Experts told about the benefits of buckwheat tea and chocolate

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Buckwheat tea and chocolate appeared on the Ukrainian market not so long ago and immediately gained immense popularity: they are loved by athletes, adherents of a healthy lifestyle and nutritionists. Experts from the Baazar publication figured out why everyone is so enthusiastic about buckwheat products, how they are produced and whether they can really benefit the body.

Details

Tatar buckwheat, from which tea and chocolate are made, is a close relative of our buckwheat. It practically does not grow in Ukraine, as it was considered a weed for many years. Currently, Tatar buckwheat is grown mainly in Asia, in particular in China and Japan. Growing on high mountain slopes, it absorbs many useful substances that cannot be found in ordinary buckwheat (and if it can, then in much smaller quantities).

This type of buckwheat is extremely rich in the plant compound rutin. With regular use, it improves blood circulation and the condition of blood vessels, which can improve the condition and appearance of the skin, reducing the risk of age spots. In addition to rutin, buckwheat is rich in antioxidants, vitamins A and E, B vitamins, fiber, flavonoids, and protein.

Buckwheat tea was brewed in ancient China, but the drink has come to us quite recently. The tea is produced using a special technology, collecting buckwheat grains at a certain stage of maturity, cleaning them, drying them and roasting them (the taste of the final product depends on the degree of roasting). Buckwheat tea has a pleasant, pronounced nutty aroma and a sweet taste, which vaguely resembles a dessert. You can drink buckwheat tea at any time – it does not contain caffeine at all and does not have a strong tonic effect, unlike black or green.

Buckwheat tea should be brewed with boiling water. On average, one 350 ml teapot requires 3-4 tablespoons of buckwheat and 1-2 minutes of brewing time. In general, there are no clear rules here: if you want a richer taste, you can take more buckwheat or increase the steeping time.

Another popular product made from Tatar buckwheat is chocolate. It is made from three key ingredients: cocoa powder, cocoa butter, and buckwheat ground into flour. Currently, there are a huge number of different types of buckwheat chocolate on the market: cane or coconut sugar, matcha, vanilla, cinnamon, and many other spices are added to it, which allow you to create a unique taste. It is extremely rare to find milk in its composition – as a rule, chocolate does not contain animal products and is suitable for vegans.

Such chocolate is much healthier than regular chocolate: it is rich in vegetable protein, vitamins, minerals and contains about 120 kcal per bar. However, buckwheat chocolate is a dessert, so if you do not want to gain weight, you should not get too carried away with it.