We want to tell you about undeservedly forgotten, but tasty and healthy drinks made from barley. We hope that after reading the information we have presented, you will agree that barley drinks should take pride of place in the menu of every person trying to take care of their health.
Like any product, drinks made from this cereal also have some contraindications. There are very few of them, but it still doesn’t hurt to know about them.
Next, we will try to introduce you in detail to the various options for barley drinks. Their benefits and harm will also not be ignored by us.
Long-term oblivion does not mean that the product is bad
For a long period, there was an opinion that of all agricultural cereal crops, barley is the least useful and valuable from the point of view of microbiological analysis. At one time it was even believed that pearl barley, which is made from barley, was an empty and useless product. What can we say about barley drink? The benefits and harms of this product were not even discussed. Most likely, this is due to the fact that its cost is relatively low and in times of famine it was barley that became a common guest on the tables of low-income people. He helped the poor both during the war and during the years of crop failure.
Barley is completely unpretentious in cultivation and grows almost throughout Russia. And what is always at hand, as is known, is usually perceived without much reverence. In addition, the direct dependence of the diet on material well-being is too obvious, and pearl barley is a traditional food during hard times. But everything flows and everything changes.
In recent years, interest in barley as a “healthy food” food has increased significantly. This trend cannot but rejoice. It affected not only barley, but also other gifts of the earth, in particular, quinoa and amaranth, which returned to our tables under exotic, overseas names - quinoa and amaranth. But they are not at all a curiosity for the Russian taste. By the way, both plants are considered weeds, and gardeners fight them mercilessly.
Barley drinks have returned to our diet no longer as cheap substitutes for morning coffee and tea and not as decoctions of medicinal plants to treat or restore the body weakened by illness, but as complete components of a healthy menu for all family members.
What it is?
Barley as a food crop has been known to mankind for more than 4 thousand years. Cereals are popular due to their composition. They contain almost 15% protein and fiber, which is necessary for excellent nutrition. Beta-glucans cleanse the body of toxins and reduce the amount of sugar. Due to the content of vitamins and microelements, barley is nature's pantry.
It is no coincidence that the diet of Roman gladiators included dishes made from this grain. Russian heroes also consumed barley in large quantities. It was used for preparing porridge, baking bread, and receiving drinks. The latter are prepared from roasted and ground grains. In Europe they began to replace it with barley long ago. This was due to the high price of coffee beans. In addition, there were constant supply interruptions. Scientists believe that such a drink allows you not only to save money, but also to improve your health.
Beneficial features
Barley drinks have unique beneficial properties. They help improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, cleansing the digestive system of waste and toxins. Barley helps eliminate cholesterol and prevents the formation of kidney and gallstones. It is hypoallergenic, so it can be added to the list of dishes for people prone to somatic reactions to various types of foods.
If you include any of the barley drinks in your daily diet, then be sure that in old age you will not begin to develop senile dementia. The fact is that one of the unique properties of barley is its high content of silicic acid, which destroys aluminum oxide, and aluminum alloys are actively used in the production of food dishes and cutlery. During contact with them, a chemical reaction occurs, as a result of which aluminum in an easily digestible form enters our body and settles in the cells. The consequence of the accumulation of harmful metals is Alzheimer's disease.
Contraindications
Barley drinks have virtually no contraindications. Two restrictions apply only to the following cases:
- Excessive consumption of cereals can cause excess weight gain, so diabetics should only eat them after consulting with their doctor. In such a situation, barley drink is harmful only if it is drunk very thick and in large portions. The calorie content of barley is slightly inferior to any similar cereal.
- Barley is also not indicated for patients with celiac disease. It contains gluten, and in this rare disease, the gluten protein of cereals, including barley, is not broken down and not absorbed. This disruption of intracellular metabolism provokes serious health complications.
Barley coffee
Coffee made from barley is called a surrogate for real coffee. However, the so-called “Barley” coffee drink only tastes like coffee. Unlike the real thing, it does not excite the nervous system and is suitable not only for a morning meal, but also for drinking throughout the day. Barley drink, the benefits of which are undeniable, is allowed even for small children.
You can buy ground barley coffee at the store, but it’s easy to make your own. Unpeeled barley grains should be fried in a dry frying pan until light brown and ground in a coffee grinder. Ground beans are brewed in a coffee grinder at the rate of one spoon per cup of boiling water. The result is a brown, bitter drink, slightly reminiscent of coffee. It is customary to drink it with sugar and milk or cream.
Cooking recipes and recommendations for consumption
Traditional healers recommend taking barley decoctions as a general tonic and cleansing agent .
Decoction that cleanses the blood and liver
Fatty foods, smoked foods, and alcohol clog the blood and clog the liver. Barley tea regenerates cells, removes toxins, and reduces cholesterol .
The recipe is simple :
- 1 tbsp. Rinse the grains well and dry them on a napkin.
- Pour 1 liter of boiling water.
- Simmer in the oven or over low heat, covered, for 20-30 minutes.
It is recommended to drink hot before meals . Dosage – up to 1-1.5 liters per day.
Interesting! This drug was described by the medieval Persian physician Avicenna in his encyclopedic work “The Canon of Medicine.”
Green barley powder drink
An indispensable remedy for anemia and anemia . Ground barley replenishes the deficiency of nutrients, especially in early spring.
Procurement of raw materials:
- Cut off the young shoots of barley and dry them in a dark place;
- grind the raw materials into flour.
How to brew:
- Pour 1 tbsp into a 200 ml cup. l. dry green powder.
- Pour in cooled boiled water.
- Add 1-2 ice cubes and a slice of lemon.
Reception mode:
- 30 minutes before meals, drink 150-200 g of the prepared mixture once a day;
- take for 3-4 weeks;
- take a break of 1-2 months;
- repeat the course according to indications.
The drink is useful for overweight people . Active components stimulate and normalize metabolic processes, eliminate constipation and intestinal obstruction.
Grandma's recipe for country coffee
An original Russian drink made from roasted barley or wheat grains with the addition of chicory, it was popular among village residents.
A simple method of preparing coffee powder has survived to this day :
- 1 tbsp. Rinse pearl barley and dry on a towel.
- Fry in a dry hot frying pan until dark brown.
- Grind the beans in a coffee grinder.
- Peel 1 chicory root, chop into pieces and dry.
- Fry in a frying pan until red.
- Grind in a coffee grinder.
When the beans are heavily roasted, the taste of coffee becomes tart , piquant and rich.
Step by step recipe:
- 2.5-3 tsp. Pour soluble barley into a Turk.
- Add 0.5-1 tsp. chicory.
- Pour 150-200 ml of hot water.
- Place the Turk on low heat until it boils.
- As soon as the foam rises, remove the Turk from the heat.
- Pour the contents into coffee cups.
- Add sugar or honey to taste.
Barley decoction for nursing women
In folk medicine, barley decoctions are recommended for young mothers while breastfeeding.
The broth is prepared quickly:
- Rinse 250 g of pearl barley and dry.
- Place the pearl barley in a cast iron or aluminum container.
- Pour 700-750 g of hot water.
- Simmer over low heat for 1.5-2 hours.
- Drink 50 ml 3 times a day before meals.
Drinks “Barley Ear” and “Golden Ear”
These two barley drinks are analogues of ground coffee. They are sold in regular supermarkets in the grocery section.
“Ear of Barley” contains roasted ground barley grains and chicory root. The brewing method is indicated on the packaging. As a rule, one tablespoon of powder is required for one large mug. Barley coffee is brewed in the same way as regular coffee, in a Turk or coffee maker.
“Golden Ear” is a mixture of barley and rye grains. It is prepared in the same way as “Ear of Barley” or regular coffee.
It’s probably time to stop treating “Barley” and “Golden Ear” as cheap analogues of Brazilian coffee. The “Ear of Barley” drink resembles traditional coffee only in its brewing method and color. Its properties and taste are in no way similar to coffee, and its health benefits are significantly superior to the latter. Negative side effects can only be associated with the quality of barley raw materials and the additives that will be included in the drink.
Coffee drink made from rye and barley - benefits and harms, brewing features
Due to high blood pressure or a number of other reasons, some people are forced to give up traditional coffee. A worthy replacement for it can be a coffee drink made from rye and barley, the benefits and harms of which have long been studied by nutritionists.
Despite all the benefits and obvious advantages, cereal coffee has remained underestimated for a long time. Today, thanks to the fashion for a healthy lifestyle, the drink is confidently regaining lost ground. Properly prepared, coffee made from rye and barley will not only delight you with its taste, but will also help improve your health.
Useful properties of the drink
Studies have shown that drinks made from barley have a strong strengthening effect. They are indispensable for people whose lives involve constant stress, physical or emotional overload. Barley coffee is even included in some health food systems. And if barley is supplemented with rye, the benefits and nutritional value of the drink increase even more.
Barley-rye coffee promotes:
- Improving the condition of the gastrointestinal tract. The substances that make up cereals have a choleretic effect. They cleanse, tone and stimulate the epithelium that lines the intestines. As a result, it is restored, creating a favorable nutrient environment that is optimal for the active proliferation of bacteria. Coffee made from barley and rye is indicated for gastritis, ulcers, dysbiosis, dyskinesia and other common gastrointestinal diseases.
- Prevention of diabetes. Due to the high fiber content in the drink, the process of carbohydrate absorption slows down. Accordingly, the glucose indicator does not make sharp jumps and remains stable.
- Normalization of weight. Drinking barley coffee relieves stress on the pancreas. Thanks to this, glucose is processed completely and is not stored as adipose tissue.
- Restoring the functioning of the heart and blood vessels. Cereals, especially barley, contain a lot of magnesium and potassium. They are beneficial for the heart muscle, especially when supported by the influence of vitamins D and E. Drinking coffee made from rye and barley helps normalize blood pressure, if it is elevated, and strengthen the walls of blood vessels.
- Treatment and prevention of inflammation. The bactericidal properties of rye and barley grains protect the body from infectious diseases. Inflammation of the respiratory tract that accompanies colds goes away faster when drinking the drink. Cereal coffee Cereal coffee even helps with some skin diseases.
- General strengthening of the body. The optimal ratio of proteins and carbohydrates quickly restores strength. For this reason, barley coffee with rye is prescribed to people who have suffered injuries, surgeries, or long-term illnesses.
Tip: It is better to use ready-made mixtures for making coffee. By buying ingredients separately, it is easier to run into counterfeit products and, moreover, you can make a mistake in the proportions. Products such as “Old Mill” are prepared from high-quality and properly processed raw materials.
Among other useful elements, coffee made from barley and rye contains silicon and lysine. They promote collagen synthesis, which, in turn, has a positive effect on the skin, rejuvenates it and improves tone.
Harm of barley coffee
Barley coffee can have a negative effect if it is prepared incorrectly or if the drink is abused. Experts recommend drinking no more than 4-5 cups of barley coffee per day. In this case, the drink will be extremely beneficial.
There are no contraindications to drinking barley coffee, but there are several nuances that should be kept in mind.
Considering the carbohydrate content and calorie content of the drink, you should not drink it in large quantities if you are overweight.
In small quantities, barley coffee promotes weight loss, but in large quantities it can have the opposite effect. In addition, barley and rye contain protein, which should be taken into account by people with kidney pathologies.
How to properly prepare barley coffee with rye
There are several options for making barley coffee. If you plan to cook it with rye, you can use this recipe:
- For 3 tablespoons of barley we take the same amount of rye. We rinse the ingredients several times to clean water. Then fill it with water again and let it sit for at least a day.
- After the specified time, drain the liquid and fill the grains with filtered or drinking water. Put this whole mass on the fire and bring to a boil. As soon as the grains begin to burst, you need to remove the container from the stove, drain the water and rinse the grains again.
- Now all that remains is to dry the mixture and you can proceed directly to making coffee. To do this, fry the grains for several minutes in a dry frying pan. Make sure that the mass does not burn. We grind the dried products in a coffee grinder and use them like regular ground coffee.
- As a rule, stores sell already blended, washed and roasted barley and rye coffee. In this case, all previous steps are skipped.
- The optimal ratio is considered to be a heaping tablespoon of the mixture and 150 ml of water. Boil the mixture for 2 minutes and leave for the same amount of time under the lid.
- When preparing coffee, you can add half a teaspoon of chicory to barley and rye. It will give the drink a unique aroma and make the color more saturated.
True connoisseurs of barley coffee prepare it with milk. In this case, a third of the water is replaced with milk during the cooking process. If desired, the taste of coffee can be softened with cane sugar or honey.
Malt drink
Barley malt drink is a real storehouse of vitamins and beneficial microelements. For this purpose, the grains must be germinated within one to two days. As soon as the white sprouts hatch, the grains should be washed and dried. Grind the dry grains and pour boiling water over them. Leave in a warm place for 30-40 minutes. For two or three tablespoons of ground barley, one and a half to two glasses of boiling water is enough.
Sprouted grains can be stored for future use and used as needed. They are stored both whole and ground.
Barley coffee, benefits and harms of coffee drink made from barley
If for health reasons you cannot enjoy coffee or you simply decide to switch to a healthy diet, then barley coffee can be a good substitute for natural coffee. In this article, we have collected information for you about the benefits of this drink, its harms, preparation methods and taste properties.
What is barley coffee?
People have been eating barley for more than 4 thousand years. It contains protein and nutritious fiber necessary for our body. It contains vitamins and beneficial microelements in large quantities.
It helps cleanse the body of toxins and lowers blood sugar levels. It contains beta-glucans - plant carbohydrates found in the cell walls of oats, barley, mushrooms, algae and some other plants.
They help cleanse the cells of our body from harmful substances and replenish its reserves of useful elements.
Barley coffee is a drink made from roasted, ground and brewed barley grains. Ripe ears of barley are collected, the grains are sorted and washed. After this, the grains are roasted, they are ground, and then brewed.
Roasted barley grain
Beneficial features
A coffee drink made from barley has a calming effect and is useful for stress and nervous disorders. It does not have a clear invigorating effect on the body and helps restore the nervous system.
This cereal decoction is good for the digestive system. It cleanses the gastrointestinal tract of toxins and waste and stimulates digestion. Improves the functioning of the stomach and intestines, helps cope with constipation.
Affects the endocrine system, helps to align and balance hormonal levels.
Barley coffee affects metabolism and activates metabolism. This drink contains B vitamins, vitamins A, D, E, as well as magnesium, iodine, phosphorus, potassium and a host of other useful minerals.
Barley has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart and circulatory system, improves hematopoietic processes and stabilizes the water-salt balance. Drinking barley infusion serves as a good prevention of diabetes. Due to its high fiber content, it slows down the absorption of carbohydrates, which in turn normalizes blood glucose levels.
It also helps cope with inflammatory processes in the body and makes you feel better with problems with the nasopharynx or throat disease. Serves as a good preventive measure for such diseases. Reduces pain from arthritis and rheumatism.
Barley coffee contains a lot of lysine and silicon, which, in turn, are responsible for the production of collagen.
Collagen is an essential protein for the body, it makes up 25 to 35 percent of all proteins in our body and is responsible for the firmness, strength and elasticity of our skin, hair, cartilage and other parts of the body. Thus, this drink will help you maintain the beauty and health of your skin and hair.
Cereal broth contains a lot of protein and carbohydrates and has a tonic effect. It is recommended to speed up recovery from injuries, stress, operations, and general fatigue. The lack of caffeine allows you to calmly drink the drink in the afternoon without consequences for the nervous system - you can drink a cup of this coffee late in the evening and then sleep soundly all night.
Harm to humans
The benefits and harms of this drink are not comparable to each other. So far, scientists have not found any evidence that barley decoction has any negative effect on the human body.
It contains many useful substances, does not contain caffeine, has a positive effect on the entire body and is completely safe for the human nervous system.
Drinking several cups a day will only benefit you.
The simplest recipe
This cooking method requires minimal effort and time.
- Grind the roasted barley grains in a coffee grinder.
- Put 1-2 tbsp. l. grind into a cup, pour boiling water over it and let it brew for a few minutes.
Classic recipe
You will need a glass of water (about 200 ml) and 3 teaspoons of barley grains.
- Rinse the beans and dry them (you can put them on a paper towel to speed up the process).
- Heat a frying pan over a fire and pour dry grains onto it. Do not add oil!
- Fry the grains over medium heat until darkened and a characteristic smell appears.
- You can grind the cooled roasted grain in a coffee grinder.
- Add ground barley powder to the pot and cook until it boils.
- As soon as the coffee has boiled, remove the Turk from the heat and let it stand for a few minutes under the lid.
- Add coffee to a mug and enjoy a delicious, aromatic drink!
Recipe with milk
You will need 100 ml of water, 200 ml of milk and approximately 4-5 teaspoons of barley grains.
- Wash and dry the grains.
- Fry them over medium heat without oil.
- Place the roasted beans in a coffee grinder and grind them.
- Add milk and water to the pan and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Add the ground powder and cook for 2-3 minutes.
You can add cream, honey or ice cream to taste. The result is a very delicate and aromatic drink.
Additional Tips
- When roasting barley, you can experiment; the more you roast the grain, the darker it will be, the denser the taste, the more bitterness will appear, and vice versa.
- You can try making a blend - fry half the beans for the drink lightly, the other half more. This way, over time, you will be able to find your own special recipe for frying and preparing this cereal decoction.
- If you want to add flavor and color, you can also add half a teaspoon of chicory when cooking.
- Stores also sell pre-ground or even instant barley coffee, such as Old Mill or Barley Ear. It is inexpensive and will help you save cooking time.
Taste of the drink
This cereal drink tastes much softer than natural coffee. It has a pleasant bready aroma. When cooked, a dense and high foam is obtained. When adding milk, it tastes most like cappuccino. You can get a coffee aroma and taste by adding a little chicory.
Barley decoction can be considered as one of the alternatives to natural coffee. It is beneficial for the body, does not overstimulate the nervous system, and has a pleasant taste and aroma. Barley coffee is easy to prepare at home, and both adults and children can drink it.
Source: https://kniga-kofe.ru/vse-o-kofe/yachmennyj-kofe-polza-i-vred/
Kissel
Barley jelly is made both from purified grains, that is, from pearl barley, and from unthreshed ones. The proportions look quite arbitrary: at least 50 g of barley is required for one liter of water. If you like thick jelly, add more.
Barley is filled with water and placed on fire. After boiling, cook for another 20 minutes. Then it infuses and cools. Only the drink made from unrefined barley is filtered.
Barley jelly is a traditional dish for Russia. Previously, it was boiled thick and eaten with butter, seasoned with a pinch of salt. Sweet jelly with honey or berries was prepared for children.
Barley jelly is by no means a primitive dish with a couple of options. You could write a whole book about the methods of making jelly from barley, because this drink can be brewed from fresh unthreshed grains, from dry peeled grains, and from sprouted grains. It is made in different thicknesses, eaten sweet and salty, diluted with milk, vegetable oil, meat and vegetable broth.
Barley jelly has a fairly neutral taste, so it can be combined with a wide variety of foods.
On its basis, formulas are prepared for feeding infants if the mother has little milk of her own.
Mugitya, damaicha and porichha
Mugitya, damaicha and porichha are three names for the same barley drink, very popular in Japan, China and Korea. It is similar to the Russian one, which is sold in our stores under the name “Summer”.
This is barley coffee made from whole, unthreshed, roasted and ground beans without any additives in the form of milk powder, sugar or preservatives. It is brewed like regular coffee, but it is customary to drink it cold, putting a slice of lemon and ice in a cup. This drink is also produced in the form of an instant concentrated powder.
We hope you found the article interesting. In it we looked at barley drink, the harm and benefits it brings to the body.
