Cereals are accepted as an important part of the human diet throughout the planet, with their simple storage and carbohydrate existence they are created throughout the planet. Cereals are also the staple food, it has many products under it, based on yourself what you choose to eat. Actually, cereals are the bud that is cultivated for its edible components. Wheat and Barley are two types of commonly consumed cereals throughout the globe; they’re also regarded as staple foods. Both these bowls of cereal belong to the same sequence, tribe, and family and that’s the reason people often get confused in between them. The most notable difference between these crops is that wheat is a Triticum genus cereal, and barley is a Hordeum genus harvest.
Comparison Chart
| Basis | Wheat | Barley |
| Scientific Name | Triticum aestivum | Hordeum vulgare |
| Scientific Classification |
Kingdom: Plantae and Order: Poales Family: Poaceae and Subfamily: Pooideae Tribe: Triticeae and Genus: Triticum |
Kingdom: Plantae and Order: Poales Family: Poaceae and Subfamily: Pooideae Tribe: Triticeae and Genus: Hordeum |
| Usage | Wheat is used for making biscuits, bread, pasta, cookies, noodles, Chappati, and other breakfast cereals. | Barley is used as one of the basic ingredients that is used for the formation of beer and other alcoholic beverages and it is also used as livestock fodder largely. |
| Harvested | Barley is harvested in the warmer season. | Wheat thrives in the cooler season. |
What is Wheat?
Wheat is a sort of cereal grain that was primarily being cultivated in the Levant area, but now it’s being cultivated throughout the planet. It’s one of the most produced cereals globally after maize and rice. Around some years ago rice was the second most-produced cereals following maize, but the growth in rice production made it go to the next most-produced cereal grain. Wheat is also considered as one of the basic foods which are because it’s the major source of vegetal protein in human food. It possesses higher proteins compared to other largely produced cereal grains such as maize and rice.
When it is all about the human use of plants as food, wheat is the second most-consumed cereal grain following rice. Some of the famous kinds of wheat chosen are soft red wheat, hard red wheat, and durum wheat. Wheat thrives best in the cool weather, and when it’s ready to be harvested, it turns of a brown or gold hue. For baking or cooking purposes, wheat has been mulled. In the mulled type or as flour wheat is used for making snacks, bread, cookies, noodles, pasta, Chappati, and other breakfast cereals. Wheat is a prominent source of vitamins, protein, and minerals and that’s the reason it’s a staple food.
What is Barley?
Barley is a sort of cereal grain that’s taken as secure cereals and can also be used as livestock fodder largely. Aside from that the most prominent use of barley is the fact that it’s used as one of the basic ingredients used for the creation of beer and other alcoholic drinks. Barley has a stronger flavor than the wheat that’s the reason it’s preferred over the latter as it’s all about using it as the main ingredient for using it in alcoholic drinks.
It has a lower protein content as compared to the wheat and has a higher fiber content than the wheat. Barley doesn’t have to be milled for baking or cooking purposes like wheat; it is easily cooked like rice. It’s highly suggested for the 1 suffering from lower bad (LDL) cholesterol or the one wanting to eliminate the weight. Aside from that, it’s also viewed as an important diet for diabetic patients.
Key Differences between Wheat and Barley
- Wheat is a Triticum genus cereal, and barley is a Hordeum genus harvest.
- From the mulled type or as flour, wheat is used for making snacks, bread, biscuits, pasta, noodles, Chappati, and other breakfast cereals, whereas barley is used as one of the basic ingredients used for the creation of beer and other alcoholic drinks and can also be used as livestock fodder mainly.
- Barley does not have to be milled for baking or cooking purposes like wheat; it is easily cooked like rice.
- Barley has a lower protein content as compared to the wheat and has a higher fiber content than the wheat.
- Barley is chosen from the warmer season, on the other hand, wheat thrives in cooler seasons.