Do you know of multiple kinds of Japanese tea? Many of you must be familiar with green tea the most and it must come up in your mind when you think of Japanese tea, but have you ever tried barley tea? It is a traditional Japanese beverage. It is called mugicha in Japanese, but we call it barley tea here.
Although it is categorized as a tea, it is not a tea in the traditional sense and is not made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, like black tea or green tea. It is brewed just from barley, which does not contain any caffeine. Therefore, barley tea is completely caffeine-free.
It is characterized by its fragrant barley flavor and refreshing taste, and is ideal for rehydrating your body. In Japan, most people drink barley tea as a cold drink, but in fact, barley tea can be enjoyed cold or hot. Recommended drinking ways in both cold and hot are also introduced at the end of this article along with the benefits and nutrition facts of barley tea etc., so make sure to read it all the way to the end to learn more about barley tea.
What are the Benefits of Barley Tea?
The benefits of barley tea include improving blood flow, protecting the gastrointestinal tract, preventing heat stroke, antioxidant properties, and preventing dehydration. Let's take a closer look at each of these expected benefits.
Improvement of Blood Flow
Barley tea is characterized by its fragrant scent. Its fragrant component, alkylpyrazine, has been shown to be effective in thinning the blood and improving blood flow. It is especially helpful in reducing the risk of stroke and other stroke-related problems when the body tends to be under-hydrated and blood tends to become sluggish. Since it is caffeine-free, anyone can drink it safely.
Gastrointestinal Protection
You probably drink or eat cold food in any season. However, this habit is actually not very good for the gastrointestinal tract. Cold foods and drinks irritate the gastrointestinal tract and weaken its function. In such situations, barley tea can be relied upon. The reason for this is that barley tea protects the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract. Whenever you are tempted to drink something cold, remember your gastrointestinal tract and choose a cup of barley tea.
Heat Stroke Prevention
Barley tea is also recommended as an anti-heat stroke remedy on hot days. Barley, the main ingredient in barley tea, has the ability to naturally keep the body cool. In addition, the potassium in barley tea helps lower body temperature by expelling excess water and heat from the body as urine. However, it does not cause excessive water loss like caffeine does, so there is no need to worry about water deficiency. Therefore, it can be enjoyed safely even during the hot summer months. However, if you have a sensitivity to cold, we recommend drinking barley tea at or above room temperature to avoid cooling your body.
Antioxidant Properties
Barley tea also has antioxidant properties. This antioxidant effect inhibits the generation of reactive oxygen in the body and helps prevent cell damage and aging. Reactive oxygen is believed to be responsible for increasing the risk of diseases such as cancer, stroke, atherosclerosis, and myocardial infarction. The polyphenol components in barley tea fight this active oxygen and protect our health. Furthermore, polyphenols, like anthocyanins in blueberries and catechins in tea, are known as powerful antioxidants, and their daily intake can help prevent lifestyle-related diseases.
Prevention of Dehydration
Your body loses a great amount of water without you even realizing it. Especially when you are active, you lose not only water but also important minerals at the same time through sweat. This can lead to dehydration. What is important is to effectively replenish lost water and minerals. Barley tea is recommended for this purpose. Barley tea is rich in necessary minerals such as sodium and potassium, and is effective in preventing dehydration. Drinking barley tea is recommended to replenish water and minerals lost through perspiration.
Nutrition of Barley Tea
The nutritional content of 100 g of barley tea is as follows.
Nutrition Facts Amount contained per 100 g of barley tea
Moisture 99.7 g
Carbohydrates 0.3 g
Sodium 1 mg
Potassium 6 mg
Calcium 2 mg
Phosphorus 1 mg
Zinc 0.1 mg
Energy 1 kcal
Sugars 0.3 g
Leaching method: 50 g barley tea / 1500 mL hot water, left to infuse for 5 minutes after boiling
Barley tea contains potassium, sodium, and other minerals that are often lacking, making it a good antiheat stroke remedy. It is also low in calories and carbohydrates, so those who normally drink juice can expect health benefits by replacing it with barley tea.
Barley Tea Contains No Caffeine
Barley tea is a caffeine-free drink. This makes it safe for everyone to enjoy, including those who are sensitive to caffeine, pregnant women, and even babies. It is popular among people of all ages as the perfect drink for daily hydration and pleasant relaxation. It is recommended as an accompaniment to time spent relaxing with the whole family.
Points to Note When Drinking Barley Tea
Be Careful If You are Allergic to Barley
When drinking barley tea, people with barley allergies should be careful. Because it is made from barley, barley tea can cause allergic reactions in people who are allergic to barley. Regardless of whether you are allergic or not, it is important to discontinue use of any new food or beverage immediately if you feel unwell and seek professional advice if necessary.
Do Not Drink Too Much Cold Barley Tea
Cold barley tea is a recommended drink for relieving the heat, but its excessive consumption can be detrimental to your health. In particular, excessive consumption of cold foods and drinks can cool the gastrointestinal tract and impair digestive function. This leads to an increased risk of indigestion and stomach pain. Even though cold barley tea is essential for refreshment, it is important to be careful not to consume too much and to avoid overcooling the body. Adjust the amount of barley tea you drink, and sometimes choose room temperature or hot barley tea, and enjoy it in consideration of your physical condition.
Be Aware of Sodium Deficiency
When enjoying barley tea, you should also be careful about sodium intake. Barley tea contains virtually no sodium, and drinking large amounts of it after sweating profusely can upset the sodium balance in the body and cause a deficiency. Sodium is a mineral necessary for water balance in the body and for normal nerve function. Therefore, it is important to enjoy barley tea in moderate amounts when you get sweaty and also include a good balance of sodium-containing foods, paying attention to overall nutritional balance.
Recommended Ways to Drink Barley Tea
Cold: "Barley Tea + Lemon" to Add Vitamin C
Adding lemon to barley tea creates a refreshing, fruity drink with a perfect balance of sourness and sweetness. The recipe is simple: simply add sliced lemon to cold barley tea and refrigerate.
By taking out the lemon, you can enjoy only the freshness of the lemon without the bitterness of the peel. It is perfect on a hot day or after a bath when you want to refresh yourself.
Hot: "Barley Tea + Ginger" to Make Your Body Warm
Adding ginger to barley tea warms the body from the inside, making it the perfect drink for the cold season. The savory flavor of barley tea and the spicy punch of ginger are a perfect match. To make it, simply add grated ginger to barley tea and heat it in the microwave. Add honey to the tea to make it easier to drink. If you are worried that cold barley tea will chill your body during the cold season, give it a try.
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