When the sun is out and the weather is perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and other outdoor activities, what beverage is your choice? If you’re tired of your usual roster of thirst quenchers, then you might want to try something new—drinking barley. And no, not a mug of beer in the midday. It’s the non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated mugicha or barley tea that is ideal for the summer with its refreshing taste. Along with beer, bread, and flour, barley tea is just one of the many good things that the Hordeum vulgare or barley plant provides us. Now, mugicha is stepping up to be your summer and healthy drink of choice.
Table of Contents
What is Mugicha?
The collective love for barley tea, or mugicha as the Japanese call it, allows for some tea technicalities to be blurred. Since the infusion does not come from the plant’s leaves, it is not technically “tea” ,but it has won the hearts of tea drinkers around the world that the beverage has been regarded and named as such. It is extracted from roasted barley seeds, a practice that is shared by the Eastern regions of Asia. Koreans call the drink boricha and the Chinese call it damaicha. The custom does not only involve barley; in fact, beverages and extracts from rice, corn, buckwheat, and even mushrooms were also processed and consumed by the people in the area.
Mugicha boasts of toasty flavor quality. The nutty, smoky flavor is achieved through roasting the still unhulled barley seeds. It has a bit of a bitter taste too, which is why some people drink barley tea as an alternative to coffee despite its absence of caffeine.
While we are accustomed to drinking tea warm, this tea may be served hot or cold. It could even be brewed in a piping hot pot of water or a chilled pitcher. These options lend the beverage a certain versatility which makes it a popular drink no matter what time of the year.
Health Benefits of Mugicha
Its tea anomaly should not be a reason for mugicha to be underestimated. The beverage has a plethora of health benefits to be valued, much like its richly golden hue.
Promotes good digestion
The fiber-rich barley gives our digestive systems a welcome boost. It aids in regular bowel movement, which allows us to bid good-bye to constipation and to the bloated feeling that comes along with it. The low-calorie drink would also be a good choice for those who are watching their weight. It can help in reducing your compulsion to snack since fiber gives you the feeling of fullness. Generally, mugicha gives us a cleaner, healthier gut.
Mugicha is also a natural antacid that helps relieve the painful symptoms of heartburn, acid reflux, stomach cramps and nausea.
Facilitates blood circulation
The Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology has great news for mugicha enthusiasts: it can help in blood flow and circulation. The study focused on barley tea and its effect on blood flow and it found out that the beverage, consumed in 250 ml by participants, slowed the passage of blood. It’s all thanks to the alkyl pyrazines in mugicha, which is also seen to reduce the possibility of blood clots.
Impedes tooth decay
Mugicha promotes better oral health too. Streptococcus mutans, the bad bacteria responsible for cavities, are seen to be inhibited by barley tea. A study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry tackled this specific benefit of what they called “barley coffee”. The roasted barley seeds fought off the bacteria’s adhesion to teeth in the three controlled experiments they conducted. It’s also surprising to discover that this property was only activated when the seeds were roasted. However, take note that drinking sweetened mugicha might counteract this health benefit.
Facilitates better sleep
Since the other tea variants often contain high doses of caffeine, they are usually avoided by people who are suffering from insomnia and other sleep disorders. With barley tea, you may lay this worry to rest. Mugicha has tryptophan and melatonin which assist in a good night’s sleep.
May help in cancer prevention
Like green tea, barley tea is loaded with antioxidants that are no match to free radicals that cause cancer. It is believed to reduce the risk of the disease because antioxidants thwart cell damage. The effects of cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation are seen to be decreased with the intake of mugicha.
Gives hydration
Trying to stay hydrated? A cup of mugicha can help. The drink is a good source of fluid and is an excellent diuretic. The lack of caffeine makes way for the proper flow of urine too.
Increases fertility
Mugicha is believed to help with fertility in men because of its high doses of selenium with every serving. Selenium is a mineral that affects fertility and its consumption could aid with elevating these levels.
Battles common colds
Fighting off the symptoms of the common cold is believed to be one of mugicha’s benefits too. Barley tea has antioxidants that may help in removing the sticky phlegm and in clearing airways. It is considered to relieve sore throat as well, so you may turn to mugicha when the cooler weather approaches.
Promotes weight loss
Mugicha contains low sugar that is good for a healthier sweet beverage alternative for health enthusiasts and even for diabetics. The high fiber content of barley tea will also make one feel full longer, which would prevent from excessively eating consuming unnecessary calories. The antioxidants in barley tea can boost the metabolism and help promote weight loss by reducing overeating.
Proper Dosage and Health Risks of Mugicha
While mugicha has a lot of advantages to offer, some people may want to choose a different type of tea. People with Celiac disease, in particular, may avoid mugicha since their sensitivity to gluten is managed by strictly adhering to a gluten-free diet. Barley and other types of wheat are sources of the protein. Serious complications such as malabsorption and intestinal damage could develop over time if gluten is repeatedly consumed.
Mugicha can, unfortunately, interfere with lactation too, so expecting and lactating women may opt to wait until the child-bearing and child-rearing periods are over. They are also advised to ask for medical consultation for their and their child’s safety and health.
How to Make Homemade Mugicha?
Preparing mugicha at home gives you the reign to roast your unhulled barley seeds and to relish the process of toasting the seeds to brewing and serving the drink.
Ingredients
Roasted barley seeds, spring water, sweeteners (optional)
Tools
Pan or oven, pot, teacups, strainer
Steps
- Step 1: Step 1: Dry-roast the barley seeds in an oven or over a stove-top in medium heat until they acquire a brownish color. The seeds will also release the smoky aroma that is characteristic of mugicha. It’s important not to leave the seeds burnt!
- Step 2: Add 2-3 tablespoons of the barley seeds to about 4 cups of water. If you prefer the hot brew method, leave the seeds simmering for roughly 15 minutes. Meanwhile, if you’re going to do the cold brewing process, place the seeds in a pitcher and refrigerate for a couple of hours. Take note that for both methods, the longer you soak the seeds, the stronger the resulting tea will be. You may also adjust the measurements according to your preferred strength of the tea.
- Step 3: Strain the seeds and serve immediately. Feel free to add sugar or other sweeteners if you wish.
Best Mugicha Products
Ito En Mugicha Barley Tea Bags
These Japanese barley seeds are roasted twice for “a robust aroma and taste,” according to Ito En’s website. The caffeine-free drink is often recommended by barley tea fans, so much so that the stocks are always sold out. While waiting for these tea bags, Ito En also offers a ready-to-drink variant that is infused with Vitamin C. Drink it chilled!
ヤマサンOrganic Mugicha Tea
This decaffeinated drink from Japan is enjoyed by children to elderly. The roasting aroma of barley tea has been shown to reduce stress and calm the mood, which is beneficial for individuals who suffer from anxiety and depression. Barley contains four times more dietary fiber as sweet potatoes and more than ten times as much as rice. It is advised to steep this teabag in a kettle for six minutes rather than steeping in a mug.
House Mugicha Barley Tea
This 16-teabag package may be enjoyed hot or cold, either of which gives that familiar fragrant barley aroma. The blend is a combination of deeply roasted seeds and hulled barley seeds which gives every serving a fuller taste.
Tokuyo Hiyashi Mugicha Tea Bags
This unsweetened blend will be appreciated by those who are watching their daily calorie intake. Like other mugicha tea bags, this one is easy to prepare too. Just dump a tea bag into four cups of water, boiling optional.
KuniFutoshi-ro Organic Barley Tea
This organic Japanese barley tea blend lets you have your way too: enjoy it brewed in hot, boiling water or cold, refrigerated drinking liquid. If you choose the former method, KuniFutoshi-ro recommends watching over the pot for spillage. You wouldn’t want to waste a good cup of tea, would you?
Chung Jung Won Organic Barley Tea
Although this is a product of South Korea, the barley tea went through the same process of roasting the unhulled seeds. Besides, this tea is enjoyed by these neighboring countries, so you get the same mugicha quality and its cupful of benefits.
The Japanese are well-known to be natural health enthusiasts, in fact they have the lowest rate of obesity among the OECD member countries at only 3.2% of their population. Next to matcha green tea, the Japanese have been consuming mugicha for years now. It has become a staple during the warmer season, and with all the peculiarities and benefits of barley tea, it is best for us to follow suit.
You might also like٩(●˙▿˙●)۶…⋆ฺ:
→Barley Tea: Health Benefits, Uses and More
→The Most Popular Japanese Tea And Japanese Tea Brands
→10 Famous Japanese Tea Brands Can Be Your Gift Choice
→English Breakfast Tea Benefits, Best Brands and More!
→8 Benefits and 5 Brands of the Legendary Earl Grey Tea
