Useless info thread-drift: the barleycorn measure 1/3 inch is used in UK footwear sizing, so a shoe 3 sizes larger is one inch longer.

I tend to get my barley in liquid form these days, but sometimes use pearl barley in a soup or stew, as a kid I hated it, but my tastes have changed.

The only wholegrain barley I've eaten was nibbling the grain straight out of the field as a kid (rub the head between your hands to remove the outer layers and beard) it tasted OK as I recall.