September 10: Durum Day

The hardest variety of wheat is durum. Its high protein content makes it ideal for producing pasta. In fact, it is often called “pasta wheat.” While common wheat, also known as bread wheat, is valued for its elasticity and bread-making properties, durum is renowned for its exceptional hardness, which defines the quality of premium pasta. Durum wheat originated in the Fertile Crescent, an area encompassing modern-day Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria. It was domesticated between 9,000 and 12,000 years ago.