The Oatmeal of Alford, Gluten Free Pinhead Oatmeal

The Medlock family farm is at Mains of Haulkerton, Laurencekirk, Scotland. Legend has it this has been a Mill since the 1300's! This is a fully organic farm and the central point of trading for the Oatmeal of Alford. Oats have always been the main crop, however, nowadays; this is shared with free range chickens and a rotation of potatoes, wheat and grass.

The unusual flavor and texture of these amazing Scottish pinhead oats may be attributed to the final drying process, carried out in the old fashioned 'flat kiln', which is believed to be the only one of its kind used in Britain today. The oats are dried in the kiln for four hours, during which time they're turned twice by hand shovel. It is this very specialized process, perfected by the miller, which makes the flavor and texture unique.

The distinct oat grains are then stone-cut into small pieces - smaller than Irish "steel cut" oats - thus the name pinhead. Unlike old-fashioned oatmeal, they're not steamed and rolled flat.