Freekeh (free kee) is the traditional flame roasted green wheat of Palestine. It has been prepared in Palestine for centuries, since they have known wheat. In general daily use in Palestine, it is a more nutritious and delicious alternative to rice, with 3 times the fiber of brown rice and more vitamins and minerals. In soup, it thickens naturally with a wonderful smokey flavor. Canaan’s Freekeh comes from their fair trade farmers' naturally organic Palestinian 'Anbar wheat, from the Marj Ben Amer fertile plain area known as the breadbasket of Palestine. Freekeh is harvested in May when the wheat is still green and the grains are milky. According to tradition, the farmers harvest the shafts and dry them in small piles in the sun for a day, then set them on fire to burn off the straw and chaff. The high moisture content of the seeds keeps them from burning. Next they dry the seeds and rub or roll (freekeh comes from the word 'to rub' in Arabic) to further separate the husks, dry again and grind to crack the kernels into smaller pieces so they look like green bulgur. Our fair trade Freekeh will be good for three years. Like all fine grains, it can be frozen for long-term storage, or refrigerated to keep its fresh flavor. Ingredients: flame roasted, dried green wheat.