Buckwheat

Another healthy Ukrainian staple is buckwheat, irresistible to many people just as its blossom is to bees. Despite its name, buckwheat is not related to wheat and is thus gluten-free. Further, despite looking like a grain, it is technically a fruit, related to rhubarb and sorrel. It has become popular as a health food thanks to its high mineral and antioxidant content. Benefits may include improved blood-sugar control and it promotes better food digestion.

Fields of white buckwheat blossoms - it is the most valuable crop and occupies the largest acreage of land - are a magnet for bees and the result is a rich near-black honey.