Cereals are hardy crops that are suited to Scottish where the climate is often harsh and
the soil poor. They are staple crops providing wholesome food for both people and animals and are also important ingredients of Scotch whisky. The two most important cereals grown in Scotland are barley and oats.
Barley
Barley is Scotland's major cereal crop. It's grown mainly in the east of the country as the land there is the most fertile. Other than its use in the production of beer and whisky, barley is also used for animal feed.
Barley can be categorised into two main types depending on when the cereal is sown and harvested. Winter barley is actually sown in autumn and harvested about 11 months later. The second type, spring barley, grows much faster due to the warmer weather. It's sown in spring and harvested in autumn. Spring barley is usually of a higher quality, too. In fact, over half of the spring crop goes to making whiskey.
Oats
Oats is another Scottish mainstay. It's a tough crop that can grow in the inhospitable Scottish climate and less than fertile soil. It forms the basis of the national dish of porridge along with other curious Scottish specialties such as oatcakes, bannocks, skirlie, mealy pudding, and the famous haggis.
Oats have been at the heart of the Scottish diet since medieval times and only recently have researchers discovered their high nutritional properties. For one thing, oats are very high in fibre along with fatty acids and B vitamins. What's more they contain complex carbohydrates so the body absorbs them more gradually.
Barley
Barley is Scotland's major cereal crop. It's grown mainly in the east of the country as the land there is the most fertile. Other than its use in the production of beer and whisky, barley is also used for animal feed.
Barley can be categorised into two main types depending on when the cereal is sown and harvested. Winter barley is actually sown in autumn and harvested about 11 months later. The second type, spring barley, grows much faster due to the warmer weather. It's sown in spring and harvested in autumn. Spring barley is usually of a higher quality, too. In fact, over half of the spring crop goes to making whiskey.
Oats
Oats is another Scottish mainstay. It's a tough crop that can grow in the inhospitable Scottish climate and less than fertile soil. It forms the basis of the national dish of porridge along with other curious Scottish specialties such as oatcakes, bannocks, skirlie, mealy pudding, and the famous haggis.
Oats have been at the heart of the Scottish diet since medieval times and only recently have researchers discovered their high nutritional properties. For one thing, oats are very high in fibre along with fatty acids and B vitamins. What's more they contain complex carbohydrates so the body absorbs them more gradually.