Orzo
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Orzo (from Latin hordeum, sometimes called Italian rice) is Italian and means "barley," from which orzo was originally made. (Ref: Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary) but in common usage in the United States, orzo is understood to mean rice-shaped pasta, slightly smaller than a pine nut. It is frequently used in soups. Despite its rice shape, orzo is not made out of rice but of hard wheat semolina. It is also known as risone or kritharaki.
[edit] Orzo roasted barley drink
"Orzo" is also the name of a caffeine free hot drink made from roasted barley in some parts of the world. In Italy, for instance, a "caffé d'orzo" is an espresso style drink made from ground roasted barley. When prepared from the roasted barley directly, it can easily be made in many standard espresso or coffee makers. Although traditionally considered a coffee substitute for children, it is an increasingly common choice in Italy, and other places, for those who choose to eschew coffee for health reasons. In the United States, instant roasted barley drinks are sold under the name of "Pero" and others, including varieties of "café de cebada" in Latin American markets. "Postum" is made from wheat, not barley.
