Check Out These 12 Ancient Grain Flours For a Nutritious Alternative to All-Purpose

You may be familiar with common ancient grains like teff and quinoa, but have you ever heard of the “grano del miracolo” or the miracle grain? If you haven’t, miracolo is an ancient grain from the province of Parma in Italy that was on the brink of extinction, recovered by Molino Grassi, and then ground into what is now Molino Grassi Miracolo Flour. According to analyses the company carried out, this “miracle grain” is richer in phosphorus, iron, and antioxidants than regular wheat. Reviewers are reporting that this flour is good quality and makes excellent bread. You can get one 2.2-pound bag for $10.

Sensitive to grains? That doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy the nutrition and flavor of ancient grains! Flours, like To Your Health Sprouted Sorghum Flour, turns ancient grains into a living food through the process of sprouting. Sprouting, or accelerated germination, makes grains easier to digest and the nutrients in them easier to absorb. It also increases the vitamins, enzymes, and minerals present in grains and makes them more bio-available. Reviewers are reporting that this sprouted sorghum flour is delicious, “great to work with,” and excellent quality. To see if you feel the same, you can get one five-pound bag for $18.25.

Einkorn is an ancient heirloom farro grain that many believe has never been hybridized and is therefore one of the easiest grains to digest. Jovial Foods Organic Einkorn Flour is a pulverized version of this grain. It has 30 percent of the daily recommendation of manganese and zinc. Reviewers are reporting that this flour is a delicious, healthy replacement for regular flour, is very finely milled and therefore extremely silky, and works everywhere you would use regular flour, from breads to batters and baked goods. You can get one 32-ounce bag for a little over $9.50.

Kamut is an ancient grain with a rich, nutty, and buttery flavor and has 30 percent more protein than wheat. Bob’s Red Mill Kamut Flour is a pulverized version of kamut that can be used in all sorts of baked goods, though Bob’s points out that it works very well in replacing whole wheat flour in yeast bread recipes. Reviewers have been reporting that this flour is fresh-tasting, does indeed add a buttery taste to whatever you add it to, and covers up the taste of other, blander flours (like buckwheat) if you want to mix them. You can get one 20-ounce back for a little less than $8.50.

Teff is an ancient grain native to Ethiopia. It is technically a type of millet and is known for its sweet, molasses-like flavor and it’s versatility as a gluten-free grain. Teff flour comes in a variety of colors and there are slight distinctions in taste between them. Maskal Teff Ivory Flour, for example, is somewhat sweet but is more mild than brown teff flour. Because of its sweetness it is recommended for use in porridge, dessert baked goods, pancakes, waffles, and gravy. Reviewers are saying that this teff flour is wonderful for people who eat gluten-free, is light and adds a delicate sweetness to baked goods, and is an excellent, authentic-tasting addition to Ethiopian food. You can get one 16-ounce bag for $7.50. 

Spelt is already regarded as an easier ingredient to process than wheat, so One Degree Organic Sprouted Spelt Flour is even more so. Reviewers are reporting that this flour is tasty, very healthy, and “works perfectly” as a replacement for whole wheat flour. Some reviewers are saying that you can get this product for cheaper at a healthfood store, however, if you do not, it may be worth the price. You can get one 80-ounce bag for a little under $22. 

Enjoy Life All-Purpose Flour With Ancient Grains is a wheat-free and gluten-free flour mix that is comprised of a blend of ancient grain flours – millet, rice, teff, buckwheat – rice starch, tapioca starch, brown rice protein, sprouted brown rice protein, and probiotics. Reviewers are reporting that this flour is high-quality, good for gluten-free eaters, and works wonderfully for making bread. One amazon reviewer points out however, that this flour will definitely yield denser results, so you may want to reserve it for bread, as opposed to moist baked goods. You can get one 16-ounce bag for a little less than $8. 

Emmer wheat is an heirloom farro grain that is sometimes referred to as “farro medio.” Doves Farm Organic Wholemeal Emmer Flour is an organic, slightly sweet tasting flour that Doves Farm suggests using in baked goods like muffins, sweet breads, cookies, and cakes. Reviewers are reporting that this flour adds a nice flavor to baked goods and is a good quality product. You can get one two-pound bag for $14.75. 

Quinoa may just be the most well-known ancient grain. While quinoa is most popular in grain form, you can also enjoy the nutrition of this ancient grain in flour. Ancient Harvest Quinoa Flour is a gluten-free organic flour that reviewers are reporting is highly nutritious, good quality, and very versatile. Some reviewers are skeptical as to whether this quinoa actually comes from pre-washed quinoa since they claim it has a bit of a bitter taste. If you want to try it out for yourself, you can get a pack of four 18-ounce boxes for $60. 

Premium Gold Flax and Ancient Grains All-Purpose Flour is a gluten-free and non-GMO flour blend made from rice flour, ground flaxseed, quinoa flour, buckwheat flour, amaranth flour, tapioca flour, arrowroot flour, and xanthan gum. Each serving (1/4 cup) provides 12 grams of whole grains and 1200 milligrams of omega-3. Reviewers are raving about this product saying that this flour has an excellent flavor and is extremely clean and nutritious. Quite a few reviewers even said this was the best gluten-free flour they’ve ever used. To see if you feel similarly, you can get a two-pound bag for a little under $10.50.

Amaranth may be part of the “ancient grain club” but did you know that amaranth is actually a seed? It’s true. Bob’s Red Mill Amaranth Flour is a pulverized version of this ancient grain and is gluten-free and organic. Reviewers are reporting that this flour has a very earthy and nutty flavor, is very versatile, and has a great source of calcium, protein, and iron. You can get a pack of four 22-ounce bags for $26.

Anthony’s Brown Teff Flour, like other brown teff flours, has an earthier and nuttier taste than ivory teff flour. It is gluten-free and free from artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Reviewers are saying that this flour is delicious, great quality, a wonderful addition to Ethiopian food, and is much more convenient than grinding your own flour from teff. To try it out, you can get a five-pound bag for a little under $15.

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