Germinated wheat facts for kids
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Germinated wheat, also known as sprouted wheat or wheat sprout, is what happens when wheat seeds start to grow. This happens in a warm, wet place, and the process is called sprouting. Sometimes, people use it like malt (an early sprout) to make beer.
Germinated wheat is very popular in Persian cooking. It's used in many pastries, dishes, and desserts. It also plays a special role in the Haft-Seen table for the New Year celebration, Nowruz. Here, it appears as `Sabzeh` (wheat grass) and in a sweet dessert called `Samanu`. These items are symbols of good fortune and blessings. This tradition has been followed for thousands of years by people in the Iranian plateau and other places like India, Yemen, and China.
A special candy called Sohan is also made using flour from wheat sprouts. Sohan is a traditional Persian saffron brittle candy. It is usually made in the city of Qom.
Samani: A Symbol of Spring
In Azerbaijan, growing samani (green sprouting wheat) is a very important part of the Novruz celebration. It is seen as a sign that spring is coming!
Sprouting samani represents new growth and a good harvest. It stands for grain, bread, and plenty of food. Having lots of grain means life and existence. People have always grown samani from wheat, barley, or other grains in copper dishes. They respect it and are happy when it sprouts.
There's a saying in Azerbaijan: "Səməni, ay səməni, hər il göyərdərəm səni". This means "samani, o samani, I try to make you grow every year." It shows how nature renews itself every year.
