Lemon Mint Barley Water Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Summer

by: cooklynveg

June27,2012

4.7

3 Ratings

  • Serves 6

Jump to Recipe

Author Notes

It's Wimbledon time back home in England, which brings to mind several things. Rain firstly, then strawberries and cream, then this, lemon barely water. Made by Robinsons, it's one of the official drinks at Wimbledon, and for me, one of the true tastes of summer. I'd never thought of making my own until I came across a recipe in Psychologies magazine - such a great idea! I couldn't wait to try it (if only because the real deal is so hard to find here in the States). I made a couple of amendments - I added fresh mint, which muddles wonderfully with lemon, and less sugar (I don't like really sweet drinks - this is 'tangy', you could add more if you prefer sweeter). —cooklynveg

Test Kitchen Notes

This is exactly what we want to be drinking in July. With a bit more heft from the barley, this drink also has a softer, more pleasant mouthfeel that makes it stand apart from run-of-the-mill, summer lemonades. Tart from lemon and not too sweet, this is our new go-to refresher. —Food52

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 3/4 cuppearl barley
  • 5 teaspoonssugar
  • 3 lemons, unwaxed or scrubbed of the wax coating
  • 1 bunchfresh mint
  • 6 cupswater
Directions
  1. Rinse the pearl barley and place in a large saucepan. Cover with the water and place on a high heat, and bring to a boil. Bring it down to a simmer, and cook for about 60 minutes, or until the barley is soft.
  2. When it's done, skim off any foam and drain the cooking water in to a large bowl (keep the barley for whatever dish you want - I made a barley, spinach and green pea salad).
  3. Add the zest of the lemons and sugar to the barley water and leave to steep until cool. Next, add the juice of the three lemons (I added about half a cup of water at this stage to dilute it slightly) and chill in the fridge. Taste, and adjust sweetness to your liking.
  4. Pour over ice, muddle with fresh mint and serve with tennis.

Tags:

  • American
  • Lemon
  • Mint
  • Fruit
  • Barley
  • Summer
  • Alcohol-Free Drinks
  • Drink
Contest Entries
  • Your Best Recipe with Mint

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • LeBec Fin

  • lapadia

  • Bevi

  • EmilyC

  • nogaga

Popular on Food52

12 Reviews

LeBec F. July 23, 2013

cooklynveg, i look forw to making this; sounds super. Also, fyi, your local Japanese store will carry a common summer fav for Japanese- roasted barley tea- Mugi-cha (moo ghee CHAH)that you could make this with, with the added boost of the toasted flavor!
(All it is is toasted barley in a tea bag.)

nununo July 22, 2012

I made it, served it long drink glasses and it was the right amount for 3 perfect looong drinks. I was already really tasty and refreshing, but when I added tequila, then it was perfect ;)

lapadia July 22, 2012

Ha! Well, tequila it will be, then :)

lapadia July 21, 2012

This recipe is on my "to make" list, thank you, EC & HLA, I will keep your helpful critique in mind. :)

Bevi July 21, 2012

I would be curious to know what the testers of this recipe thought. It's hard to tell if the review is written by a tester or the editors. Most of the reviews on recipes when they were reviewed by single cooks contained more specific information. I miss the old recipe testing format.

EmilyC July 20, 2012

Being a huge fan of tart lemonade, I made this for lunch today. Should the 5 teaspoons of sugar be 5 Tablespoons of sugar? I know sweetness is a matter of personal taste, but the drink was really lip-puckering tart and my 3 lemons were on the scrawny side, yielding between 1/4 and 1/3 cup of juice. I ask because It's hard to just add sugar to taste once the drink has cooled because it won't dissolve. My first thought was that the 5 t could be a typo...please advise.

hardlikearmour July 20, 2012

I had the same experience. I also prefer a tart lemonade, but found this to be overly sour. I used 2 large lemons, and had to increase the sugar to 1/3 cup and add more water. I referenced other barley water recipes, and found they called for about 1/4 to 1/2 cup sweetener, for 8 cups water. It was delicious with the tweaking, though, so I'll definitely make it again.

cooklynveg July 22, 2012

Hello, it was indeed meant to be 5 teaspoons! I will admit, I like my lemon drinks on the lip-puckering side, so may not be to everyone's taste. In fact when I make this at home my husband prefers a sweeter taste so adds some simple syrup to it. I will add though, that the barley does soften the lemon flavor quite a bit, so I think you'll find you need less sugar than a regular lemonade recipe.

lapadia June 29, 2012

Lovely, will have to pick up some barley!

nogaga June 29, 2012

This sounds dreamy! I'll make it tomorrow :-)

June 29, 2012

This looks tasty. Check your spelling in the title. :)

cooklynveg June 29, 2012

Ooh, thanks! That'll teach me try and upload recipes AND entertain a toddler at the same time!

Lemon Mint Barley Water Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

What is lemon barley water good for? ›

Barley water is consumed in some cultures for health benefits. Barley water is often flavored with lemon rind or lemon juice. The drink claims to help aid weight loss, flush toxins, keep your digestion regular, and more. Some of the health claims about barley water aren't yet supported by medical research.

How much barley water should I drink a day? ›

You can enjoy barley water before or after meals throughout the day to get more vitamins and minerals in your diet. Don't consume more than 4 cups (950 ml) of barley water per day since it's high in fiber and can cause an upset stomach.

Can we drink barley water without boiling? ›

If you live in a colder country you can serve it warm or hot. But barley water in Asian countries is consumed at room temperature. Strain barley water to serving glasses and consume it plain or sweetened with rock sugar, honey or any other sweetener you wish. You can also squeeze some lemon juice and relish.

How do you make barley water for urine infection? ›

Barley water is hence a useful home remedy when you have a Urinary Tract Infection. Boil a tablespoon of barley seeds in a litre of water. Bring down the quantity to half and keep consuming barley water throughout the day. Barley water also brings down the heat content in the body and prevents urine from stinking.

Is lemon barley water good for your kidneys? ›

Barley water is a magical drink for urinary tract infections. It works as a diuretic that increases urination and flushes out toxins from the body. Barley water is an excellent solution for kidney stones and cysts too. This drink is recommended in children and adult age groups daily till the urine infection subsides.

What is the best time to drink barley water? ›

Strain the mixture and add lime juice or mint for flavour. You can also add honey or jaggery for sweetness. The best time to consume barley water is early in the morning and on an empty stomach. This will help our body to stay cool and well hydrated.

Can you drink too much lemon barley water? ›

Barley water is known to lower blood sugar levels. However, it may sometimes cause it to drop too low so it's advisable to keep a tab on your glucose levels when consuming barley water regularly. Excess barley consumption may either lead to constipation or an upset stomach coupled with cramps.

How much barley water should I drink a day to lose weight? ›

While the best time to drink barley water for weight loss is in the morning on an empty stomach, you can have a glass of barley water 2-3 times a day. However, it is essential to note that barley water is a diuretic. So, drink at most 4-6 glasses daily.

Is it good to drink barley water in the morning empty stomach? ›

It is recommended to start with a small amount of barley grass and gradually increase the dosage over time. The daily recommended intake of barley grass is 2-3 teaspoons mixed with water or juice. It is best consumed on an empty stomach, either first thing in the morning or before meals.

Who should not drink barley water? ›

Barley is high in gluten. Avoid it if you have gluten intolerance or celiac disease. Medication interactions. Because it can lower blood sugar levels, talk to your doctor before adding barley water to your diet if you are currently on medication to manage your blood sugar.

What happens if you don't soak barley? ›

Many of the bigger/tougher ones — barley, rice, farro and the like — will start to ferment and/or sprout long before they are tender enough to eat raw, so those require cooking. As it happens, there's plenty of evidence that pre-soaking improves the digestibility and cooking of whole grains.

How long can barley water be stored? ›

You may sweeten the taste by adding Manuka Honey (or any sweetener of your choice) when the barley water is warm or cooled down. The barley water can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days when stored in a glass jar.

What is the ratio of barley to water? ›

To cook 1 cup of barley grains, you'll need 3 cups of water or broth. Like many grains, barley swells considerably when cooked, so 1 cup of dry barley grains will yield 3 cups of tender cooked grains.

Is lemon barley good for bladder? ›

Barley water makes a great anti-inflammatory agent for the urinary system. Buy whole barley, put 1.5oz (40g) in 2 pints (1.2 litres) water, boil and simmer for 20 minutes. Add a slice of lemon or the juice of one lemon and simmer for a further 10 minutes. Allow to cool, then sip the water throughout the day.

What are 5 uses of barley? ›

Barley is a plant. The grain of barley is used to make medicine. Barley is used for lowering blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol, and for promoting weight loss. It is also used for digestive complaints including diarrhea, stomach pain, and inflammatory bowel conditions.

What does barley water do to your body? ›

The drink helps reduce the growth of gut bacteria called Bacteroids and maintains a healthy gut. Barley water is also good for the skin as it makes our skin glow from within by cleansing the organs. It also helps the skin stay hydrated for a very long time and keeps skin problems at bay.

Is it OK to drink barley water daily? ›

A: Yes. Barley water helps cleanse the kidneys and helps treat issues such as cystitis, kidney stones, and high creatinine levels. A form of water it helps to keep the body hydrated. It also helps the kidney to flush out toxins from the body.

Is lemon barley water good for weight loss? ›

Yes, Barley Water does help in weight loss. Barley is rich in fiber and unstrained barley water helps in improving digestion by making it more regular. It also makes you feel fuller for a longer period of time. Additionally, barley water helps in keeping the body hydrated.

Is lemon and barley water good for your liver? ›

Natural cleansers help rid the body of accumulated irritants, waste products and toxins. Barley water, lemon juice, coconut water and bel sherbet are very effective liver tonics, says Shashibala, senior consultant, Ayurveda, Moolchand Medcity, New Delhi.

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