Wheat berry



A wheat berry, or wheatberry, is a whole wheat kernel, composed of the bran, germ, and endosperm, without the husk. Botanically, it is a type of fruit called a caryopsis. Wheat berries have a tan to reddish-brown color and are available as either a They are often added to salads or baked into bread to add a chewy texture. If wheat berries are milled, whole-wheat flour is produced. Wheatberries are similar to barley, with a somewhat nuttier taste.

Wheat berries are the primary ingredient in an Eastern European Christmas porridge called kutia. In France, cooked durum wheat berries are commonly eaten as a side dish instead of rice or corn. This side dish is often called ebly, from the name of the first brand of prepared wheat berries. In Romania and other Eastern European countries, the wheat berries (arpacas) are used in a special sweet dish called “coliva” for Christian Orthodox ritual.