Other Names for Einkorn

42 Replies

We call it “einkorn” but across the world, Triticum monococcum has many names, and that’s no surprise since it’s the world’s most primitive form of wheat.

The most popular name, einkorn, is German for “one grain”. This refers to how taxonomists identify einkorn in the wild. Einkorn has one row of grains on each side, whereas modern wheat has two rows on each side.

There are many different names for einkorn.

Here are the names we’ve collected:

  • einkorn (German)
  • small spelt (Italian)
  • farro piccolo (Italian)
  • engrain (French)
  • Le petit épautre (French)
  • tiphe (Greek)
  • siyez (Turkish)
  • sifon (Hebrew)

The list of names is significant because each has a meaning that weaves einkorn’s history through many cultures and regions including the family dinner table, pharaoh’s grain stores, Otzi’s hunting trail, and the fields of family farmers now and from centuries past. We’d like to help bring these traditions and stories to life.

In Italy, the family dinner table of a century ago would include farro for dinner. Farro is a term that refers to one of the 3 primary hulled wheats, emmer, spelt, and einkorn distinguished respectively as farro medio, farro grande, and farro piccolo.

In France, Le petit épautre brings a stronger and wilder taste, unique to the einkorn available in that region. **Update: Andrew, a farmer in France, says petit épautre has a “sweet walnut flavour”

Do you have another name for einkorn, or a story about one of the names we have listed? Please share in the comments below!

Source: Padulosi,S. ; Hammer,K.; Heller,J.(1996): Hulled wheats. 1995

42 thoughts on “Other Names for Einkorn”

  1. Scott Roberts

    Hi we live in Portugal and we would love to by Einkorn. However In Portugal is no existent. Do you ship prices?

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    1. Grand Teton Ancient Grains

      Hi Scott, we don’t do many international orders because shipping ends up being so expensive. Have you looked into a freight forwarder? That would likely be your best option.

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  2. Oldie

    Hi,
    Thank you for making this beautiful site.

    Please note that Sifon שיפון in Hebrew is Rye.
    Einkorn has no Hebrew word.

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  3. Kaye

    Hi Andrew
    I know this is a very old post however, I am in Provence and would love to know if you are near me so I can buy some epeautre from you.
    Love to know.
    Big thanks
    Kaye
    Ps Admin if this is ok with you only!

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  4. Sarah Seitaridis

    Hi. I have been searching high and low for Einkorn in New Zealand but it doesn’t seem to exist. Are you able to seems to NZ? I know of so many people here who would buy it but it just doesn’t seem to be available. Any advice?
    You mentioned you have a wholesale program. My husband and I are in the process of setting up ams online store selling products that are good for health in particular tummy health. What are your wholesale requirements and minimum product quantities?
    Thanks, Sarah

    Reply ↓
    1. Admin

      Sarah, we do ship to New Zealand. Also, if you’re interested in the wholesale option, you’ll just need to fill out this application and we’ll get in touch with you about the specifics of that.

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  5. Eleanor

    Hi I am from Australia

    can you send this over here yet and if not, do you know why and is there anything we aussies can do to help?

    best regards
    Eleanor

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    1. Admin

      Eleanor, we appreciate your question. We are currently looking for retailers in Australia so if you know of one, it would be great if you could have them contact us and apply for our wholesale program.

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  6. Sarahs

    To my knowledge Einkorn is einkorn and spelt is spelt, and so on.
    Einkorn is the only wheat variety on Earth that has 2 sets of 7 chromosomes each (male and female) which indicates a completely unhybridized state. All other wheat including “Ancient” have been hybridized.

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  8. kathy schnitzer

    My family and I have switched to Einkorn wheat after reading the book, Lose the wheat, lose the weight. I found jovial and their product comes from Italy. They have wheat berries, flour, pasta and more. We have found an improvement in our health since we have been off of GMO wheat!

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  9. Renellin

    We are looking to obtain seeds and product ready to use whole grains and flour. My dad tells me do not under any circumstances eat the new wheat as it is killing us.

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  11. Lynn

    To really make this healthy, it needs to be baked right after it is ground into flour. Flour starts to oxidate within three days of being ground and it loses vital nutrients, particularly vitamin E. Another good practice is to sprout the wheat before making the bread.

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  12. kp

    who told you sifon is the nme for einkorn in herbrew… to my knowledge sifon means Rye…. just thought you should know…

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  13. Erin

    Thanks for the information! I too am interested in trying some of this grain and how it differs from others I’ve had.

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  15. Andrew

    This is a great article on einkorn. Thanks for sharing! My wife and I run a small farm in Provence where we grow “petit epeautre”, the one with that “stronger, wilder taste”. I find it has a sweet walnut flavour actually. We produce both the grain and stone ground flour (whole or without bran), as well as bran. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you’re looking to try some! Bon appetit! – Andrew

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    2. Lisa

      I might also be interested as my family is trying to go wheat free because of the modified wheat. Please send me info also.

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    3. linda

      I just finished reading ‘wheat belly’ an am looking for a source for einkorn, thanks for any information you can share, linda

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    5. Sim Ayres

      Hi Andrew . Im a small scale baker , miller and grain grower in Strathbogie , Vic, Australia . Ive been reading a lot about Einkorn , and am facinated by your ‘Petit Epeautre’. Im intrested in growing it here in Australia . Small scale . we have a fairly high rain fall 1000ml , are up at 550 metres and often have frosts in late spring . I guess the questions are .. Would it suit our climate and copuld i buy some seed grain of you [Got to bring it via our vigourous food imports in Australia ] I guess im looking at up to 20 kg to get me started on an acre or so .

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      1. michelle

        Hi there, was just wondering how you got on importing einkorn into Australia? I would also like to try growing some for our families use.

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      2. Marcel Ouellet

        Hi Sim, I am growing spelt (Grand Épeautre) in Québec Canada. Would like to know where are you up to with your Petit Épeutre (Einkon).

        Best Regrds from snow country, Marcel

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      3. Michelle Abrahmz

        How have you gone with this, Sim? I’m in QLD and I’d like some of the einkorn grain as well. I’m finding no luck in finding it here anywhere.

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    7. Cheryl

      Hi Andrew,
      I am planning a trip to France this summer and would love to come see your petit épautre crop. I have a website EverydayDishes.com where we are starting to convert our most popular recipes to include Einkorn. I am ravenously learning about this grain and would love the opportunity to visit you in France. I am also going to visit the Jovial farm in Italy as well.

      This is so exciting.
      Cheryl

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    8. Luis

      ANDREW , I ALSO HAVE A VERY SMALL FARM I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME SEEDS TO PLANT A PATCH ( 500 SQ FEET ) TO TRY HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA , IS THIS TIME STILL OK TO PLANT IT? OR TOO LATE ALREADY?
      LUIS. [email protected]. thanks.

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