Gone Haywire

What grain can drive you crazy?

Beyond the familiar wheat and barley, there are another three types of grains that have special status in halacha: spelt, rye, and oats. Only bread made from these five types of grain requires a hamotzi, and the issur of chadash only applies to them. Like barley, rye can be used to produce alcoholic beverages, in this case whiskey. It is also unfortunately vulnerable to a type of deadly mold that causes insanity.

There are other species, such as amaranth, quinoa, millet, sorghum, and buckwheat, which are not considered grains in halacha, but which are widely available as alternatives to more popular grains.