Kaletez facts for kids
Traditional buckwheat pancake with a glass of cider
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| Place of origin | France |
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| Region or state | Brittany |
Kaletez, also known as galette de sarrasin in French, is a special kind of buckwheat pancake from Brittany, a region in France. These delicious pancakes are a very important part of Breton food culture. They are often served with savory fillings, making them a popular meal or snack.
Contents
The Story of Buckwheat Pancakes
How Were Buckwheat Pancakes Discovered?
There's a fun legend about how the buckwheat pancake came to be. It's said that a Breton woman accidentally spilled some buckwheat batter onto a hot stone in her fireplace. To her surprise, it cooked into a flat, tasty pancake! This happy accident supposedly led to the creation of the famous kaletez.
Buckwheat's Long History in Brittany
Buckwheat has been around in Brittany for a very long time. Scientists have found tiny bits of buckwheat pollen in the peat lands of Brittany that date back to the 12th century. This shows that buckwheat was present in the area many centuries ago.
Growing Buckwheat in Brittany
Why Buckwheat Was So Important
Growing buckwheat became more common in Brittany around the early 16th century. It was a great crop because it could grow well even on poor, infertile land where other plants struggled. Plus, it grew quickly! You could plant it and harvest it just three months later. This fast growth earned it the nickname "the 100 days plant."
Another big advantage was that buckwheat was not taxed. This made it an affordable and important food source for many people.
A Queen's Connection to Buckwheat
There are many stories about Anne of Brittany, who was a powerful duchess and queen of France. One legend says that she helped to encourage the farming of buckwheat in Brittany. Her support would have made buckwheat even more popular and widespread.
Where Does Buckwheat Come From Today?
Even with its long history, Brittany doesn't produce enough buckwheat to meet the demand for these pancakes today. France uses about 15,000 tons of buckwheat every year for kaletez and other dishes. Because of this, much of the buckwheat used for these pancakes has to be imported from countries like China, Poland, and Canada.
Protecting Breton Buckwheat Flour
To make sure that Breton buckwheat flour stays special, there's a "protected geographic indicator." This means that only buckwheat flour from Brittany, made in a certain way, can use this special label.
There's also a group called "Blé noir tradition Bretagne." This group includes over 800 farmers and about ten mills. Their goal is to promote and support the use of local Breton buckwheat flour. They help produce about 4,000 tons of this special flour each year.
