Rye facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rye
Scientific classification
Genus:	Secale
Species:	cereale
Synonyms
Secale fragile M.Bieb.

Rye is a special type of grass that farmers grow. It is often grown for its grain, which is like a tiny seed. Sometimes, it's also grown as "forage," meaning it's fed to animals. Rye belongs to the same plant family as wheat and barley, and it looks quite similar to them. People use rye to make flour, food for farm animals, and even different kinds of drinks.

The History of Rye

Rye wasn't always a plant that humans grew on purpose. Long ago, it was a wild plant that grew on its own. Scientists have found wild plants in Turkey that are very much like the rye we know today.

Rye growing in a field.

Since the Middle Ages (a long time ago, from about the 5th to the 15th century), rye has been very important in Central and Eastern Europe. In these areas, it is still a main ingredient for making bread. Even though it's still used, fewer people and businesses are growing and using rye now than in the past. Rye is usually sold to people or companies that are close to where it was grown.

How Rye Grows and Survives

Rye is a very strong plant. Farmers can plant it to feed animals directly, or they can harvest it to make hay (which is dried grass used as animal food). One amazing thing about rye is that it can grow well in many different types of soil. It doesn't mind if the soil is very acidic or very alkaline (which means it has a high pH level). Other plants often struggle to grow in these tough soil conditions, but rye can handle it!

What Can We Make with Rye?

Rye is used in many ways, especially for food and drinks.

• Rye bread: This includes types like pumpernickel. Rye bread is very popular in northern and eastern Europe. It's good for you because it has less gluten than bread made from wheat. Gluten is a protein found in many grains.
• Drinks: Rye is also used to make certain alcoholic drinks, such as rye whiskey.

Images for kids

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  Rye grains

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  A Rye Field by Ivan Shishkin

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  Rye exports by country (2014), from Harvard Atlas of Economic Complexity

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  Rye production map

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  Sultsina, a traditional Karelian dish made of unleavened rye dough and a farina filling

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  Some different types of rye grain

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  Rye seed enclosed in its husk

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  Wild rye

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  The grain of wheat, rye and triticale—triticale grain is significantly larger than that of wheat.

See also

In Spanish: Centeno para niños