[ElaineM]

Thanks Jackie.
I knew about the kanji and the food connections, but I didn't know about the kimono connection. Now that I think of it I have seen old pictures of Chinese people who were wearing clothes similiair to kimono. I lived in northern Japan. I have yukata which is kind of like a casual summer kimono or a garment to be worn at home. I have hapi coat and a quilted house jacket. I also have a Chinese robe I got from my grandmother.
If we want to eat the barley as a food and the enjoy the tea as a drink I think we should. By all means we should do it. We need all the help we can get to improve all aspects of our health.