Review: Barley coffee: benefits and harms. Barley coffee: a worthy substitute for a traditional drink

Barley coffee is a tonic drink with an interesting taste, which is made from a barley ear and can be used as a coffee substitute. Unlike regular coffee, it has many health benefits, although it doesn't have the same aroma and flavor.

Why is barley drink useful?

In order to clearly understand what is the use of a coffee drink made from barley, you should look at what substances it contains. 100 g of barley coffee contains vitamins: A, B, D, E, K, micro- and macroelements: potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, magnesium. The calorie content of the drink is 370 kcal. (25.98% of the daily value for a person). 100 g contains:

  • proteins - 7 g (8.54%);
  • fat - 0.4 g (0.62%);
  • carbohydrates - 84 g (65.63%).

Thus, the drink is rich in protein, potassium, calcium, manganese and iron.
It has the following beneficial properties for the human body:

  • diuretic;
  • choleretic;
  • cleansing;
  • fortifying;
  • tonic.
Barley coffee perfectly cleanses the intestines from toxins and blood from toxins, supports the work of the cardiovascular system, calms and normalizes the activity of the central nervous system, normalizes the functioning of the digestive tract, stabilizes hormones and glucose levels, restores strength, helps to reduce body weight, improves condition of the skin and hair.

Did you know? Barley, along with wheat, is one of the oldest crops that people began to cultivate about 10 thousand years ago. Presumably, the inhabitants of the Middle East began to grow it for the first time.

Can i drink

There are categories of people who, due to their position or existing health problems, must closely monitor their diet and the products that enter it, so as not to harm their body. These categories, in particular, include women "in position" and during lactation, diabetics, ulcers, people with gastrointestinal diseases.
Therefore, it is very important for them to know full information about the benefits and dangers of the foods and drinks that they consume. And although barley coffee is considered an extremely healthy drink, you still need to figure out if everyone can drink it.

During pregnancy and breastfeeding

It is known that coffee should not be drunk by pregnant women, as it can provoke a jump in blood pressure, and this, in turn, can lead to miscarriage or premature birth. Therefore, women "in position" are advised to drink coffee substitutes, one of which is a coffee drink made from barley.

When a woman is breastfeeding, she is also prohibited from drinking coffee and is advised to limit her tea intake. But barley coffee substitute is advised as an excellent alternative.
It is safe for both the health of the mother and the child, and has a positive effect on the organisms of both.He is not able to cause allergic reactions in the infant and does not lead to his agitation, sleep disturbance. If honey and milk are added to a drink made from barley, then it will help improve lactation.

Did you know? The first drink that began to be made from barley was beer. This happened in the Neolithic era. And later, barley beer was used to settle accounts with employees as currency.

With pancreatitis, gastritis, stomach ulcer

Coffee barley drink is recommended for people who have diseases of the digestive system, in particular, pancreatitis, gastritis and stomach ulcers. It cleanses and tones the epithelium of the digestive tract, promotes the development of healthy intestinal microflora, produces a choleretic effect, and helps relieve the inflammatory process. Substances contained in barley coffee promote the growth and maintenance of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract at a normal level.

With diabetes mellitus

You can drink barley coffee and diabetes. Fiber, which is found in large quantities in the drink, helps to slow down the absorption of carbohydrates, which leads to the stabilization of blood glucose levels. Therefore, it is even recommended to drink it in order to prevent diabetes.

Barley coffee recipe

In stores you can find various drinks based on grains of barley, for example, "Health", "Barley Ear", "Golden Ear", "Barley Mill", "Tonus" and others. They can be either pure or with the addition of various other ingredients, for example, berries, chicory, other cereals, echinacea, cardamom. You can also make barley coffee with your own hands.

We have selected several recipes for you.
Recipe 1. "Classic"

  1. Rinse 3 teaspoons of large grains of barley several times under running water.
  2. Then lay them out on a napkin, on a horizontal surface, so that they dry well.
  3. Pour the dried barley into a hot frying pan.
  4. Fry with continuous stirring until the seeds become dark in color and acquire a characteristic smell.
  5. Remove from pan and cool.
  6. Grind in a coffee grinder.
  7. Pour 150-200 ml of cold purified water into a Turk.
  8. Pour in the ground grains.
  9. Boil.
  10. Let it brew for 3-5 minutes.

Important! To enhance the nutritional value and benefits of the barley coffee drink, rye is added to it. And to get a rich color and aroma close to coffee, put chicory.

Recipe 2. "Barley with the addition of rye"

  1. Rinse 2 tablespoons of barley and 2 tablespoons of rye under running water.
  2. Place in a bowl and cover with water so that it covers the grains 2-3 cm in height. Soaking should last for one night.
  3. Remove water in the morning. Rinse the grains under running water.
  4. Boil water.
  5. Pour grains into boiling water.
  6. After they begin to open, remove and place in a colander.
  7. Rinse the grains, and then dry and fry until dark.
  8. Grind in a coffee grinder.
  9. Pour 200 ml of cold purified water into a Turk.
  10. Pour in the ground grains.
  11. Boil.
  12. Cover and let it brew for 3-5 minutes.

Recipe 3. "With milk"

  1. Mix 200 ml of milk and 100 ml of water.
  2. Place 4 tablespoons of ground barley in milk and water.
  3. Boil and cook for 2-3 minutes.


To improve the taste of barley coffee, you can add sugar, milk, cream, ice cream, lemon, cinnamon, honey to it. If cooked with milk, it will somewhat resemble cappuccino. It develops a thick and high foam. The aroma is delicate, bready. A coffee-like smell can be achieved with chicory.

Contraindications and harm

As you can see, barley drink has many advantages and benefits. But he has practically no contraindications. Only 2 points can be highlighted when this coffee substitute can be harmful:

  1. When abused. A person who drinks too strong a drink, often and in large doses, runs the risk of earning extra pounds.
  2. If you have a history of celiac disease (small bowel disease). With this disease, the gluten protein of cereals is not broken down or absorbed. Therefore, the person consuming this drink may face a number of health problems arising from this indigestion.

Important! Doctors and nutritionists advise drinking no more than 4-5 cups of barley coffee a day.

Thus, if you have any health problem and you are contraindicated to consume regular coffee for medical reasons, you can add barley drink to your diet. It has a rich vitamin and mineral composition, it costs several times cheaper, and there are much fewer contraindications than coffee, since it does not contain caffeine and is not addictive.
Barley drink has a powerful strengthening effect, helps people who are experiencing stress and serious physical activity to recover faster. It is recommended for restorative nutrition and in the complex therapy of many diseases.

Not everyone can drink natural black coffee. It is not uncommon for doctors to prohibit caffeine in their patients suffering from high blood pressure or heart problems. In cases like this, many safer alternatives to coffee can be found. One of them is barley coffee. There is no caffeine in it at all, and the original barley coffee drink resembles very distantly... However, nevertheless, it is very useful, has its own rather pleasant taste and, in general, can become a good substitute for natural coffee.

Why is barley coffee good for you?

Barley coffee is made from barley grains, which, in turn, have many beneficial qualities. So, they help in the treatment of kidney and digestive system diseases, and are often used in the treatment of the mammary glands. Barley contains proteins and carbohydrates, and in addition, it is one of the record holders for fiber content. Finally, barley grains and, accordingly, barley coffee contain vitamins A, E, B, D, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iodine. In a word, barley coffee turns out to be, if not healing, then a very healthy drink.

Here are just a few examples of the benefits of barley coffee for the body:

Normalization of the nervous system;
strengthening the cardiovascular system;
improving the functioning of the digestive system;
normalization of hormonal balance;
improving the functions of hematopoiesis.

When consumed daily, barley coffee is not addictive or harmful to health. Possessing a tonic effect, this drink also helps to get rid of excess weight. In a word, there will be a lot of benefits from its use, but there will be no harm.

How is barley coffee made?

In some stores today you can find ready-made barley coffee. These are already roasted and ground barley grains that can be brewed in a Turk just like regular coffee. Alternatively, you can make your own barley coffee entirely. For this, the largest barley grains are selected, washed and dried. The dried grains must be fried in a skillet. When frying, they must be constantly stirred, not allowing the grains to burn or overcook. You can grind barley grains in a regular coffee grinder. After that, you can start brewing coffee in the usual way.

To prepare 200 ml of a drink, you will need 2-3 teaspoons of ground barley... To enhance the taste of the drink, you can add chicory to barley coffee.

A drink made from barley grains cannot replace coffee and you should not turn your choice on it, only looking for a replacement for coffee. With the advent of all kinds of coffee, cereal drinks faded into the background, and were undeservedly forgotten. Indeed, thanks to its benefits, "barley coffee" was once recommended for medical and baby food.

Healthy barley drink

Today, different types of such drinks are already often found, of course, many of us purchase them either out of curiosity or trying to reduce consumption. But, if you just indulge in the enjoyment of the unique taste, a barley drink, the benefits of which lie in the absence of caffeine, and in vitamins, and in the content of trace elements, then your diet of hot drinks will become, unlike, richer.

The pleasant and useful qualities include the ability of this drink to influence the work of the gastrointestinal tract, to maintain the balance of hormones. Barley coffee drink, when consumed regularly, can provide water-salt balance and positively affect the functioning of the nervous system. Since coffee is contraindicated for many people for various reasons, cereal "coffee" becomes a good alternative.

The barley grains, from which the drinks are made, contain components that allow their use in the treatment of a number of diseases. And, derivatives from this grain have the same beneficial properties. Barley, in addition to proteins and carbohydrates, contains a lot of fiber. It contains potassium, phosphorus, iodine, calcium and a number of vitamins: A, E, D and B. Barley drinks are allowed for use by expectant mothers and children.

Barley coffee drink

They can be produced with the addition of chicory, a certain amount, blueberry extracts, and other additives that enrich the drinks with new flavors and properties. In order to get only the good from life, even in such drinks you should know when to stop and always read the composition, because you better know your individual intolerance. Any abuse, even in such a simple product as barley drink, is harmful. Today, you can buy drinks from roasted and ground beans, which are brewed like coffee in beans, or instant drinks - which are diluted with hot water and, if desired, add cream or milk.

Natural black coffee is not allowed for everyone. It cannot be drunk by people suffering from heart disease or high blood pressure, it is harmful to patients with ulcers and gastritis. But what if you are a desperate coffee lover and your health does not allow you to enjoy your favorite drink? In such cases, substitutes come to the rescue, such as barley coffee. Of course, he will not be able to give you the same pleasure as a natural drink, but it will bring significant benefits to the body.

Benefits of barley analog

Barley coffee can be safely classified as a healthy food. It is completely free of caffeine, it tastes good and is absolutely safe for the heart and other organs. True, in taste and aroma, it very remotely resembles real black coffee.

The basis of such coffee is barley grains, known for a lot of useful properties. They help with kidney and gastrointestinal tract diseases, eliminate inflammation of the mammary glands, and stabilize the nervous system. Barley owes its medicinal qualities to its rich chemical composition. Grains include:

  • proteins;
  • carbohydrates;
  • fiber (in huge quantities);
  • vitamins A, B, E, D;
  • the most useful micro and macro elements: phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iodine, magnesium.

Barley coffee has the following medicinal functions:

  • normalizes the activity of the nervous system;
  • eliminates malfunctions of the cardiovascular system;
  • has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract, normalizing the functions of the digestive system;
  • helps in the treatment of kidneys, spleen, liver;
  • improves blood circulation;
  • has a diuretic effect;
  • eliminates hormonal disruptions in the body.

Attention! Barley coffee can be easily added to your daily diet. The drink is not addictive, affects the body only positively and, thanks to the tonic effect, effectively expels extra pounds.

Harm and contraindications

There were no contraindications and disastrous consequences from the use of barley drink. It can be drunk daily, but in moderation - no more than 2-3 cups per day.

How to make a drink at home

In many stores you can buy a ready-made preparation for such coffee - roasted and ground barley grains. It is enough to brew them in a Turk, as is the case with natural coffee.

The healthy barley drink can also be prepared from scratch on your own. To do this, buy large grains of barley, sort them, rinse and dry. Then place them in a skillet and fry them thoroughly, stirring occasionally. Finished grains should not be overcooked and burnt, otherwise the drink will turn out to be tasteless.

Grind the raw materials in a coffee grinder and brew like a traditional coffee. For one serving of the drink, take 2-3 teaspoons of grains and 200-300 ml of water. Fill the raw material with boiling water, boil it over low heat for 10-15 minutes, remove and leave to infuse.

Advice. Add chicory to the drink to enhance the flavor and richness of the drink.

ABOUT the benefits of barley coffee it has been known for a long time - even Russian peasants brewed a drink from barley and drank it with pleasure. Oatmeal and barley jelly have always been included in the list of traditional dishes of Russian cuisine. And we will not talk about barley malt here - this is its own huge topic ...
Barley drinks and in Japan, there they are known as tea " mugi»And is sold in natural food stores.

No wonder - barley grains are rich in B vitamins, contain useful fiber and dietary fiber that have a choleretic effect (thus preventing the formation of stones in the gallbladder and kidneys). And drinks from barley grains cleanse the body of toxins and toxins, remove "bad" cholesterol and stimulate digestion. Therefore, drinking them is especially useful in the morning, you can even before breakfast.

Name " coffee”Has already been added to the drink in our time, as barley is processed similar to that which undergoes coffee beans. And they drink it more often with milk and sugar. Sometimes barley drink is even called "baby coffee" because it is good for breakfast, healthy and does not contain substances that excite the nervous system.

Now instant barley drinks can be bought in stores (they are often placed in sections with diet food), there are also mixtures with the addition of real coffee, rose hips or other useful herbs. But nothing stops me from trying make a barley drink at home yourself. Let's try?

Real high-quality barley in large cities can be bought in departments selling farm products, in online stores specializing in eco-products, in joint shopping stores. If you live in smaller cities, then it can be sold in the markets.

You can brew barley like ordinary tea - grind the grains in a coffee grinder, pour boiling water and let it brew for a couple of minutes.

But barley coffee will be tastier according to a different recipe.
Pour the barley into the frying pan (do not add any oil). And grill over medium heat, stirring or shaking the pan occasionally.
As soon as the shade of the grain turns light brown, pour about half of the grains into a prepared dry plate, and continue to fry the remaining half in the pan until dark brown, almost black. But do not overdo it, not to the coals - do not forget to stir. This mixed roast will make your drink versatile, with an interesting shade and pleasant aftertaste.

Now mix both parts and grind in a coffee grinder. You can keep some light, deep-roasted barley grains apart and grind them separately. So you will understand - homemade barley drink from the grains of which roast is closer to your taste.

Brew as instant coffee - 1-2 tablespoons per glass, you can add milk, cream, sugar to taste. It is good both hot and cold.

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