History of Barley Grass and Wheat Grass
Barleygrass and Wheat Grass are made from the unripe leaves of Barley and Wheat. After an harvest of the grains of the plants, the plants begin to prepare for the reproductive phase. New shoots appear from the ground. All nutrients accumulate in these shoots. It is those green nutritious shoots we process into our barley grass and wheatgrass powder.
Barley Grass
Barley grass has been used for thousands of years and was one of the first crops domesticated for human use. It has been shown that the ancient Egyptians harvested both the barley and the young shoots, and there are references to the use of the barley grass plant as an important religious sacrifice in the Bible.
Wheat Grass
Wheat Grass is traditionally used in certain persian and indian rituals, but it didn't really become a 'hot' product until archicultural chemist Charles Schnabel discovered the nutritious value of wheatgrass when he observed free ranging chickens seeking out and eating wheat grass shoots in the 1930's.
Processing
Both grasses are grown organically on meadows in Europe. The seeds are planted in the autumn and grow for 4-5 months to give the shoots time to extract the maximum amount of nutrients from the fertile soil. Since our barley grass and wheat grass is grown outdoors, the shoots benefit from exposure to many hours of natural sunlight each day, and the long growing season gives the young plants plenty of time to absorb all the minerals from the nutrient-rich soil. No chemical pesticides or fertilizers are used to grow these grasses. All water used for irrigation is deeply extracted from the soil and free from pollution or agricultural pesticides.
It's crucial that the harvest is done on time. Just before the shoots turn into the real grain, they contain the most nutrients. After this, they become stiff and dry, because the shoots then have to give up all the important substances to the flowering part of the plant.
To make sure that the shoots continue to develop under natural conditions for as long as possible, we can assure you that our wheatgrass contains only minimal quantities of simple sugars. Simple sugars are converted into complex carbohydrates which release energy more slowly as they are digested. Once ready for harvest, the young barley and wheat grass plants are carefully cut by hand and quickly transported to a collection centre. Here they are carefully cleaned and then sorted by hand to remove any poor quality leaves. The grasses are then quickly dried and ground into a fine powder using freeze-drying. The shoots are already processed into the final product within 1 hour after cutting.
BENEFITS FOR HEALTH
Both Barleygrass and Wheat Grass are rich in fibre, protein copper and iron. Protein contributes to the growth and maintenance of muscle mass and the maintenance of strong bones.
Barleygrass also contains a lot of calcium, which contributes to the maintenance of bones and teeth, and muscle function. Due to its high calcium content, barley grass is often referred to as "alkaline food", which is supposed to correct excess acids in the body.
Our organic barley grass powder is a great addition to your daily smoothies. With a pleasantly sour taste it is not as sweet as wheatgrass but has all the benefits of concentrated grass-goodness.
