Gluten-free
Is buckwheat gluten-free?
Yes — buckwheat is naturally gluten-free. Despite the name, it is not related to wheat or any cereal grain and contains no gluten.
This is the question we are asked most. The short answer: buckwheat has no gluten. Here is why, and what it means for coeliacs.
Why the name misleads
Buckwheat (sarrasin in French) is neither a cereal nor a kind of wheat. It is the seed of the Fagopyrum plant, related more closely to rhubarb and sorrel. That is why it is called a “pseudocereal” — used like a grain, but botanically not one. And that is why it carries no gluten.
What it means for coeliacs
Pure buckwheat flour is safe for coeliacs. Watch two things, though: the flour must be 100% buckwheat (not blended with wheat) and it must avoid cross-contamination during handling. With strict coeliac disease, always ask about the ingredients and the process.
Buckwheat at Saint Paul
Our savoury galettes are made from 100% buckwheat flour alone — naturally gluten-free. Sweet crêpes are made with wheat by default, but on request we prepare them in a buckwheat, gluten-free version.
Read more about how we handle gluten on our Gluten-free page.
Frequently asked
- Does buckwheat contain gluten?
- No. Buckwheat contains no gluten and is naturally gluten-free.
- Is buckwheat a cereal?
- No. Buckwheat is the seed of the Fagopyrum plant, related more to rhubarb than to wheat — which is why it is called a pseudocereal.
- Can coeliacs eat buckwheat?
- Yes, pure buckwheat is safe for coeliacs. The key is that the flour is not blended with wheat and that cross-contamination is avoided.
Rather taste than cook?
We cook galettes and crêpes and pour cider every day at Fresh Market.