Cold-Brew Barley Tea: The Perfect Summer Drink Guide

Mugicha (barley tea) is Japan's quintessential summer drink. Made from roasted barley, it's caffeine-free and safe for everyone from babies to adults. HCMC's year-round heat makes mugicha an ideal everyday beverage.

This article covers how to make delicious cold-brew mugicha and compares it with the boiled method.

What is barley tea

Mugicha is made from roasted barley (typically six-row barley). Since it uses no tea leaves, it contains zero caffeine. Rich in minerals, it's the ideal summer hydration drink in Japan.

Benefits

• Caffeine-free: Safe for babies, pregnant women, and bedtime drinking
• Mineral replenishment: Sodium and potassium help replace minerals lost through sweat
• Zero calories: Nearly zero calories without added sugar
• Convenient: Cold brew just needs a container and fridge

How to cold brew

Ingredients

• Mugicha tea bag: 1 packet
• Water: 1-1.5 liters
• Heat-resistant pitcher or plastic bottle

Steps

1. Pour water into the container
2. Add the tea bag
3. Refrigerate 3-8 hours (overnight for stronger flavor)
4. Remove the tea bag (leaving it too long causes off-flavors)

That's it. Set up before bed, enjoy fresh mugicha in the morning.

Cold brew vs boiled

Boiled mugicha

Boil water, add tea bag, simmer 5-10 minutes.

• Pros: Fast, strong flavor, robust toasty aroma
• Cons: Needs cooling time. Without rapid chilling, bacteria can grow

Cold-brew mugicha

• Pros: Effortless. Smooth, clean taste
• Cons: Requires 3-8 hours of steeping

In HCMC, cooling boiled mugicha at room temperature risks bacterial growth. Cold brew is more hygienic and convenient, making it the recommended method.

Tips for best results

• Use filtered or mineral water: HCMC tap water is quite hard; filtered water makes better tea
• Don't leave the tea bag too long: Over-steeping causes bitterness. Remove when it reaches desired strength
• Finish within 2 days: No preservatives, so 2 days refrigerated is the maximum

Mugicha variations

Mugicha latte

Add milk to cold mugicha for a creamy twist. Add a touch of honey if desired.

Lemon mugicha

Add lemon slices to mugicha for a refreshing flavor. Perfect for HCMC's hot days.

Mugicha ice cubes

Freeze mugicha in ice trays. Add to your glass so it doesn't dilute the flavor as it melts.

Summary

Mugicha is caffeine-free, mineral-rich, and safe for the whole family. Cold brew is as simple as putting it in the fridge.

The Farmi app carries Japanese mugicha tea bags. Download Farmi and enjoy cold mugicha every day in HCMC.

Note: This article and some images were created with the assistance of AI (artificial intelligence) and reviewed by the editorial team before publication.