Category: Grains legumes

While often used similarly in cooking, buckwheat and barley are not related; buckwheat is actually a pseudocereal and member of the knotweed family, while barley is a true grain belonging to the grass family. This botanical distinction leads to significant differences in their nutritional content, flavor, and culinary applications, most notably in their gluten content.

Despite being one of the oldest cultivated grains, many home cooks are unaware of the processing variations. The key difference between pearled barley and barley lies in how they are processed, which affects their cooking time, texture, and nutritional value.