Ancient cereal crops

Today, the main crops we sow and harvest are barley, rye, wheat, oats, and corn. Other important cereal crops around the world include rice and millet, but they are not grown here.

Other types of grain used to be common here, too. Buckwheat, emmer, spelt and einkorn have been used as food by people for thousands of years. Today, they are rarely found in our fields. This is mainly because they produce lower yields and are no longer profitable for modern agriculture.

But it is important to remember these old varieties. They contain substances that are absent or found in smaller amounts in the varieties mainly grown today. That is why they are increasingly valued as part of a healthy diet. Some farmers deliberately grow them so they are not lost.

Buckwheat used to be the most important crop in moorland areas. The grains were milled into flour, which was used, for example, to make pancakes. The flour is not suitable for baking bread.

This plant is undemanding and also thrives in soils that are not very fertile. It grows to about 30 to 80 cm tall. The flowers are white. Buckwheat is very sensitive to frost. However, it can be grown on the same plot for up to seven years in a row. By the way, buckwheat is not wheat at all, but belongs to the knotweed family.

People have been sowing and harvesting emmer for more than 10,000 years. 

The plant can grow up to 1.50 m tall. The awns on its ears are several centimetres long. The grains are enclosed in husks. They contain a lot of protein and minerals. They can be used to bake bread or make beer. They are also suitable for soups, stews or salads.

In winter, the plant can withstand temperatures as low as minus 20°C. However, the stems bend over easily.

This cereal has also been known for many thousands of years. It is closely related to wheat. It can withstand a harsh climate and is not very susceptible to disease. However, it also produces low yields. Its flour is not as easy to use for baking as wheat flour.

Spelt is used to make pasta, bread, baked goods and beer. People who cannot tolerate wheat flour particularly value spelt. It is used to make baby food and children's food, as well as horse feed.

Spelt can be harvested before the grains are ripe. It is then called green spelt and, for example, is used to make soups.

A few years ago, the prehistoric man "Ötzi" was found in the Alps. He lived about 5,300 years ago. Snow and ice preserved his body. Remains of einkorn were discovered in his stomach contents. This grain is therefore also one of the oldest varieties used by people for food.

Einkorn also grows in less fertile soils. The plant needs no artificial fertiliser and is resistant to disease. However, its yield is much lower than that of wheat, for example.

Einkorn also takes longer to ripen. Because it grows slowly, weeds are more likely to take hold in its fields than in fields of other cereal crops. However, einkorn contains more important nutrients than wheat. Today, it is used to make pasta, bread and beer.

This grain often appears in old folk tales. There are two main types of millet: foxtail millet and common millet. These plants are now rarely grown in Europe. Today, the main growing regions are China, Afghanistan and India. In some parts of these countries, millet is the most important staple food.

Foxtail millet grows to about 120 cm tall. Its stalks grow upright. The grains are 1.5 to 2 millimeters long. Common millet grows to about 100 cm tall. Its flower heads grow up to 30 cm long and droop to the side.                 

The grains often fall out before they are ripe. Millet is eaten as grain, made into porridge or baked into bread. It can also be brewed into beer. Cattle particularly like the straw.