Barley Tea: Mugicha, Boricha, Caffeine & How to Make It

Barley tea is one of those drinks that can surprise you the first time you try it.

There are no tea leaves, no floral perfume, and none of the grassy character you might associate with green tea. Instead, roasted barley creates a warm, nutty infusion with flavors reminiscent of toasted grain, bread crust, cereal, and sometimes a very light roasted-coffee note.

Known as mugicha in Japan and boricha in Korea, barley tea is enjoyed both hot and cold. In Japan, chilled mugicha is particularly associated with hot summer weather, while Korean boricha is commonly enjoyed throughout the year.

Barley tea is naturally caffeine-free because it does not come from the traditional tea plant, Camellia sinensis. That makes it an appealing alternative when you want something more flavorful than water without adding another caffeinated drink to your day.

There is one important caveat, however: barley contains gluten. Barley tea should therefore not be assumed to be safe for someone with celiac disease or a medically necessary gluten-free diet.

From its roasted flavor to its wonderfully simple preparation, here is everything you need to know about barley tea.

🌾 What Is Barley Tea?

Barley tea is an infusion made from roasted barley grains and water.

Technically, it is not a true tea because it contains no leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant. It belongs instead to the broad family of grain and herbal infusions that are commonly called tea in everyday conversation.

Roasting is what gives the drink its distinctive personality. Raw barley itself does not have the deep toasted aroma most people associate with mugicha or boricha. As the grain roasts, it darkens and develops richer cereal, nutty, and toasted flavors.

The roasted barley can then be simmered in water, steeped from prepared tea bags, or—in products designed for the purpose—cold brewed.

The finished drink is generally amber to deep brown, depending on how heavily the barley was roasted and how strongly the tea was brewed.

🇯🇵 What Is Mugicha?

Mugicha (麦茶) is the Japanese name for roasted barley tea.

It is particularly closely associated with summer in Japan. Chilled pitchers of mugicha are a familiar warm-weather drink, and ready-to-drink bottles and barley tea bags are widely available.

Mugicha is not a variety of Japanese green tea.

Unlike sencha, matcha, gyokuro, or hojicha, it contains no tea leaves at all. Its color and roasted flavor come entirely from barley.

That distinction is also why plain mugicha contains no naturally occurring tea caffeine.

The flavor is usually mild, toasted, grainy, and refreshing, especially when served very cold.

🇰🇷 What Is Boricha?

In Korea, barley tea is known as boricha (보리차).

Like mugicha, it is made by brewing roasted barley in water. Boricha can be served warm or chilled and has long been an everyday beverage in Korean homes.

You may also encounter it in Korean restaurants.

Depending on the barley and preparation, boricha can range from light and mellow to considerably darker and roastier.

The basic idea remains wonderfully simple: roasted grain and water.

That simplicity is part of its appeal. Barley tea is not typically dependent on milk, sugar, fruit syrups, or elaborate garnishes. A well-made pitcher can be enjoyed exactly as it is.

☕ What Does Barley Tea Taste Like?

Barley tea has a flavor quite unlike traditional leaf tea.

Common tasting notes include:

Toasted grain
Nuts
Bread crust
Roasted cereal
Malt-like flavors
Light smokiness
Gentle bitterness

Some deeply roasted versions can remind people of extremely light coffee, although barley tea lacks coffee’s characteristic acidity and caffeine.

The drink usually has very little natural sweetness, but the roasting can create an impression of sweetness even when no sugar has been added.

If you enjoy roasted flavors such as hojicha, genmaicha, toasted grains, or light coffee, there is a good chance you will appreciate barley tea.

🌿 Barley Tea vs. Green Tea

Barley tea and green tea are completely different beverages despite both commonly being called tea.

Green tea comes from Camellia sinensis. The leaves are processed in ways that limit oxidation, producing teas that may taste grassy, vegetal, nutty, marine, sweet, or savory.

Barley tea is made from roasted grain. Its flavors are toasted, cereal-like, nutty, and earthy.

Green tea naturally contains caffeine.

Plain barley tea does not.

Green tea may also require relatively careful brewing temperatures to avoid excessive bitterness. Barley tea is much more forgiving and generally handles boiling or near-boiling water well.

Explore our Green Tea collection if you would like to compare the two.

🍚 Barley Tea vs. Genmaicha

These two drinks are easy to confuse because both can taste roasted.

Genmaicha, however, is typically green tea combined with roasted rice.

Because genmaicha contains green tea leaves, it ordinarily contains caffeine.

Barley tea is made from roasted barley and contains no tea leaves.

Genmaicha tends to combine the fresh or vegetal character of green tea with toasted rice, while barley tea is much more purely grain-focused.

If you enjoy one, the other is certainly worth trying, but they are not interchangeable.

🔥 How Is Barley Tea Made?

Commercial barley tea generally begins with barley that is roasted until deeply aromatic.

The exact roasting process varies. Different barley varieties, roasting temperatures, and roast levels all influence flavor.

Some products contain whole roasted grains. Others use cracked or ground barley enclosed in tea bags.

Whole roasted barley usually requires simmering or a relatively long steep, while tea-bag products may be formulated for quicker hot brewing or for cold brewing in a refrigerator.

Always check the package instructions because ratios and preparation methods vary by product.

🫖 How to Make Barley Tea With Roasted Barley

Making barley tea from already-roasted barley is straightforward.

Ingredients

1/3 to 1/2 cup roasted barley
8 cups water

Method

Bring the water to a boil in a large saucepan or kettle.

Add the roasted barley and reduce the heat to a gentle simmer.

Simmer for approximately 10 to 15 minutes for a balanced flavor. If you prefer darker, roastier tea, you can extend the brewing time somewhat.

Remove the pot from the heat and strain out the barley.

Serve the tea warm, or allow it to cool before transferring it to a covered pitcher in the refrigerator.

This recipe is intentionally flexible. Some roasted barley is considerably stronger than others, so adjust the barley-to-water ratio after tasting your first batch.

🌾 How to Roast Barley for Tea

Buying roasted barley is the easiest option, but you can also roast suitable whole barley yourself.

Place the barley in a dry skillet over medium heat.

Cook while stirring frequently so that the grains roast evenly rather than burning in spots.

The barley should gradually deepen in color and develop a distinctly toasted aroma.

Once it reaches a deep golden or brown color, transfer it from the hot pan and allow it to cool.

The exact roasting time depends on the pan, heat level, grain, and quantity.

Be conservative at first. There is a difference between deeply roasted barley and burnt barley.

Once completely cool, the roasted grain can be stored in an airtight container until you are ready to brew it.

🫙 How to Make Barley Tea Bags

Barley tea bags are one of the easiest ways to prepare the drink.

Because manufacturers use different amounts and grinds of barley, follow the instructions printed on your particular package.

A typical method involves adding a barley tea bag to a pitcher or kettle of hot water and allowing it to infuse for several minutes.

Some oversized barley tea bags are designed for an entire pitcher rather than a single mug.

Others are specifically intended for cold brewing.

Do not assume every barley tea bag is used like an ordinary black-tea bag. Check the package first.

❄️ How to Make Cold Barley Tea

Chilled barley tea is particularly refreshing during warm weather.

One reliable method is to brew it hot first.

Prepare the barley tea according to the recipe above, strain it, and allow it to cool before refrigerating.

Once thoroughly chilled, serve it straight from the refrigerator or over ice.

If you buy barley tea bags labeled for cold brewing, you can place the recommended number directly into cold water and refrigerate according to the manufacturer’s directions.

Cold brewing tends to produce a smooth, gentle roasted flavor.

🧊 How to Serve Iced Mugicha

Mugicha does not need elaborate ingredients.

Fill a glass with ice and pour over chilled barley tea.

That’s it.

If you want to experiment, you can add a thin lemon slice or a small sprig of mint, but those additions are far from necessary.

Unlike American sweet tea, traditional-style barley tea is commonly enjoyed unsweetened.

Try it plain before reaching for sugar. Its toasted flavor becomes especially refreshing when the drink is very cold.

🔥 How to Serve Barley Tea Hot

Hot barley tea has a warmer, toastier personality.

Serve it directly after straining and enjoy it plain.

It works particularly well on cool mornings or evenings when you want a warm drink without caffeine.

A ceramic mug or small tea cup is all you need.

Because barley tea tolerates high temperatures well, preparation is less fussy than many delicate green teas.

Visit our How to Brew Tea section for more brewing methods across different tea styles.

☕ Does Barley Tea Have Caffeine?

Plain barley tea is naturally caffeine-free.

Caffeine naturally occurs in traditional teas made from Camellia sinensis, including black tea, green tea, white tea, oolong, matcha, and pu-erh.

Barley is a grain and does not naturally contain caffeine.

That means plain mugicha or boricha made only from roasted barley and water can be a useful option for people who want a roasted beverage later in the day without adding caffeine.

Always check the ingredient list on blends, however.

A product combining barley with actual tea leaves, coffee, yerba mate, or another caffeine-containing ingredient would be different.

🌙 Can You Drink Barley Tea at Night?

From a caffeine standpoint, plain barley tea is well suited to evening drinking because it contains no natural caffeine.

That does not mean it is a sleep treatment.

It simply means you do not have the same stimulant consideration that comes with black tea, green tea, matcha, or coffee.

If you enjoy a warm beverage as part of your evening routine, barley tea offers a toasted alternative to floral herbal teas such as chamomile.

For more caffeine-free possibilities, explore our Herbal Tea collection.

💧 Is Barley Tea Hydrating?

Barley tea is primarily water and therefore contributes to fluid intake.

Plain barley tea can be an easy way to add variety when you become bored with drinking plain water.

Because it does not naturally contain caffeine, it is also useful for someone who wants a flavorful beverage without another source of stimulant.

There is no need to label this as a special “detox” or hydration treatment.

It is simply a pleasant unsweetened drink that happens to provide fluid.

🌱 Is Barley Tea Good for You?

This question requires more nuance than many older articles suggest.

Plain barley tea is typically an unsweetened, caffeine-free drink. Choosing it instead of a heavily sweetened beverage can certainly make sense for many people.

But it should not be treated as a concentrated source of all the nutrients found in whole barley.

When you eat barley, you consume the grain itself, including its fiber and other components. When you make tea, you steep or simmer the barley and then remove the grains.

That distinction is important.

Claims that a cup of barley tea provides substantial dietary fiber, “boosts metabolism,” prevents constipation, lowers cholesterol, strengthens immunity, or causes weight loss often blur the difference between eating whole barley and drinking an infusion made from it.

Barley tea can be a perfectly enjoyable part of an everyday diet without needing those claims.

🌾 Does Barley Tea Contain Fiber?

This is one of the claims that deserves particular clarification.

Whole barley is a source of dietary fiber.

But with traditional barley tea, you do not eat the barley grains. They are removed after brewing.

It is therefore misleading to describe ordinary strained barley tea as though drinking a cup provides the same fiber benefit as eating whole barley.

If increasing dietary fiber is your goal, foods containing intact barley, legumes, whole grains, vegetables, fruit, nuts, and seeds make much more sense than relying on strained barley tea.

Drink barley tea for its flavor and caffeine-free character.

❤️ What About Cholesterol Claims?

Barley itself has been studied for cardiovascular effects, particularly because it contains soluble fiber such as beta-glucan.

Again, this does not automatically mean that strained barley tea contains enough of those components to produce the same effects as consuming the grain.

That distinction is often lost in wellness articles.

If your goal is to add barley’s fiber to your diet, eating appropriately prepared barley is a much more direct approach.

Barley tea should not replace medical treatment for high cholesterol or cardiovascular disease.

⚖️ Does Barley Tea Help With Weight Loss?

There is no need to market barley tea as a weight-loss drink.

Plain unsweetened barley tea contains little energy compared with sugary sodas, sweetened coffee drinks, or many bottled beverages. Replacing a high-calorie drink with an unsweetened one can reduce calorie intake.

That is different from saying barley tea itself “burns fat,” suppresses appetite, boosts metabolism, or causes meaningful weight loss.

Be particularly skeptical of products marketed using dramatic claims such as “slimming,” “fat burning,” or “detox.”

Enjoy barley tea because you like drinking it.

🌾 Is Barley Tea Gluten-Free?

No. Barley is a gluten-containing grain.

This is one of the most important facts to know about barley tea.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration identifies barley, along with wheat and rye, as a gluten-containing grain. People with celiac disease or others following a medically necessary gluten-free diet should therefore not assume ordinary barley tea is safe.

A drink does not become gluten-free simply because the barley grains are strained out after brewing.

If you require a strict gluten-free diet, choose an infusion made from naturally gluten-free ingredients rather than ordinary mugicha or boricha unless you have specific professional guidance about a particular product.

🌾 Barley Allergy vs. Gluten

A barley allergy and celiac disease are not the same condition.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten. A food allergy involves an immune response to particular food proteins and can produce different symptoms.

Someone advised to avoid barley for either reason should not treat barley tea as an exception simply because it is a beverage.

Check ingredient labels carefully, especially with blended grain teas.

👶 Can Children Drink Barley Tea?

Barley tea contains no natural caffeine, which is one reason it is commonly enjoyed by families in places such as Japan.

However, individual dietary needs still matter.

Barley’s gluten content means the drink is not appropriate for children who must avoid gluten because of celiac disease or another medically diagnosed condition.

For babies and very young children, feeding and beverage decisions should follow appropriate pediatric guidance rather than general tea advice.

🌿 Does Barley Tea Need Sugar?

Not at all.

Traditional-style barley tea is generally very enjoyable without sweetener.

The roasting gives it enough depth and aroma that it does not taste like plain hot water even without sugar.

If you are accustomed to heavily sweetened iced tea, try barley tea unsweetened at least once. Its character is very different from black iced tea, and adding a large amount of sugar can hide the very flavor that makes it interesting.

If you do want sweetness, a little honey or sugar is perfectly reasonable.

🍋 Barley Tea With Lemon

Lemon is not necessary, but it can create a brighter variation.

Prepare the tea normally, chill it, and add a thin lemon slice immediately before serving.

Do not use so much citrus that it overwhelms the roasted grain flavor.

This works particularly well for someone transitioning from familiar lemon iced tea to mugicha.

🍯 Honey Barley Tea

For a warmer version, stir a little honey into freshly brewed barley tea.

The honey complements the grain’s toasted aroma and gives the drink a softer finish.

Begin with a teaspoon rather than turning it immediately into a very sweet drink.

Fresh ginger can also be added for a more aromatic cold-weather version.

🫚 Ginger Barley Tea

Add several thin slices of fresh ginger to the water while brewing the barley.

The result combines the round roasted flavor of the grain with ginger’s sharper warmth.

Strain both the ginger and barley before serving.

This version is particularly pleasant hot, although it can also be chilled.

For more ginger-based drinks, explore our Ginger Tea collection.

🌿 Mint Barley Tea

Mint creates an interesting summer variation.

Brew and chill your barley tea first. Add a small amount of fresh mint when serving rather than boiling it with the barley for a long period.

This keeps the mint flavor fresh and bright.

Serve over ice for a simple caffeine-free warm-weather drink.

🫘 Barley Tea With Other Roasted Grains

You may encounter drinks that combine barley with other roasted grains, corn, brown rice, or beans.

These combinations can deepen the toasted flavor and create a somewhat sweeter or nuttier cup.

Always check the ingredient list if caffeine, allergens, or gluten are concerns.

A roasted grain blend may look similar to barley tea while containing several additional ingredients.

🍚 Is Barley Tea the Same as Barley Water?

Not necessarily.

“Barley water” can refer to drinks made by boiling barley in water, sometimes with lemon and sugar, and preparations vary by region.

Mugicha and boricha specifically rely on roasted barley, which gives them their characteristic toasted flavor.

A drink made by boiling unroasted pearl barley will taste quite different.

So while the names occasionally overlap in English conversation, they should not automatically be treated as the same preparation.

🛒 Where Can You Buy Barley Tea?

Barley tea is commonly available at Japanese and Korean grocery stores, many larger Asian supermarkets, specialty tea sellers, and online retailers.

You may find it as:

Whole roasted barley
Cracked roasted barley
Large pitcher-sized tea bags
Individual tea bags
Cold-brew bags
Ready-to-drink bottled tea

If you are new to barley tea, tea bags are the easiest place to begin.

For a richer experience, try whole roasted barley afterward and compare the difference.

🔎 What to Look for When Buying Barley Tea

Start by checking the ingredient list.

A traditional plain product may list nothing more than roasted barley.

Next, look at the brewing method. Some bags are designed for hot water, others for a large pitcher, and others specifically for cold brewing.

If you have food allergies, celiac disease, or another dietary restriction, inspect the label carefully rather than assuming all grain teas contain the same ingredients.

Finally, experiment with roast level.

A lighter barley tea may taste gentle and cereal-like, while darker roasting creates stronger toast, nut, and coffee-like notes.

📦 How to Store Roasted Barley

Roasted barley should be protected from moisture, heat, strong odors, and excess exposure to air.

Keep it in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dry cupboard.

Roasted grains can absorb surrounding odors, so avoid storing them open beside strong spices or strongly scented foods.

Prepared barley tea belongs in the refrigerator once cooled if you are not serving it immediately.

❄️ How Long Does Brewed Barley Tea Last?

Homemade barley tea is best treated like other freshly brewed beverages.

Allow it to cool, transfer it to a clean covered container, and refrigerate promptly.

For best flavor, I prefer making an amount that can be consumed within a few days rather than keeping a large pitcher indefinitely.

If the tea develops an unusual smell, appearance, or flavor, discard it.

Keeping the pitcher and brewing equipment clean also helps preserve its fresh roasted taste.

☕ Barley Tea vs. Coffee

Barley tea is sometimes suggested as a coffee alternative because both can have roasted flavors.

They are still very different drinks.

Coffee has far more intensity, aroma, body, and bitterness, as well as natural caffeine.

Barley tea is lighter and more grain-like.

If you are trying to eliminate coffee but miss the ritual of a dark roasted drink, barley tea may be enjoyable—but do not expect it to taste like decaf coffee.

Think of it as its own beverage.

🌾 Barley Tea vs. Rooibos

Both rooibos and barley tea are naturally caffeine-free, but their flavors are quite different.

Rooibos comes from a South African plant and tends to be woody, gently sweet, and sometimes vanilla-like.

Barley tea tastes distinctly roasted and grainy.

Rooibos is also naturally gluten-free as an ingredient, whereas barley is not.

For someone seeking caffeine-free evening drinks, both are worth exploring for completely different reasons.

🍵 Barley Tea vs. Hojicha

Hojicha is a Japanese roasted green tea.

The roasting gives hojicha warm, toasted flavors that can overlap somewhat with mugicha, which explains why fans of one may enjoy the other.

But hojicha is still made from the traditional tea plant and can contain caffeine.

Mugicha is made from barley and is caffeine-free.

Hojicha may offer more of the woody, tea-leaf character underneath the roast, while barley tea remains firmly cereal-like.

🇯🇵 Why Mugicha Is Associated With Summer

Cold mugicha has become particularly associated with hot Japanese summers.

Its mild roasted flavor works remarkably well when chilled, and because it contains no natural caffeine, it can be enjoyed throughout the day.

Modern mugicha comes in convenient pitcher-sized cold-brew bags and ready-to-drink bottles, but the basic drink remains strikingly simple.

Barley, water, roasting, and time are enough.

Sometimes the simplest drinks become cultural staples precisely because they are easy to make over and over again.

🇰🇷 Boricha as an Everyday Drink

Korean boricha illustrates another side of barley tea: it does not have to be treated as a specialty beverage at all.

It can function simply as an everyday drink served with meals, kept in a pitcher, or poured for guests.

That everyday role makes barley tea quite different from expensive specialty teas that may be prepared ceremonially or reserved for careful tasting.

Boricha is approachable.

You do not need special cups, a tea ceremony, or complicated terminology to enjoy it.

🌏 Barley Tea Beyond Japan & Korea

Roasted barley beverages are also found elsewhere in East Asia, and barley itself has a much wider culinary history across the world.

As international interest in Japanese and Korean foods has grown, mugicha and boricha have become easier to find outside Asia.

For someone exploring tea culture, this is a useful reminder that not every culturally significant “tea” comes from tea leaves.

Grain, flower, fruit, spice, and root infusions all play roles in the world’s drinking traditions.

Explore our Tea Culture & Regions collection for more.

🫖 Is Barley Tea Worth Trying?

Definitely—especially if you enjoy roasted flavors.

Barley tea is inexpensive, simple to prepare, versatile enough to drink hot or cold, and naturally caffeine-free.

Just approach it for what it actually is rather than for an exaggerated list of health promises.

It is not a miracle metabolism drink.

It is not a fiber supplement.

It is not a detox.

It is roasted barley brewed with water—and that turns out to be surprisingly delicious.

🌾 A Toasty Tea Without Tea Leaves

Barley tea occupies an interesting place in the tea world.

It looks a little like tea, is brewed much like tea, and is commonly called tea, yet no tea leaves are involved.

Instead, roasting transforms an ordinary grain into something aromatic, nutty, and refreshing.

Drink mugicha ice-cold on a summer afternoon. Pour a warm cup of boricha on a chilly evening. Try whole roasted barley, then compare it with an easy cold-brew bag.

However you prepare it, keep the recipe simple enough to taste the grain itself.

Sometimes all you need for an interesting cup is roasted barley and water.