A high-purity coarse-grained niobium ingot was 80% cold rolled in multiple passes. The microstructure of this ingot consists of very coarse columnar grains with sizes in the range of centimeters. Three grains were chosen and investigated in detail concerning their microstructure, stored energy (hardness) and deformation microtexture. After subsequent vacuum annealing at 1200degreesC for 1 h, distinct recrystallization microtextures are found in these grains. Microtexture was determined using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) in cold-worked and annealed states. Significant lattice rotations are observed within individual grains mainly due to the presence of deformation heterogeneities. Recrystallization texture and grain size vary from one grain to another indicating orientation effects. In consequence, the microstructure of the resulting plate is very inhomogeneous.