Food - Drink
Most Of The World's Barley Comes From This Country
By NATASHA BAILEY
Barley has been around for thousands of years and remains one of the most popular grains in the world, used to make bread, beer, liquor, soups, and more. The barley crop is a type of tall grass, and we harvest and consume the seeds that grow at the top; surprisingly, this plant thrives in a country that seems inhospitable to plant life.
Most of the world’s barley comes from Russia, closely followed by Germany, Canada, and France. Russia alone grew 20.6 million metric tons of the ancient grain between 2020 and 2021, and is also the global leading producer of oats and sugar beets, a surprising fact when you consider the country's viciously cold climate.
Barley originated in the Fertile Crescent of the Middle East, but is capable of adapting to climates ranging from subtropical to subarctic. Since barley is one of the few crops that can thrive in harsh winters, Russian barley production tripled from the 1940's to 1980's, and the grain is featured in dishes like Pearl Barley Kasha, or barley grits.