Rye (
Secale cereale) is a
grass grown extensively as a
grain, a
cover crop and as a
forage crop. It is a member of the wheat tribe (
Triticeae) and is closely related to
barley (
Hordeum) and
wheat (
Triticum). Rye grain is used for
flour,
rye bread,
rye beer,
crisp bread, some
whiskeys, some
vodkas, and animal
fodder. It can also be eaten whole, either as boiled rye berries, or by being rolled, similar to
rolled oats.