Spelt
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Poales Family: Poaceae Genus: Triticum Species: T. Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. The flowering plants or angiosperms ( Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta) are the most widespread group Liliopsida is a Botanical name for the class containing the family Liliaceae (or Lily Family Poales is an order of Flowering plants in the Monocotyledons and includes families of plants such as the grasses, Bromeliads, Poaceae or Gramineae is a family in the Class Liliopsida of the flowering plants. Wheat ( Triticum spp is a worldwide cultivated grass from the Levant area of the Middle East. spelta
Binomial name
Triticum spelta L.

Spelt (Triticum spelta) is a hexaploid species of wheat. Carl Linnaeus (Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as, May 23 new style (13 May old style 1707 who laid the foundations for Polyploidy occurs in cells and Organisms when there are more than two homologous sets of Chromosomes. Wheat ( Triticum spp is a worldwide cultivated grass from the Levant area of the Middle East. Spelt was an important staple in parts of Europe from the Bronze Age to medieval times; it now survives as a relict crop in Central Europe and has found a new market as a health food. The term relict is used to refer to surviving remnants of natural phenomena Central Europe is the Region lying between the variously and vaguely defined areas of Eastern and Spelt is sometimes considered a subspecies of the closely related species common wheat (T. Common wheat, Triticum aestivum, (also known as bread wheat) is a cultivated wheat species aestivum), in which case its botanical name is considered to be Triticum aestivum subsp. spelta.

Evolution

Spelt has a complex history. It is a hexaploid wheat species known from genetic evidence to have originated as a hybrid of a domesticated tetraploid wheat such as emmer wheat and the wild goat-grass Aegilops tauschii. Polyploidy occurs in cells and Organisms when there are more than two homologous sets of Chromosomes. Wheat ( Triticum spp is a worldwide cultivated grass from the Levant area of the Middle East. In Biology, hybrid has two meanings The first meaning is the result of interbreeding between two animals or plants of different taxa. Polyploidy occurs in cells and Organisms when there are more than two homologous sets of Chromosomes. Emmer wheat ( Triticum dicoccon) also known as farro especially in Italy is a low yielding awned Wheat. Aegilops cylindrica is a species of grass known by the common name jointed goatgrass. This hybridization must have taken place in the Near East because this is where Ae. tauschii grows, and it must have taken place prior to the appearance of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum, a hexaploid free-threshing derivative of spelt) in the archaeological record c. Common wheat, Triticum aestivum, (also known as bread wheat) is a cultivated wheat species The archaeological record is a term used in Archaeology to denote all archaeological evidence, including the physical remains of past human activities which Archaeologists 8000 years ago.

Genetic evidence shows that spelt wheat can also arise as the result of hybridization of bread wheat and emmer wheat, although only at some date following the initial Aegilops-tetraploid wheat hybridisation. The much later appearance of spelt in Europe might thus be the result of a later, second, hybridization event between emmer and bread wheat. Recent DNA evidence supports an independent origin for European spelt, through this hybridization. ^[1] However whether spelt has two separate origins in Asia and Europe, or single origin in the Near East, is currently unresolved. ^[2][3]

Early history

The earliest archaeological evidence of spelt is from the fifth millennium BC in Transcaucasia, north of the Black Sea. The South Caucasus is a mountainous geopolitical area of south-central Eurasia, also referred to as Transcaucasia, or The Transcaucasus. However, the most abundant and best-documented archaeological evidence of spelt is in Europe. ^[4] Remains of spelt have been found in some later Neolithic sites (2500 - 1700 BC) in Central Europe. ^[5][6] During the Bronze Age, spelt spread widely in central Europe. In the Iron Age (750-15 BC), spelt became a principal wheat species in southern Germany and Switzerland, and by 500 BC also in southern Britain. ^[7]

References to the cultivation of spelt wheat in Biblical times (see matzo), in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, and in ancient Greece, are incorrect, and result from confusion with emmer wheat. Matza (also Matzah, Matzoh, or Matsah) מַצָּה in Ashkenazi matzo or matzoh, and in Yiddish, matze ^[8]

Later history

In the Middle Ages, spelt was cultivated in parts of Switzerland, Tyrol and Germany. Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation Tyrol is a region in Western Central Europe, which included the present day Austrian state of Tyrol (consisting of North Tyrol and East Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Spelt was introduced to the United States in the 1890s. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The 1890s were sometimes referred to as the " Mauve Decade" because William Henry Perkin 's aniline dye allowed the widespread use of that In the 20th century, spelt was replaced in almost all those areas in which it was still grown by bread wheat. The twentieth century of the Common Era began on As spelt requires fewer fertilizers, the organic farming movement made it more popular again towards the end of the century. Fertilizers ( also spelt fertiliser are chemical compounds given to Plants to promote growth they are usually applied either through the soil for uptake by plant Organic farming is a form of agriculture that relies on Crop rotation, Green manure, Compost, Biological pest control, and mechanical Cultivation

Nutrition

Spelt contains about 57. 9 percent carbohydrates (excluding 9. Carbohydrates (from ' Hydrates of Carbon ' or saccharides ( Greek σάκχαρον meaning " Sugar " are the most 2 percent fibre), 17. Fiber or fibre is a class of Materials that are continuous filaments or are in discrete elongated pieces similar to lengths of thread. 0 percent protein and 3. Proteins are large Organic compounds made of Amino acids arranged in a linear chain and joined together by Peptide bonds between the Carboxyl 0 percent fat, as well as dietary minerals and vitamins. Fats consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and largely insoluble in water Dietary minerals are the Chemical elements required by living Organisms other than the four elements Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, and A vitamin is an Organic compound required as a Nutrient in tiny amounts by an Organism. ^[9] As it contains a moderate amount of gluten, it is suitable for baking. Gluten is a composite of the proteins Gliadin and Glutenin. These exist conjoined with Starch, in the Endosperms of some Baking is the technique of prolonged Cooking of Food by dry heat acting by conduction, and not by radiation, normally in an Oven, In Germany, the unripe spelt grains are dried and eaten as Grünkern, which literally means "green grain". Drying is a method of Food preservation that works by removing Water from the food which prevents the growth of Microorganisms and Decay. Spelt ( Triticum spelta) is a Hexaploid species of Wheat. Spelt was an important staple in parts of Europe from the Bronze Age to medieval times

Spelt is closely related to common wheat, and is not suitable for people with celiac disease. Common wheat, Triticum aestivum, (also known as bread wheat) is a cultivated wheat species Coeliac Some people with wheat allergy or wheat intolerance tolerate spelt. Wheat Allergy, also known as wheat hypersensitivity is most commonly a Food allergy, but can also be a respiratory or contact allergy resulting

Products

Spelt flour is becoming more easily available, being sold in UK supermarkets since 2007. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located ^[10] Spelt is also sold in the form of a coarse pale bread, similar in colour and in texture to light rye breads but with a slightly sweet and nutty flavour. Cookies and crackers are also produced, but are more likely to be found in a specialty bakery or health food store than in a regular grocery store.

Spelt pasta is also available in health food stores and speciality shops. Pasta ( Italian for "dough" is a generic term for Italian variants of Noodles.

The raw grain when chewed releases trace amounts of gluten giving the mass a slight resilience, not unlike gum (whereas wheat becomes a sticky glutinous mass, similar to thick jam). The texture is slightly crunchy. The nutty flavour is more intense than it is in most breads and some prefer the raw substance to the baked goods.

Dutch jenever makers distill a special kind of gin made with spelt as a curiosity gin marketed for connoisseurs. Jenever (also known as junever, genievre, genever, jeniever, peket or in England as Holland gin) is the Beer brewed from spelt is sometimes seen in Bavaria. Beer is the world's oldest and most widely consumed Alcoholic beverage and the third most popular drink overall after water and tea Bavaria ( German:, with an area of 70553 Km² (27241 square miles and almost 12 ^[11]

Spelt matza is baked in Israel for Passover and is available in some USA grocery stores. Matza (also Matzah, Matzoh, or Matsah) מַצָּה in Ashkenazi matzo or matzoh, and in Yiddish, matze For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. Passover ( Hebrew, Yiddish: פֶּסַח Pesach, Tiberian: pɛsaħ Israeli: Pesah, Pesakh, Yiddish The United States of America —commonly referred to as the

References

1. ^ Blatter RH, Jacomet S, Schlumbaum A (2004). About the origin of European spelt (Triticum spelta L.): allelic differentiation of the HMW Glutenin B1-1 and A1-2 subunit genes.. PubMed. Retrieved on February 14, 2006.
2. ^ Blatter,R. H. et al. (2004). "About the origin of European spelt (Triticum spelta L.): allelic differentiation of the HMW Glutenin B1-1 and A1-2 subunit genes" (html).
3. ^ Ehsanzadeh, Parviz (1999). "Agronomic and Growth Characteristics of Spring Spelt Compared to Common Wheat" (pdf).
4. ^ Cubadda, Raimondo and Marconi, Emanuele (2002). "Spelt Wheat in Pseudocereals and less Common cereals: Grain Properties and utilization Potential (eds. Belton, Peter S.; Taylor, John R.N.)" (html).
5. ^ Cubadda, Raimondo and Marconi, Emanuele (2002). "Spelt Wheat in Pseudocereals and less Common cereals: Grain Properties and utilization Potential (eds. Belton, Peter S.; Taylor, John R.N.)" (html).
6. ^ Akeret, Ö. (2005). "Plant remains from a Bell Beaker site in Switzerland, and the beginnings of Triticum spelta (spelt) cultivation in Europe" (html).
7. ^ Cubadda, Raimondo and Marconi, Emanuele (2002). "Spelt Wheat in Pseudocereals and less Common cereals: Grain Properties and utilization Potential (eds. Belton, Peter S.; Taylor, John R.N.)" (html).
8. ^ Nesbitt, Mark (2001). "Wheat evolution: integrating archaeological and biological evidence". .
9. ^ Parr RM et al. (2002). "Contributions of calcium and other dietary components to global variations in bone mineral density in young adults" (pdf).
10. ^ Information from Spelt flour producer
11. ^ http://www.germanbeerinstitute.com/Dinkelbier.html

• Padulosi, Stefano, Karl Hammer and J. Heller (1996). Hulled Wheats. Promoting the conservation and use of underutilized and neglected crops. 4. Proceedings of the First International Workshop on Hulled Wheats 21-22 July 1995, Castelvecchio Pascoli, Tuscany, Italy.  
• Zohary, Daniel and Maria Hopf (2000). Domestication of plants in the Old World. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-850356-3.