Wheat grain classes
Classification of wheat greatly varies by the producing country.
Argentina
Originally, the wheat classes in Argentina were related to the production region or port of shipment: Rosafe, Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires. While mostly similar to the US Hard Red Spring wheat, the classification caused inconsistencies, so Argentina had introduced three new classes of wheat, with all names using a prefix Trigo Dura Argentina and a number:| Name | % protein | Alveograph W factor, | P/L ratio | Farinograph stability, min | Falling number, sec | Use |
| TDA 1 Corrector | >12.5 | >300 | 0.8-1.5 | 15-40 | >300 | industrial breadmaking of pan breads, panettone, rolls, and buns |
| TDA 2 Superior Breadmaking | >12.0 | >240 | 0.8-1.5 | >9 | >300 | baguettes with long fermentation |
| TDA 3 Common Breadmaking | >11.0 | 170-240 | 0.7-1.0 | 3-7 | >300 | standard breads and crackers with short fermentation |
Australia
The grain classification in Australia is within the purview of the National Pool Classification Panel. Australia had chosen to measure the protein content at 11% moisture basis. The measured and average values below are based on the results of testing over the 2002-2005 period.| Name | % protein | Alveograph W factor, | Farinograph absorption, % | Farinograph stability, min | Use |
| Australian Prime Hard | ≥13.0 | 393 avg. | 64.0 avg. | European breads, Chinese noodles, ramen noodles, wonton skins | |
| Australian Hard | ≥10.0 | 335 avg. | 63.9 avg. | European breads, Chinese noodles, ramen noodles, wonton skins | |
| Australian Premium White | ≥11.5 | 276 avg. | 63.7 avg. | >8.3 meas. | flat breads, pita, steamed breads, noodles |
| Australian Standard White / Australian Noodle | 228 avg. | 61.7 avg. | multipurpose wheat, ASWN targets udon noodles and ramen noodles | ||
| Australian Soft | ≤9.5 | very low | low | short | biscuits, cakes, pastries, steamed buns, extruded snacks |
| Australian Durum | ≥13 | pasta, couscous, hearth breads, flat breads |
Canada
The decisions on the wheat classification in Canada are coordinated by the Variety Registration Office of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Like in the US system, the eight classes in Western Canada and six classes in Eastern Canada are based on colour, season, and hardness.The measured and average values below are mostly based on the results of testing over the 1996-2005 period. Canada has a unique requirement that the varieties of wheat grains should allow for purely visual identification.
| Name | % protein | Alveograph W factor, | Farinograph absorption, % | Farinograph stability, min | Use |
| Canada Western Amber Durum | high | Mediterranean and North African flat and hearth breads | |||
| Canada Western Red Spring / Canada Eastern Red Spring | ≥13.5 | 454 avg. | 64-70 | pan and crusty breads, sponge and dough baking | |
| Canada Western Red Winter / Canada Eastern Hard Red Winter, can be "generic" and "select" for milling | varies | 295 / 245 avg. | 59.2 / 60.3 avg. | 6.6 / 6.3* avg. | European hearth breads, pizzas, Middle Eastern pocket bread, noodles |
| Canada Western Hard White Spring / Canada Eastern Hard White Spring, similar to CWRS / CERS | high-volume pan and crusty breads, Asian noodles, steamed breads | ||||
| Canada Prairie Spring Red | similar to CWRS | 435* | 63.8* | 9.5* avg. | hearth breads, steamed breads, noodles |
| Canada Prairie Spring White | medium | flat breads, noodles | |||
| Canada Western Extra Strong | lower than CWRS | lower than CWRS | high gluten, blending for higher strength dough, frozen dough | ||
| Canada Eastern Soft Red Winter / Canada Eastern White Winter, can be "generic" and "select" for milling | low | 104* / 78* avg. | 51.9* / 51.0* avg. | 3.0* / 2.6* avg. | high sugar ratio cakes, biscuits, cookies, crackers |
| Canada Western Soft White Spring | 10-11.5 | <60 | 50-55 | 1.0-1.5 | cakes, cookies, biscuits, pastry |
France
The classification of wheat grains in France is controlled by the and the Institut Technique des Céréales et des Fourrages, with the involvement of Céréaliers de France group. Most French wheat is of red winter type.| Name | % protein | Alveograph W factor, | Specific weight, kg/hl, % | Falling number, seconds | Use |
| Class E | ≥12.0 | ≥250 | ≥220 | Blending into other classes to improve performance | |
| Class 1 | 11.5-12.5 | 160-250 | ≥76 | ≥220 | Breadmaking |
| Class 2 | 10.5-11.5 | per contract | ≥76 | ≥180 | Breadmaking |
| Class 3 | <10.5 | two subclasses: <74 / ≥74 |
USA
The wheat grain classes used in the United States are named by colour, season, and hardness:- Durum – Hard, translucent, light-coloured grain used to make semolina flour for pasta and bulghur; high in protein, specifically, gluten protein.
- Hard Red Spring – Hard, brownish, high-protein wheat used for bread and hard baked goods. Bread flour and high-gluten flours are commonly made from hard red spring wheat. It is primarily traded on the Minneapolis Grain Exchange.
- Hard Red Winter – Hard, brownish, mellow high-protein wheat used for bread, hard baked goods and as an adjunct to increase protein in pastry flour for pie crusts. Some brands of unbleached all-purpose flours are made from hard red winter wheat alone. It is primarily traded on the Kansas City Board of Trade. Many varieties grown from Kansas south descend from a variety known as "Turkey red", which was brought to Kansas by Mennonite immigrants from Russia. Marquis wheat was developed to prosper in the shorter growing season in Canada, and is grown as far south as southern Nebraska.
- Soft Red Winter – Soft, low-protein wheat used for cakes, pie crusts, biscuits, and muffins. Cake flour, pastry flour, and some self-rising flours with baking powder and salt added, for example, are made from soft red winter wheat. It is primarily traded on the Chicago Board of Trade.
- Hard White – Hard, light-coloured, opaque, chalky, medium-protein wheat planted in dry, temperate areas. Used for bread and brewing.
- Soft White – Soft, light-coloured, very low protein wheat grown in temperate moist areas. Used for pie crusts and pastry.