Barley Grass

<h2 class="header Heading3" >The Facts</h2>

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<p >Barley is a variety of grain grown commercially by farmers. The majority of the crop is grown in Grain Belt states such as Kansas and Nebraska. The grain part of the plant is harvested for use in a variety of recipes. Barley is a main ingredient in beer and is also used in soups and other recipes. The shoot, or stalk, of the barley plant is referred to as barley grass. Though not as commonly used in cooking, barley grass has become popular as a health-food supplement because of its nutrients. It is often sold in health-food stores.</p>

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<h2 class="header Heading3" >Identification</h2>

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<p >The barley plant, or Hordeum vulgare, features two distinct parts. The barley grain is an amber-colored part of the plant that develops at the top end of the stalk. Barley grass is the bright green shoot that rises from the soil well before the grains develop. Barley grass is harvested about 200 days after germination when shoots are less than a foot tall. It differs from wheat grass, a similar product sold as a health-food supplement. Wheat grass comes from the wheat plant, a cousin of the barley plant.</p>

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