Organic White Durum Wheat Semolina (Milanaise)

Our organic white durum wheat semolina is made by "La Milanaise" in Quebec from organic white durum wheat. This semolina is sifted to remove the bran. It is ideal for  sprinkling on pizza and bread dough.

Durum wheat, also called pasta wheat or macaroni wheat is the second most cultivated species of wheat after common wheat. Durum in Latin means "hard", and the species is the hardest of all wheats. This refers to the resistance of the grain to milling, in particular of the starchy endosperm, implying dough made from its flour is weak or "soft". This makes durum favorable for semolina and pasta flour.

Semolina is the base to make couscous as well as numerous other middle-eastern meals. In Italy semolina is used for making a type of gnocchi called "Gnocchi alla Romana", where semolina is mixed with milk, cheese and butter to form a log, then cut in discs and baked with cheese and bechamel.

What is semolina?

• Semolina comes from the latin words "simila", meaning "flour" and the Italian word "semola", means bran. Traditionally the word refers to durum wheat semolina as corn semolina is most often called cornmeal.
• Semolina is simply coarser ground flour. It can be used on its own in recipes and is also commonly used as dusting.
• So when you are ready to take your bread making and pizza dough to the next level, grab some organic semolina to prevent your dough from sticking. Since semolina does not absorb water like flour does a little goes farther.

Why is there niacin (B3), iron, thiamin mononitrate (B1), riboflavin (B2) and folic acid added?

• If we were legally allowed, we would sell single ingredient white flour, however in Canada that is prohibited.
• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) enforces mandatory enrichment of white flour with niacin (B3), iron, thiamin mononitrate (B1), riboflavin (B2) and folic acid.
• As per the CFIA regulations "All white flour sold in Canada for food use, whether for use in further manufacturing or for sale directly to the consumer, must be enriched.".
• Source: CFIA: Prohibition against the sale of unenriched white flour and products containing unenriched flour
• However, sifted flour is not concerned by this measure. This may be the best alternative if you want single ingredient flour.

What is "La Milanaise"?

• Founded in 1977 in Milan, Quebec (Eastern Townships) by Robert and Lily Beauchemin it began as an organic farming venture. In 1982 they started expanding their stone-milled organic flour products by building their first dedicated milling building on the farm and never stopped expanding.
• With their latest factory built in 2016 in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec (Montérégie) "La Milanaise" now has a 350 ton per day capacity, becoming the biggest organic milling company in the province.