March & april GREAT grains
March april
Barley, an ancient grain, is a member of the grass family
and was one of the first cultivated grains. It has a rich,
nut like flavor and an appealing consistency. The Latin
name for barley is hordeum vugave.
Barley originated in Ethiopia and Southeast Asia and is
important to the world food supply, even today! It has
been cultivated for more than 10,000 years and was used
for food for humans and animals alike. It was also used for
medicinal purposes.
In the Greek culture, barley was the staple bread making grain.
Both Greek and Roman athletes honored barley for its strength
building properties. Gladiators were known as “hordearil”, which
means “eaters of barley.” The Spanish introduced barley to
South America in the 16th century and the English and Dutch
settlers of the 17th century brought it to the US. The major