For some weeks now, I’ve been conducting a large-scale taste test of whole grain and multigrain pancake mixes. One thing that has surprised me a great deal has been the trouble I’ve had with batter consistency; even when prepared according to package instructions, the majority of batters have been too thin or too thick. But with one exception, the folks at Littleton Grist Mill seem to have figured out this whole pancake mix thing. True, I had some difficulty with the Organic Oat Pancake Mix. But the three others I tried (Organic Whole Wheat, Multi-Grain, and Organic Buckwheat) produced batters of ideal consistencies…and, even more important, the pancakes taste great! The Buckwheat, in particular, is wonderful. Buckwheat can be a tricky mix to get right; most buckwheat pancakes are either too wimpy or too assertive in flavor. But these pancakes somehow struck a perfect flavor balance. They had a hearty, grainy flavor, but it didn’t hit you over the head. There was a slight sweetness to them, too, so you almost didn’t need syrup (although they’re even better with it). And these pancakes weren’t gummy at all, a common characteristic in some whole grain/multigrain hotcakes.
Of course, Littleton Grist Mill produces more than just pancake mixes. There are muffin and bread mixes, organic flours and brans (ranging from whole wheat pastry flour to coarse corn meal to whole spelt flour to wheat bran), organic cereals (including their own Moose Mush), organic granolas, organic popcorn, and even genuine maple syrup.
The original mill was constructed just before 1800. After extensive reconstruction, it’s now open to the public free of charge as a working museum. While the first grindstones and waterwheel are no longer in use, the mill holds a grist mill from the 1800’s with grinding stones two feet (!) in diameter; these stones are the ones used by Littleton Grist Mill to grind their grains. The entire operation is in Littleton, NH, but if you can’t get to the mill, online ordering is a mere few mouse clicks away. Check out the website at LittletonGristMill.com.