Barley

Orge

What it is

In Mesopotamia, wages and taxes were paid in barley — the first salary was a grain ration. It brews the world’s beer and whisky, and in a slow soup it turns to little cushions of comfort.

In the kitchen

Pearl barley needs no soaking and loves mushrooms; treat it like risotto rice for a nuttier, humbler orzotto.

Goes with

Button mushroom Beef Onion Thyme Carrot

Same species

Barley malt syrup Beer vinegar Diastatic malt powder Mugi miso Roasted barley tea

Also used with

Barley koji Mutton Koji spores (tane-koji) Nettle

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