"Grünkern (German pronunciation: [ˈɡʁyːnkɛʁn], ´green kernel´) is spelt that has been harvested when half ripe and then artificially dried. In response to periods of adverse weather, which ...
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destroyed crops, spelt was harvested before it was completely ripe, during the so-called ´dough-ripe phase´, at about 50% moisture content. Because the dried kernels exhibited a pleasing flavor when cooked in water, it became traditional to harvest a portion of the spelt crop as grünkern.
As a winter crop, the spelt meant for Grünkern would be harvested at the end of July and subsequently dehydrated, traditionally over a beechwood fire, or in modern times, in heated-air ovens. This preserves the grünkern (by reducing moisture content to 13%) and endows it with its typical taste and aroma. Before further processing, Grünkern must be husked or milled. Grünkern husk has been used as a cattle feed, or as the filler for small pillows which are meant to promote healthy sleep." - (en.wikipedia.org 03.07.2020)
