Tag: Polygonaceae

Botanically, rhubarb is a vegetable, not a fruit, despite its popular use in sweet desserts. This tart-tasting plant belongs to a surprising family, and the vegetable related to rhubarb, along with its other kin, is more common than you might think.

Despite being botanically classified as a vegetable, in 1947, the USDA declared rhubarb a fruit for tax purposes, adding to the culinary confusion. For those asking what food family is rhubarb in, the answer lies in its true botanical classification within the Polygonaceae family.

While most people assume buckwheat is a grain due to its culinary use, it is botanically a fruit seed. This versatile food is classified as a pseudocereal, a unique category that sets it apart from traditional cereal grains like wheat, rice, and barley. This distinction is crucial for understanding its nutritional profile and gluten-free status.

Archaeological evidence suggests that buckwheat was one of the first crops to be domesticated, with cultivation beginning as early as 6000 BCE in Southeast Asia. Despite its extensive history as a dietary staple, the proper botanical classification of buckwheat remains a point of confusion for many, often mistaken for a cereal grain.

The buckwheat family, known scientifically as Polygonaceae, is much more than just a pseudocereal; it also includes surprising edible relatives like rhubarb and sorrel. Despite its name, common buckwheat is not related to wheat or other true cereal grains, but is instead a cousin to these tart and tangy plants. This diverse botanical family is full of unique, nutritionally dense foods that can be incorporated into a wide variety of meals.