304. Parched: The prohibition against eating roasted grain of the new crop before the Omer

We may not eat grain from the new crop prior to the Omer, even if one didn’t go to the trouble of turning it into flour and baking it into bread. Even if he just threw wheat or barley on the fire and roasted it, it may not be eaten before the afternoon of 16 Nisan.

The reason for this is the same as the prohibition against eating bread from the new grain, as described in the previous mitzvah: grain is our primary form of sustenance. We may not enjoy the new crop of it before we bring our offering to thank God for this gift.

This mitzvah applies to both men and women in all times and places. As with the previous mitzvah, this prohibition is discussed in the last mishna in Orlah, in Talmud Kiddushin (39a) and Menachos (70b). It is codified in the Shulchan Aruch in Orach Chaim 489. This mitzvah is #190 of the 365 negative mitzvos in the Rambam’s Sefer HaMitzvos and #102 of the 194 negative mitzvos that can be observed today in the Chofetz Chaim’s Sefer HaMitzvos HaKatzar.