An ingredient used in many foods, flour is a fine powder made from
cereals or other starchy food sources. It is most commonly made
from wheat, but also maize (also known as corn), rye, barley, and
rice, amongst many other grasses and non-grain plants (including
many Australian species of acacia). Flour is the key ingredient of
bread, which is the staple food in many countries, and therefore
the availability of adequate supplies of flour has often been a
major economic and political issue. Flour can also be made from
legumes and nuts, such as soy, peanuts, almonds, and other tree
nuts.
