What is a Wheat Berry? Are Wheat Berries Really a Berry at All?
Are wheat berries really berries? A good question, since a true berry is considered the fleshy fruit that contains the seed, and a seed is a hard covered kernel that can develop into a new plant. From that description, wheat berries are really seeds or kernels. The wheat berry is one of the worlds most important food sources. Located on the tip or head of the wheat stem, wheat berries are harvested after the mature plant turns golden-brown. Grown for thousands of years, this cereal grain is a well-loved staple of breakfast, lunch and dinner menus for many families. Tan in color and oval shaped with a center groove, the wheat berry has three parts: the germ, endosperm and bran. The germ is the small, inner sprouting part of the seed and concentrated with vitamins and minerals. The large starch-filled endosperm contains minerals, protein, carbohydrates, and soluble fiber. When processed, the endosperm makes white flour. Bran forms the outer layers and contains protein, minerals, and a la
