Is barley the same as bulgur?

Question

Some sources seem to suggest that they are not, some suggest that they are but they are treated/processed differently.

I want to know if they are fundamentally the same grain, because they are very similar when prepared.

For reference:

Whole bulgur:

Where did your picture fit "whole bulgur" come from? Bulge by definition isn't whole — Chris H, Jul 17, 2018 at 9:20
@ChrisH: The picture appears to be from a California grain distributor, sold as "whole-kernel organic bulgur." — Michael Seifert, Jul 17, 2018 at 14:09
@MichaelSeifert I'm not familiar witht he US, but in the bits of Europe, I know "whole kernel bulgur" is a contradiction. The usage at Wikipedia (link in my answer) matches what I'm familiar with, so I wonder if the question has a hint of "what's this strange bulgur?" about it — Chris H, Jul 17, 2018 at 14:15
@ChrisH: I'm from the US, and I had never heard of "whole-kernel bulgur" before reading this question either. — Michael Seifert, Jul 17, 2018 at 14:34

Chris H · Accepted Answer · 2018-07-17 09:19:27Z

19

No. Bulgur is (almost always) made from wheat while barley is a different species.

Bulgur is cracked and parboiled before sale, while pearl barley has had the outer layers of the barley grain removed but is otherwise intact.

answered Jul 17, 2018 at 9:19

Chris H

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6

Pedantic nitpick: Bulgar is parboiled and then cracked. If cracked first it would have enough liberated starch to make a porridge when parboiled instead. I only mention this in case someone wants to make it at home.
– Sobachatina
Jul 17, 2018 at 16:31
3

Bulgur is wheat, genus Triticum. There are several other forms of the same plant, such as Farro, Kamut. Spelt is also a cultivar of wheat. Barley is genus Hordeum. Note that Buckwheat is not wheat either: it is genus Fagopyrum.
– Lee Daniel Crocker
Jul 17, 2018 at 19:41

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