Buckwheat
Buckwheat cakes at the first Buckwheat Festival in Kingwood, WV, in 1939. Photo by the West Virginia Writers’ Project.
“Buckwheat is not a wheat, it’s a flower, like a blooming flower. The closest relative of buckwheat is rhubarb. When it’s growing, the straw is the color of rhubarb.” –Larry Mustain, the owner of Reed’s Mill, in Monroe County. Buckwheat grows across the Allegheny mountains in WV, most prominently in Preston County, where the annual Buckwheat Festival is held each September in Kingwood, WV.
Buckwheat Festival King and Queen, 1939. Photo by the West Virginia Writers’ Project at the first Buckwheat Festival in Kingwood, WV.
For Buckwheat cakes year round, we recommend visiting Donna Jean’s Family Restaurant in Aurora, WV. “Order them crispy,” a very good suggestion by Viola Wentzel, who introduced us to Donna Jean’s. 23480 George Washington Highway. Aurora, WV 26705-8008 map. (304) 735
To buy buckwheat flour along US 219, as well as other great local products, try shopping at these absolutely fabulous local businesses:
Reed’s Mill, Second Creek, WV 304-772-5904.
Campbell’s Market, Beverly WV 304-636-0860.
Also located within an hour’s drive of US 219:
Cheese ‘n’ More, Sweet Springs Valley, Gap Mills, WV 304-7725211.
H and H Cash Store, Monterey, VA 540-468-2570.
Penn Alps Store, Grantsville, MD 301-895-5985.
Category: Blog
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