When and where did barley coffee appear?
Ripe ears of barley are collected, the grains are sorted, then washed and fried.
Barley, as a food product, has been known to mankind for more than 4 thousand years. It gained a reputation as an ideal food crop due to its unique composition. High fiber content and 14% protein (which is completely absorbed by the body), gives a feeling of fullness and is a dietary product. Rich in minerals that ensure good performance and metabolism. Calcium, zinc, potassium, iron are especially useful for young children and the elderly.
In ancient times, people had to work long and hard, so barley dishes were common in Rus'. Bread, porridge, and drinks based on it helped maintain strength and health. To preserve muscle mass, the diet of the gladiators of ancient Rome also included this grain crop.
Barley coffee is a drink made from roasted, ground and brewed barley grains
People learned to prepare drinks from ground and roasted grains closer to modern times. The barley drink began to replace coffee not because people took care of themselves, but because of the price and delivery, which could not be distinguished by its regularity. Therefore, such a drink will help both save money and improve your health.
What kind of drink is this
An infusion of barley and rye is a coffee substitute . Let's find out what it is called in different countries. The word "mugitcha", or barley tea, comes from Japan, where an infusion of unrefined, roasted barley or wheat grains has long been known. In China the drink is called “damaicha”, in Korea it is called “porichha”. The taste of the product resembles Soviet coffee substitutes (ersatz coffee): for example, the “Summer” drink. In Russia, barley coffee also has its fans.
What is it made of?
Coffee substitute is prepared from roasted and finely ground barley beans . To highlight the taste of the drink, rye is added to it. It adds depth to the infusion and helps reveal the beneficial properties of the main grain.
There are different brands of the product on the market, most often in soluble or ground form. For variety, ground rose hips, chicory or even acorns are added to the barley.
Benefit for health
At the beginning of the 30th year of the last century, Soviet biologists were able to prove that drinks based on barley can seriously affect the human body who have suffered stress and strain. Therefore, the drink was present in combination with the main treatment for many diseases.
Strengthening properties
Cereal broth contains a lot of protein and carbohydrates and has a tonic effect.
Containing a lot of protein and carbohydrates, the drink restores strength well. Prescribed for various types of injuries and other overloads of the body, especially useful in cases of injury.
Positive dynamics in the fight against weight and diabetes.
Regular consumption of barley in your diet allows you to get rid of accumulated toxins in the body and helps improve digestion. Sugar levels are noticeably reduced in people with diabetes.
Anti-inflammatory properties
For arthritis and rheumatism, coffee made from barley has an analgesic effect.
Barley contains lysine (an antibacterial substance), which has antiviral properties, and hordecin, which actively fights fungal diseases of the skin.
In combination with medications, barley coffee is taken for colds; it is often used for infectious diseases of the respiratory tract. For rheumatism and arthritis, it reduces pain.
Effect on the gastrointestinal tract
A drink made from barley improves the functioning of the stomach and intestines, helps cope with constipation.
Ulcers, gastritis, dysbacteriosis and other types of diseases require special attention from both doctors and the patient. He has to switch to a new type of diet, which must include barley. Normal functioning of the digestive systems is impossible without a special environment in which special bacterial compounds develop. Barley helps with this, because it contains beta-glucans.
Maintaining the health of the cardiovascular system
Barley has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart and circulatory system, improves hematopoiesis processes and stabilizes the water-salt balance.
The heart muscle begins to function better, because the drink contains potassium and magnesium. Including vitamins E and D, barley coffee normalizes blood pressure. An impressive variety of vitamins and minerals strengthens the walls of blood vessels, increasing their elasticity. It also has a positive effect on water-salt balance.
Longevity and beauty
Barley coffee also affects your appearance. It contains silicon and lysine, which promote the production of collagen, which, in turn, ensures the elasticity of the skin, reducing the risk of premature aging. Collagen affects the quality of hair growth, the condition of nails and the elasticity of cartilage.
Composition and calorie content
All grains contain a large number of useful components. The same goes for barley. There is a large amount of fiber in the cereal - about 9%. Protein occupies a small proportion of the composition - 15.5%, and carbohydrates - 75.5%.
According to rough estimates, one cup of barley coffee contains about 20–25 kcal, as well as within 5 g of carbohydrates and 1 g of protein.
The drink also includes a considerable number of useful components:
- B vitamins, represented by B1, B2, B3, B4, B6, B8, B9.
- Fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E.
- Microelements and macroelements such as silicon, magnesium, iodine, fluorine, phosphorus, sulfur and zinc.
It is also known that barley grains contain dietary soluble fibers called beta-glucans. These components help eliminate toxins and other components harmful to the body, cholesterol, and also reduce the amount of sugar in the blood.
Barley coffee taste
Barley coffee is most similar in taste to cappuccino when prepared with milk or cream. During cooking, a high foam is formed, which has a light aroma of bread. When cooked together with chicory, noticeable coffee notes appear.
Barley coffee without additives has nothing in common with regular coffee and does not contain caffeine. Useful, does not affect the nervous system and is easy to use. You can drink it at any time and go to bed without fear of insomnia.
What does it taste and smell like?
The described coffee substitute has a peculiar taste. It has a hint of toasted bread. The taste can be described as soft, with a slight bitterness. When properly prepared, a high, dense foam forms on the surface of the drink.
Did you know? Barley, together with wheat, is the most ancient cereal crop, evidence of its cultivation dates back to 10 thousand years ago. Scientists suggest that its cultivation first occurred to the inhabitants of the Middle East.
Cooking options
Classical
The absence 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
Preparation time: 10 minutes
What you will need:
- 3 tsp barley grains
- 280 ml water
- Turk
- Pan
- Paper towels
Process:
The grains must be thoroughly washed. Place on a paper towel, blot and let dry. The dried grains are placed on a non-stick frying pan. Fry until dark golden brown.
Cool the finished beans and pass through a coffee grinder/blender. The powder is poured into a Turk, filled with water and placed on the stove over low heat. When the coffee begins to gradually boil, remove it from the stove and pour it into a container. You need to leave the finished drink to brew for 5 minutes.
Barley coffee with milk
You can add cream, honey or ice cream to taste.
The result is a very delicate and aromatic drink . What you will need:
- Milk (cow's or soy) - 1 tbsp.
- Grains 4-5 tsp
- Water – half a glass
- Medium diameter saucepan
Process:
The grains need to be washed, dried and ground. Milk and water are poured into a saucepan and brought to a boil. Add the powder to the pan and cook for 4 minutes over low heat. The finished coffee is removed from the stove and infused for 3 minutes. You can add regular sugar or honey as a sweetener.
Barley coffee with rye
Barley beans for coffee can be purchased in supermarkets specializing in organic products, from farmers, and at markets.
Preparation time: 15 minutes.
Ingredients:
- Barley 2 tbsp
- Rye 2 tbsp
- Chicory 2 tsp
- Water 200 ml
- deep bowl
Preparation:
The grains are washed under cool water. Pour into a bowl, fill with ice water and place in the refrigerator overnight, covering the mixture with a lid. In the morning, the water is drained and boiling water is poured into the grains, placed on low heat. When the first signs of grain opening appear, they are removed from the stove.
So far, scientists have not found any evidence that barley decoction has any negative effect on the human body.
The water needs to be drained and the grains dried. The dried grains are browned in a frying pan and ground with a blender/coffee grinder. 3 tsp of grain powder and 2 tsp of chicory are placed in boiling water. After the mixture boils, let it steep for 3 minutes. The finished coffee is poured into a bowl and honey is added to taste.
Beneficial features
Barley drink has unique medicinal properties. If you include it in your diet, you can reduce the likelihood of Alzheimer's disease, the risk of which is increased due to the accumulation of aluminum oxide. Barley contains silicic acid, which neutralizes it.
Beneficial properties of barley coffee:
- improves the condition of the cardiovascular, urinary and endocrine systems;
- normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
- eliminates inflammatory processes;
- strengthens nails and bones;
- restores hair growth;
- makes the skin elastic;
- Helps relieve stress and restore the body after overwork.
Adviсe
Experiments are allowed when preparing. The taste and aroma will vary depending on the degree of roasting of the grains. The darker the color, the more bitter notes will appear. The system also works in reverse.
You can try making a blend - fry half the beans for the drink lightly, the other half more
You can make a mix of flavors. Some of the product is fried very lightly, others for quite a long time. Over time, you can find your own special way of cooking, which will delight you in the morning.
Potential harms of barley tea
Despite its potential anti-cancer properties, barley tea contains trace amounts of a potentially cancer-causing antinutrient called acrylamide ().
Research has shown mixed results, but research is ongoing to better understand the health effects of acrylamide.
One meta-analysis found that dietary acrylamide intake was not associated with the risk of developing the most common types of cancer ().
Meanwhile, another study found that with high acrylamide intake among certain subgroups, there was a higher risk of colorectal and pancreatic cancer ().
More acrylamide is released from barley tea bags and lightly roasted barley. Thus, to minimize acrylamide content in tea, you should roast the barley yourself until dark brown before brewing ().
Moreover, if you drink tea regularly, you may want to limit the amount of added sugar and creamer to prevent the drink from becoming a significant source of unnecessary calories, fat, and added sugar.
Additionally, barley tea is not suitable for people on a gluten-free or grain-free diet, as barley is a grain that contains gluten.
Conclusion:
Barley tea may contain small amounts of acrylamide, a potentially cancer-causing antinutrient. It is also not suitable for people on a gluten-free or grain-free diet.
Contraindications
Due to the high calorie content of barley coffee, this must be taken into account when preparing your diet.
No harmful effects of barley coffee drink on the human body have been found, but there is one small nuance. Those who watch their figure should be careful when choosing such coffee, because the drink is very high in calories. KBJU for a cup of coffee 25/1/1/5. These indicators must be included in the accounting of daily Kcal consumption. There are no contraindications, so pregnant women and children can drink it. It can cause harm if it is improperly prepared and consumed in large quantities, and a couple of cups a day will only help you become more alert. Individual intolerance to the components is possible.
If you are still not ready to immediately give up drinking coffee, we recommend that you gradually switch first to coffee drinks with a lot of milk and cream - Frappuccino, coffee with cream, Viennese style, with ice cream.
Manufacturers and brands
Domestic producers offer all kinds of barley drinks. It is much easier to buy ready-made powder, which you just boil or pour boiling water over. The most popular brands producing cereal drinks:
- Trademark "Old Mill". The manufacturer offers a wide range of finished products. Just pour boiling water over the powder to get a healthy drink. The Old Mill also produces a drink that combines barley and rye.
- . Offers a coffee drink “Barley Ear”, the main ingredient of which is barley. As useful additives, the drink may contain rye, chicory, and crushed acorns.
- Trademark "Stoletov". A well-known manufacturer that produces drinks from chicory, barley with the addition of milk, cream and other ingredients.
Barley drink can be purchased in almost any supermarket. It is also purchased in specialized health food stores. Is barley coffee sold in establishments such as pharmacies? Nowadays, many pharmacies offer a wide range of not only pharmaceuticals, but also healthy food products. Therefore, it is quite possible to purchase barley powder at the pharmacy.
