What is Flax Seed?
Flax Seed demographics.
Horticultural Pedigree:
Flax (also known as Linseed) is a member of the genus Linum in the family Linaceae. It is not related to New Zealand flax - the common New Zealand perennial plant (Phormium tenax or harakeke).
Flax originated in India and was first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent. The region broadly corresponds to present-day Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Kuwait, Jordan, south-eastern Turkey and west and south-western Iran. The term "Fertile Crescent" was coined by University of Chicago archaeologist James Henry Breasted in his "Ancient Records of Egypt", around 1900.[1] The region was named so due to its rich soil and crescent shape. Mahatma Ghandi said "whenever flax seeds are part of the people's diet, then their health will be improved".
Our Flax seed is grown in the South Island of New Zealand as a summer crop. There are two types of linseed, brown and Chantal golden. The flowers are a true blue colour and in full bloom fields of the 120cm tall plants look amazing. Towards the end of summer as the crop dries seed heads are formed, these are harvested and sent away for cleaning of all unwanted plant debris from the seed. The seed is then pressed and the oil is extracted. The by-product of the pressing is flax fibre and this is used for pellets for stock or it is ground into flax flour for baking and other culinary uses. The fibre is a high source of, lignans (weak oestrogens) and residual Omega -3.
Other uses for flax seed oil; for centuries linseed oil has been used in the preservation and care of wood, and as a drying oil for painting and varnishing. Linseed is grown both for seed and for clothing fibre (linen) and industrial fibre.
