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Herbal (tisane) · Roasted barley

Mugicha (Barley Tea)

麦茶, barley tea, boricha

7.8/10 editor's score

A roasted barley drink, usually served cold in Japan as a summer refreshment. Caffeine-free. Called boricha in Korea.

Caffeine-freeIcedJapan
↓ Jump to brew guideAbout this herbCompare

Tisane, not from Camellia sinensis. Based on published sources, not yet tasted.

Roasted barley for mugicha, top-down

What you need

8 g roasted barleyMugicha (Barley Tea)
1000 ml water100°C
Steep 10:002 steeps
InfusionAmber-brown
Served inGlass, served cold

At a glance

A roasted barley drink, usually served cold in Japan as a summer refreshment.

CaffeineCaffeine-free
Beginner fit9.0 / 10From the editor's score
HarvestBarley, early summerA summertime refreshment [1].
Pairs withRice dishes, Grilled food, Summer mealsLess good with sweet desserts
Grown asLowland farmsKanto, Eastern Japan
Served inGlass, served coldA summer drink in Japan

About Mugicha (Barley Tea)

What sources say about the taste

Sources describe a roasty, bready, slightly bitter flavour 1.

01 · Aroma

First sip

Lift the cup and smell before you drink.

02 · Taste

Middle

Let it sit on the tongue for a moment.

03 · Finish

Finish

What stays after you swallow.

Hover or tap a noteBigger image and more dots mean a stronger note.

Notes and intensities are an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not our own tasting.

Where it is grown

KantoEastern JapanJAPAN
Made from
Roasted barley 1
Japan
Usually served cold in summer 1
Korea
Boricha, hot or cold 1
History
Edo-period street stalls 1

More from Kanto and Japan.

History and culture

Samurai drank barley tea in the Sengoku period, around the 16th century 1.

A 10th-century text gives a possible early recipe 1.

Editor's score

7.8/10

Weighted across six criteria: flavour 30%, heritage 20%, availability 15%, value 15%, beginners 10%, versatility 10%.

Based on published sources, not yet tasted. Rates the plant, not a brand. How we score →

1086Flavour & complexity: 6.0Origin & heritage: 6.5Availability: 9.5Value: 9.5Beginner-friendliness: 9.0Versatility: 9.0Flavour 6.0Heritage 6.5Availability 9.5Value 9.5Beginners 9.0Versatility 9.0
Taste profile and caffeine

Profile is an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not a lab measurement or our own tasting.

Caffeine

Brewed coffee~95 mg
Black tea (average)~47 mg
Green tea (average)~28 mg
Mugicha (Barley Tea)0 mg

Barley contains no caffeine. Per 8 fl oz (240 ml) cup. Coffee and tea averages from Mayo ClinicC.

Harvest calendar

Drunk most in summer in Japan 1. Tap a month or a season.

The plant

Barley grains, roasted 1.

How it is made
01Roasting

Barley roasted 1.

02Packing

Loose or in bags 1.

Dry herb and infusion
Dry barleyGolden-brown roasted grains.
LiquorAmber-brown.
After steeping
Wet leafSwollen dark grains.

The colour swatch is an approximate guide, not a photograph.

Food pairings and storage

Works well

  • Rice dishes
  • Grilled food
  • Summer meals

Best avoided

  • Sweet desserts

Pairings are general suggestions from the tea's style, not tested matches.

Storage

  • Airtight, opaque container, away from light, heat and moisture.
  • Dried flowers and leaves lose aroma within about a year.
  • Buy small amounts and keep away from spices and coffee, which taint the smell.
Quality and buying

Whole grain or bags.

Buying tips

  1. Region shown is an approximate area.
  2. Keep sealed: it absorbs smells.
FAQ
Does mugicha have caffeine?

No. It is made from barley, not tea leaves.

Find it inHerbal infusionsTeas from JapanKantoCaffeine-freeIcedJapan

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, "Barley tea". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barley_tea
  2. Mayo Clinic, "Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more". www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20049372

Scores and content updated 30 Oct 2026.