body. Because spelt is more easily digested than wheat, it doesn’t cause the bloating or skin rashes from which many people who are sensitive to wheat suffer. As a result, those who are gluten-sensitive are better able to tolerate spelt, substituting spelt for wheat in breads, and general baking.

Spelt is an ancient grain that was popular in the Middle Ages, especially in Europe, and had spread to Britain by 500BC. Its popularity grew because, unlike wheat and other grains, it is husked and therefore adapts better to cold climates and survives storage better. It's husks, or hulls, enable it to tolerate damp, heavy soil. By the 1890s, spelt was introduced to America, but was largely replaced by Durum wheat in the 1900s. However, during the organic farming revival in the late 20th century, spelt recovered popularity because it requires less fertilizer and sprays than wheat. Spelt doesn’t need insecticides and other sprays in order to grow well, as its sturdy husks, or hulls, protect the grain from pollutants and insects. 

Spelt 10 to 25% higher in protein than wheat, and richer in the B vitamins and in fibre than wheat. As well as many vitamins, spelt contains a broad spectrum of minerals, including manganese, calcium, iron and phosphorous, and also specialized carbohydrates (called Mucoploysaccharides) that are essential for blood clotting and stimulating the immune system of the body.

Information Source: Organic Flour Mills, Manawatu supplers of freshly harvested, locally grown, certified organic Manawatu spelt flour. @organicflourmills https://organicflourmills.nz
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