Organic Hulled Barley by Food to Live (Non-GMO, Bulk Grain, USA)

 

 

What Is Organic Barley and Why Do People Love It?

The barley grain has been a part of the human history for over 10,000 of years. It was one of the first cultivated grains. It’s safe to assume that people have been enjoying wild organic barley long before they learned the skills of agriculture. At that time, all plants and other foods were organic as there were no chemical solutions to treat them with. Today, Food To Live offers you a chance to enjoy 100% non-GMO Organic Barley. Farmers, who follow a strict code of using only natural solutions and eco-friendly practices, produce our product.

The people of today use barley very often. It’s the fourth most common cultivated crop worldwide. A great number of healthy food products are made with organic barley, including cereal, flour, and even barley grass juice.

Malted barley (organic and otherwise) is a very popular sweetener. It’s also used to make some great beer, whiskey, and a few other beverages. Organic barley malt powder is often included in processed products as a healthy sweetener.

 

Is Organic Barley Gluten-Free?

The organic barley grain is not gluten-free. Therefore, you should avoid it the same you do wheat and rye if you are sensitive to this protein. However, there are ways to enjoy the nutritional benefits of organic barley even if you can’t consume the seeds directly.

 

What Is Organic Barley Malt?

Malted barley (organic) is a great type of food with many applications in the kitchen and commercial food production. It’s used to make whiskey, beer, vinegar, and a variety of drinks and sweets. As it’s naturally sweet, manufacturers often add it to bread, cookies, and bagels.

To make organic barley malt you’ll need to soak the seeds to have them start germinating. Once they do, the grain must be dried using heat. The process is called ‘malting’ and it makes the grain very sweet.

This happens because, at the early stages of germinating, the seed releases a special kind of enzymes. They transform starch locked within it into various types of sugar. The actual level of ‘sweetness’ and taste of malted barley will depend on when exactly you halt the germination.

The name ‘malt’ comes from ‘maltodextrines’, which are the types of higher sugars unlocked by germination. Bear in mind every time you see word ‘maltose’ on a food label, it means sugar. Consider this if you want to limit your intake of glucose. You should also look up other names of sweeteners as many manufacturers use them instead of plainly stating the sugar content.

 

Malted Barley: Organic Sweetener Extraordinaire

Organic barley malt powder is known as ‘sweetmeal’ and you can use it to bake any kind of treat you love. If you read the labels of many sweet products, you are likely to find some type of malt in the list of ingredients.

The main form of this natural and healthy sweetener is the so-called organic barley malt extract. It’s rarer than honey, molasses, or maple syrup, so you might have a hard time finding it in a store. If you do have it, bear in mind that it’s actually less sweet than regular sugar.

When working with organic barley malt powder, you’ll need to use about 1 1/3 cup for every cup of white sugar in a recipe. However, the extract’s sweetness can vary, so you’ll have to taste it before deciding on the best proportions. Bear in mind that the taste will differ depending on the manufacturer.

Organic barley malt extract might be safe for a gluten-free diet as it contains only a small amount of this protein. However, if you are highly sensitive or just want to stay on the safe side, avoid this product.

According to the FDA regulations, products sold in the US with ‘malt’ in their ingredients list have ‘barley malt’. Several types of whole grains can be malted, so take your time studying the label. If the food contains any malt but barley, it should say so.

Note that certified gluten-free products cannot contain any malt. You also should be aware that determining the amount of malt (and therefore gluten) in a food is very difficult. Tests for this particular element produce different results based on the technique used.

 

What Is Organic Barley Grass?

Organic barley grass literally is grass grown from organic barley seeds. It’s an exceptionally health boosting product and you can easily grow it in large batches and enjoy it every day. Organic barley grain is beneficial by default because it’s a rich source of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. 

Don’t forget that you also get to make organic barley grass juice. It’s a drink widely considered a superfood. In essence, it’s an extremely potent antioxidant cocktail. It provides you with varied amounts of:

·       B vitamins;
·       Vitamin C;
·       Vitamin E;
·       Vitamin K;
·       Zinc;
·       Iron;
·       Calcium.
Due to its content of these particular minerals, barley juice is very good for vegans and vegetarians. Plant-based diets might be lacking in iron and zinc, in particular, because they mostly come from meat and seafood.

Organic Barley Juice: Powder and Liquid

Organic barley grass juice powder is one of the ‘healthy superfood products’ you can find in specialized stores today. On one hand, it’s a great powder that allows you to enjoy the benefits of organic barley grass juice. On the other, its nutritional value is much lower.

It’s a fact that dehydration reduces the number of essential nutrients, especially calcium and vitamins C and E. Therefore, a juice made from barley powder can’t be as beneficial as the fresh variety.

Many sources claim that organic barley grass juice only retains the maximum of its antioxidant value for less than 5 minutes. This means that if you want to garner the maximum of its power, you should make it yourself.

Other ways to enjoy organic barley grass is to add it to stews and salads. It also goes very well in soups and is a fantastic ingredient for a healthy green smoothie. In fact, organic barley grass is a very good food for any detox program as it’s nutritious and rich in antioxidants.

 

Ways to Enjoy Organic Barley

If you have the equipment and dedication, you can use a bulk organic barley pack to make a great number of products. You can grind your own organic barley flour, which would be very nutritious as the grain is whole.

Try experimenting with this amazing whole grain to make some barley soup, stew, bread, or even barley candy.

There are even recipes for barley tea and coffee online. Those would be interesting of foodists to explore in order to expand their healthy products collections.

Remember that roasted barley, organic or not, has a mouthwatering aroma. If you want to enhance the taste of your grain, be sure to roast it for 5-10 minutes.

If you are planning to make some homemade beer or whiskey, there would be no better grain than organic barley. Some of the leading brands in the industry use it.

 

How to Store Bulk Organic Barley

For maximum shelf life, you should store your organic barley as you would any other grain. This means keeping it in a cool dark place. It’s essential to store the grain in an airtight container and ensure it remains dry.

If moisture gets to it, your organic barley might go moldy as bacteria get to it. For long-term storage, use specialized dehumidifiers in the room. However, you can also freeze your pack of organic barley and it will last for several years. In a regular pantry, the shelf life of a whole grain is 12 months.

As Food To Live Organic Barley is whole, you don’t have to store it in the fridge. However, keep organic barley flour there as it will last this way for over 3 months. In a pantry, it might go bad after a bit over a month, depending on the temperature.

Please be careful with organic barley grass as it can only be stored for 3-5 days max. Always keep it refrigerated in an airtight container.