Export wheat gets baking approval

MILLERS from as far afield as Iran and Cuba have given UK wheat varieties the thumbs-up for their national loaves.

A recent baking workshop, organised by the Home-Grown Cereals Authority allowed six potential new buyers of UK wheat to put it to the test.

"I had no experience of UK wheat and the result is very good," said Ahmad Nazari, Bakery Association of Tehran.

"I am keen to test the wheat again with my colleagues in Iran."

Using a blend of Claire and Consort, he produced the traditional Iranian flat bread, with a result very similar to the loaves produced in Iran.

"These wheats, although normally classed in the UK as biscuit-making varieties, proved ideal for this low volume flat bread," said Emma Jackson, HGCA's technical marketing manager.

Saleh Salama, head of the Eastern Region branch of the Libyan buying organisation, NASCO, said he too was interested in buying UK wheat.

"I can see the potential of the flours we have tried and I will take that message back to Libya."

The workshop, hosted by Campden and Chorleywood Food Research Association, was also attended by delegates from Tunisia, Cuba, Egypt and South Africa.

The combined annual imports of the countries represented at the annual event total over 17 million tonnes of wheat.