Buckwheat Hull Pillows, Organic Buckwheat Pillows, Sobakawa Pillows

The use of buckwheat hulls in pillows dates back over 1,000 years to Asia and even earlier in Ancient Egypt.

Buckwheat hull pillows have several advantages over synthetic foam and feather pillows. They help reduce nighttime allergies, prevent overheating, provide better support and improve sleep quality over traditional pillows. Buckwheat hulls are hypoallergenic and if kept dry will not provide a suitable habitat for mold or insects. In addition, they are very durable and do not conduct or reflect heat as much as synthetic upholstery fills and they are an excellent substitute to feathers for people with allergies. However, a very small percentage of the population will have an allergic reaction when exposed to buckwheat flour; these people may have problems with buckwheat pillows and should avoid using them. Buckwheat hull pillows are cool in the summer and warm in the winter. They will not cause the overheating common with petroleum based foam pillows. The loose buckwheat hulls in the pillow shift to conform to your shape. They provide exceptional support to side, stomach and back sleepers.

It is important to check labels and packaging when purchasing buckwheat hull pillows. Several companies market “Sobakawa Pillows” that contain no "sobakawa" (buckwheat hulls) but are filled with tiny microbeads.

Beware of buckwheat hull pillows made with uncleaned and unprocessed hulls; they contain high levels of allergens that may trigger an asthma attack in those who are at risk.

Crooked Brook Buckwheat Hull Pillows are made with and available in the following sizes and fabrics:

Size

Dimensions

Approximate Weight

100% Cotton Gabardine

100% Organic Cotton Twill

King Size Buckwheat Hull Pillow 20" x 36" 11 - 13 lbs $50.00 $54.00
Queen Size Buckwheat Hull Pillow 20" x 30" 9 - 11 lbs $45.00 $49.00
Twin/Standard Size Buckwheat Pillow 20" x 26" 8 - 10 lbs $40.00 $44.00
Small Size Buckwheat Hull Pillow 14" x 20" 4 - 5 lbs $25.00 $29.00

Although we make standard size buckwheat hull pillows, we also make them from an individual pattern according to customers measurements, style and fabric specifications. For more information contact us at: info@crookedbrook.com

About Buckwheat

Buckwheat is not a type of wheat at all; it is a flowering plant from the family Polygonaceae and a relative of rhubarb. Buckwheat was domesticated around 6000 BC and was one of the first crops introduced to North America by European settlers. It was an important crop in the U.S. until the demand declined in the 1960's. Today, it is primarily grown in Northern states such as New York.

Buckwheat is grown commercially for many reasons; it is ideal for short growing seasons in areas with low soil fertility and it is used as a cover crop because it grows quickly and thickly which prevents weed growth.

Buckwheat is also valuable as honey bee forage resulting in buckwheat honey, a popular monofloral honey with a deep, dark brown color, strong, pungent, molasses like earthy flavor that is high in mineral content and antioxidant compounds.

Buckwheat seeds are harvested and used to make food products such as groats (kasha), livestock and poultry feed or turned into flour which is used as an alternative to wheat flour; the seeds do not contain gluten and are often used as a substitute for people with celiac disease or another form of gluten intolerance. Japanese soba noodles are also made from buckwheat flour ("soba" is the Japanese word for buckwheat).

The final use for buckwheat involves the hulls, or seed casings that are cleaned, usually by roasting and used as stuffing for pillows and zafu (meditation cushions). The Japanese word for buckwheat hulls is "sobakawa" (also called sobagara) hence the name “Sobakawa Pillows”.

 

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