Barley water

Barley water is a traditional herbal tea in various parts of the world. Drinking boiled grain in water, strained or not, is an ancient practice.

Variations include:

• Kykeon (Gr. κυκεών, from κυκάω, "to stir, to mix") was an ancient Greek drink made mainly of water, barley and naturally occurring substances. It was used at the climax of the Eleusinian Mysteries to break a sacred fast, but it was also a favourite drink of Greek peasants.
• The British version is made by boiling washed pearl barley, straining, then pouring the hot water over the rind and/or pulp of a lemon, and adding fruit juice and sugar to taste. The rind may also be boiled with the barley.
• East and Southeast Asian versions are typically not strained and may be drunk hot or cold, with or without lime. Hot barley water is often served with a spoon and cold barley water with a straw so that the soft boiled grains can be eaten.
  • Roasted barley tea is also a popular East Asian drink, but the taste and texture are very different from barley water.
• It is also a popular drink among Punjabi peasants. It is called 'sattu' in Punjabi.

Barley water has been used as a first baby food, before feeding with barley mush. It is also used as a home remedy for cystitis.^[1]

See also

• Rice water
• Roasted barley tea
• List of barley-based beverages
• List of lemon dishes and beverages

References

Barley History Domestication Neolithic Revolution Triticeae Types of barley Genus: Hordeum Cultivars: Bere Agronomy Barley diseases Trade Australian Barley Board Canadian Wheat Board Corn exchange Production by country Wheat pools in Canada Parts of the plant Bran Germ Husk Kernel Gluten Straw Basic preparations Milling: Flour (types) Groats Middlings Parboiling As an ingredient Barley bread Barley honey Beer Caffè d'orzo Irish whiskey Japanese whisky Malta Roasted barley tea Scotch whisky Talbina Barley water see also: Category:Barley-based beverages Associated human diseases Gluten-related disorders Coeliac disease Non-celiac gluten sensitivity Related concepts Bread riot Cattle feeding Plant breeding Refined grains Staple food Whole grain Further information