Barley malt is a natural sweetener that is derived from barley. The malt can be used in the home as a substitute for processed sugar. In addition, many commercial foods make use of barley malt as a way of providing sweetening in frozen or packaged foods.

The creation of barley malt begins with toasting sprouted barley and grinding the toasted sprouts into a powder. The powder can then be processed for use as a dry product or made into barley malt syrup, which has a relatively high concentration of maltose. While not as sweet as granulated or powdered sugar, the final product is often sweet enough to produce tasty foods.

There are two distinct advantages to the use of barley malt. First, the product tends to cause lower spikes in blood glucose levels. This helps to make the product a viable option in the preparation of foods for people who are attempting to monitor their blood sugar levels. While the malt does contain a significant amount of carbohydrates, they are considered to be the good kind, similar to those found in oatmeal and other whole grains.

Another benefit of using barley malt has to do with the texture and consistency of the prepared dish. Unlike many of the artificial sweeteners that do not lend any real texture to recipes, barley malt can be ideal for use in baking and other applications. By using malts made from barley, it is possible to cut the sugar content and thus avoid some of the calories without negatively impacting any dishes prepared using the sweetener.

Because of the high fiber content, this type of malt is sometimes processed into a product known as barley malt extract. The extract can be consumed to add bulk to the stool, which in turn helps with general colon health and lowering bad cholesterol in the body. Along with the powder form, it is also possible to purchase barley malt extract tablets for this purpose.

The malt can also be used in the creation of home brewed beers and ales. Many of the kits on the market today specifically recommend the use of barley malt in order to produce the best results. As with many types of malt, barley malt can add a pleasant flavor to the home brew that is difficult to achieve using any other product.

Currently, it is possible to purchase barley malt in many retail outlets, including some supermarket chains. The product is also available from a number of online services. In some cases, the malt is marketed as barley flour, which may be confusing to some consumers.