Mugicha Barley Tea Japanese Summer Beverage

Japan — mugicha documented since Heian period, popularized as mass summer drink in 20th century

Mugicha (麦茶, barley tea) is Japan's most consumed summer cold beverage — caffeine-free roasted barley steeped in cold water, producing a toasty, slightly bitter, refreshing drink. Unlike green tea it contains no caffeine, making it appropriate for all ages and as a dinner-table drink. Summer: large teabags steeped in cold water overnight in the refrigerator (mizudashi mugicha). The roasting produces Maillard reaction compounds (pyrazines, furanones) providing the distinctive roasted grain aroma. In winter, hot mugicha (atsukan mugi) is drunk for digestive benefit. Korean boricha is essentially identical and the traditions likely share common origin.

Toasty, roasted grain, light bitterness, clean and refreshing — distinctly summer Japanese flavor