The Book of Bere

A history of the Scottish dietary staple, plus recipes, from the author of The Scottish Baking Bible . Bere is the native barley of Orkney. In the past it was an important multi-use crop and a staple of the Scottish diet, though its use declined as more easily processed crops were introduced. Bere is still grown on Orkney farms by an agricultural contractor employed by the Birsay Heritage Trust who run the Barony Mill, Orkney’s last operating water mill. Here the grain is milled into beremeal, a