Barley tea

Barley tea

　　Barley tea is a traditional and widely popular cooling beverage in China. Just steep it in hot water for 2–3 minutes before drinking to extract its richly aromatic flavor. In summer, chilled barley tea becomes an excellent drink to beat the heat. Also known as barley tea or barley beverage, it has been gaining popularity in Japan and Korea as people pursue healthier lifestyles and fitness. With the declining consumption of sugary drinks, barley tea has gradually become the beverage of choice for health-conscious individuals. The rise of barley tea in China is closely tied to the popularity of Korean cuisine. Among various foreign cultural influences, food culture stands out as a significant force. Especially with the growing "Japanese wave" and "Korean wave," there is now a considerable number of "Korea enthusiasts." Many young men and women have fallen in love with Korean food, where barley tea is an indispensable part of the Korean dining experience. On the other hand, modern people are increasingly seeking the nutritional value of their food. Barley tea is made by roasting barley and then boiling it. It boasts a rich, toasty aroma. Drinking it not only stimulates the appetite but also aids digestion and can even help with weight loss. That’s why barley tea has become so popular.

　　 Product Features

　　 　The tea has a sweet, fragrant taste, is rich in nutrients, has a unique flavor, and helps clear heat and toxins.

　　 Efficacy

　　 　According to *Compendium of Materia Medica*: “Barley is sweet in taste and neutral in nature. It helps relieve dietary bloating, improves digestion, soothes the stomach, quenches thirst, clears summer heat, benefits qi and regulates the middle burner, expands the chest and improves breathing, nourishes weakness, strengthens blood vessels, improves complexion, nourishes internal organs, and aids in grain digestion.” Barley tea contains 17 essential trace elements, over 19 types of amino acids, as well as a variety of vitamins, unsaturated fatty acids, proteins, and dietary fiber, meeting people's desire to return to nature and pursue health.

　　 　The production process of barley tea is advanced, resulting in high-quality products free from any additives, offering healthcare benefits. As a traditional beverage, cold barley tea helps prevent heatstroke and cool down, while hot barley tea aids digestion, cuts grease, nourishes the stomach, warms the stomach, and strengthens gastric function. Long-term consumption can lead to beautifying effects and weight loss. Barley tea is a purely natural, all-season, and suitable health beverage for all age groups.

　　 Junior “Young Lady” Kym Jin Sha Makes a Personal Appearance, Hand-Delivering “Barley Tea” to Senior Du

　　 　　Handsome guys and pretty girls are always crowd-pleasers. At the Shanghai event that day, “Young Lady” Jin Sha, who began her singing career by appearing in A-do’s *Moving Forward* MV and was subsequently signed by Ocean Butterflies, came to cheer on her senior and even brought her personally brewed barley tea in a thermos. She wanted to show hospitality and wish her senior success with his new album. To show extra respect as a junior, “Young Lady” Jin Sha even poured a cup and brought it to A-do’s lips. A-do readily accepted and drank the whole big cup of barley tea directly from the cup. He joked, “Junior Jin Sha is always so considerate. She knew I’d be thirsty from singing and specially brought me barley tea. I almost finished the whole cup!” His words made Jin Sha shake her head, and the host was puzzled. Jin Sha said, “My senior used to be so shy, but now he’s so outgoing. He’s not like his old self at all. Did he have a ‘seasonal change’?”

　　 　　Their playful banter drew laughter from fans at the scene. There’s no denying that the bond between the senior and junior is truly strong. (Reported and photographed by You You)

　　 Related Articles on Barley Tea

　　 Office Workers Should Consider Drinking Barley Tea Daily

　　 Office workers, dressed in business attire, carrying laptops, and earning handsome salaries, shuttle through urban office buildings. To many, they are an enviable group. However, behind their glamorous lives, white-collar workers face lesser-known hardships: for them, time is money, and they opt for the fastest, not necessarily the best. As a result, a hamburger or a boxed meal replaces a nutritious but time-consuming proper meal. Instant coffee or a can of cola takes the place of healthy but more complicated Chinese tea.

　　 Day after day of working hard, when office workers occasionally pause, they also worry about their increasingly tired mood and deteriorating health. But they can’t completely overhaul their lifestyle. What they can do is make small adjustments. For example, walking 20 more minutes a day or choosing healthier drinks during meals.

　　 In this regard, office workers in Japan and Korea are worth learning from. They are equally busy, but traditional healthy eating habits ensure their well-being. For instance, their meals are very light, and they pay great attention to diverse food pairings. Among beverages, barley tea is the most popular, especially among Korean office workers, who practically can’t go a day without it.

　　 Barley tea is nutritious and healthy, truly a “health beverage” in the eyes of the Japanese and Koreans. Made from roasted barley, barley tea contains a variety of essential trace elements, amino acids, unsaturated fatty acids, and dietary fiber, with extremely low sugar content. It particularly suits the health-conscious and nature-loving preferences of office workers. Moreover, busy office workers often rely on fast food, which tends to be greasy and fried. Over time, this can lead to food stagnation and even fat accumulation, affecting body shape. Barley tea helps cut grease and aids digestion, and the generally balanced figures of Japanese and Koreans owe much to this. Additionally, barley tea has a refreshing taste and is simple to prepare. Unlike Chinese tea, barley tea doesn’t require attention to tea grade, season, water temperature, or brewing techniques, making it highly suitable for busy office workers.

　　 Drinking Barley Tea During Menstruation Can Relieve Stress

　　 No one is made of iron. Even the strongest and most capable women may look weary and lose their glow during their period each month. The various aches and pains that come with menstruation, along with irritability and poor skin conditions, trouble many women. At such times, if adequate rest isn’t possible, at least one should ensure sufficient nutrition.

　　 　　Avoid Salty Foods Before Your Period

　　 　　Salty foods increase salt and water retention in the body. Before menstruation, rising progesterone levels can lead to edema and headaches. Those experiencing irritability, constipation, or back pain before their period should eat more foods that promote intestinal motility, such as raw vegetables and tofu, to regulate discomfort.

　　 　　Eat Appetizing Foods Early in the Cycle

　　 　　During this time, you may often feel back pain and a poor appetite. It’s a good idea to eat more appetizing, easily digestible foods, such as dates, noodles, and coix seed porridge. Spicy and raw-cold foods can be irritating and may cause uterine blood vessels to contract, leading to reduced menstrual flow or even sudden cessation. These should be eaten sparingly.

　　 　　Boost Protein Intake Mid-Cycle

　　 　　During this period, eat nutrient-rich, easily digestible foods to replenish nutrients. Drink plenty of water and eat more vegetables to maintain smooth bowel movements. Ensure adequate protein intake—eat more meat, eggs, tofu, soybeans, and other high-protein foods at lunch and dinner to compensate for nutrients lost during menstruation. Between meals, snack on walnuts, cashews, dried beans, and other B-vitamin-rich foods. Avoid coffee and tea, as these caffeine-containing beverages can increase anxiety and restlessness. Opt for barley tea or mint tea instead.

　　 　　Replenish Blood After Your Period

　　 　　During menstruation, it’s important to supplement foods rich in protein, iron, potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium, such as meat, animal liver, eggs, and dairy. Women who experience heavy blood loss should eat more spinach, honey dates, red amaranth, and raisins to replenish blood. Deliberately eating sweets during menstruation not only fails to alleviate menstrual discomfort but may also destabilize blood sugar levels, affecting hormone balance and worsening discomfort.

　　 　　Use Diet to Regulate Irregular Periods

　　 　　For late periods, light flow, abdominal pain, cold sensitivity, or diarrhea, avoid raw and cold foods and eat more red date and lotus seed soup to replenish blood. For those with heavy periods, dry mouth, insomnia, or headaches, reduce spicy and heat-inducing foods and eat more cooling foods like wood ear mushrooms, lily bulbs, mung beans, and chrysanthemum tea to improve constitution.

　　 Drink more barley tea to soothe your stomach

　　 Source: People's Daily Online - Life Times

　　 　Hong Lan’s profession has another nickname — “female flying ace.” Every day she commutes between cities in business attire, frequents high-end hotels and office buildings, and earns a handsome income that many envy. But Hong Lan herself has her own unspoken struggles. “I often can’t eat on time, and even when I do, it’s usually not very healthy ‘feasts.’ My stomach started protesting long ago. Stomachaches often strike, sometimes making it impossible to eat at all. Watching others enjoy their meals is honestly quite enviable.” Later, after seeing in a Korean drama that Koreans drink barley tea with grilled meat, I thought maybe it had stomach-soothing benefits. I decided to give it a try and drank it for a month, and the results were really good. Later, I read some books and learned that barley tea actually has quite a few health benefits.

　　 　　Most teas tend to be cooling in nature, which can easily cause qi stagnation and lead to stomachaches for those with sensitive stomachs. Therefore, “neutral” barley tea is a great choice — it offers the refreshing taste of tea without being too cooling. Especially in winter, I often brew it myself to drink. After doing this for a year, my stomach really did become stronger and seldom hurts anymore. In summer, I bring a bottle of sugar-free barley tea to the gym every day. It not only replenishes lost body fluids but also avoids the stomach acid discomfort caused by drinking plain water. Another must-drink-barley-tea occasion is during meals. Barley tea helps cut through grease and heaviness, but it doesn’t “scratch” the stomach too much. Now, many colleagues and friends have joined the “tea enthusiasts” club on my recommendation.

　　 　　Of course, they say that stomach problems are “one-third treatment and seven-thirds care,” so other daily details should also be paid attention to. For example, avoid eating things that are too cold or too hot, and regularly drink soups that are good for the stomach. Of course, the most important thing is to maintain a regular routine so that your stomach gets ample nourishment and rest.