Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between hard and soft wheat berries?

Everlasting Harvest carries three main types of wheat berries; hard red, hard white, and soft white.

Let's focus on hard vs. soft first. Hard wheat has more gluten than soft wheat, which provides the elasticity needed for yeast bread to rise. So, hard wheat is better for yeast recipes, and soft wheat should only be used in baking powder recipes.

As for the color, hard red wheat has a nuttier whole wheat bread flavor than hard white wheat. Hard white wheat tastes like whole wheat but isn't as nutty. Soft white wheat has the least amount of whole wheat flavor.

Here is a simple cheat sheet. These are not rules, only suggestions:

Hard Red Wheat
bread
sandwich rolls

Hard White Wheat
pizza crust
bagels

Soft White Wheat
biscuits
cake
cookies
banana bread
pancakes
waffles
muffins