How to Prepare Barley Water

Co-authored by Hunter Rising Reviewed by Ashley Crawford

Last Updated: August 8, 2024 Fact Checked

Barley water is a nutritious drink that can provide you with lots of vitamins and minerals that your body needs. Having barley water every day may also help improve your cholesterol and blood sugar over time.^{[1]
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Research source} If you want to try it, barley water is easy to make and only requires a few ingredients. When you’re finished, you’ll have a healthy drink that you can enjoy!

Ingredients

½ cup (100 g) of pearl barley
10 cups (2.4 L) of water
1 grated lemon rind
1 cup (240 ml) of lemon juice
1 cup (225 g) of sugar or sugar substitute
5 peppermint leaves (optional)
1 sprig of oregano (optional)

Makes 10 servings

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Cooking the Barley

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1
Rinse the barley with cold water. Put ½ cup (100 g) of pearl barley in a strainer and rinse it underneath your faucet. Use cold water so your barley doesn’t cook too early and lose any of its flavor. Keep running the water through the barley until it comes out clear.^{[2]
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- Stir the barley with a spoon or with your hands to ensure all of the grains are rinsed.
2
Combine the barley, lemon zest, and water in a pot. Pour the rinsed barley into a clean pot along with 10 cups (2.4 L) of cold water. Use a grater or fruit zester to scrape the zest off of a lemon into the pot as well.^{[3]
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- If you don’t have a zester, you can remove the entire peel from the lemon and put it in your pot instead.
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Put the pot on your stove and turn the burner onto high heat. Let the water come to a rolling boil and let it bubble for at least 1 minute.^{[4]
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4
Simmer the barley for 30-60 minutes. Set the burner to medium-low heat and let the barley simmer for at least 30 minutes so infuses with the water. Stir the mixture with a wooden spoon occasionally so the barley doesn’t get stuck to the pot or burn. After you’re done simmering the barley, turn off the heat.^{[5]
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- The barley flavor in your water will get stronger the longer you leave it to simmer.
5
Strain the water from the barley into a heat-safe pitcher. Put a heat-safe pitcher in your sink so you can easily pour the water into it. Set a strainer on top of the pitcher and pour the barley into it. Go slowly so you don’t spill any of the water. Shake the strainer to drain any water between the barley grains. You can choose to save the barley or throw it away if you don’t plan on eating it.^{[6]
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- You can store cooked barley in the fridge for 3-5 days in an airtight container.
Tip: Mix the barley you used with dried fruits, nuts, and warm milk to make a healthy breakfast.^{[7]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Flavoring the Barley Water

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Pour in 1 cup (225 g) of sugar while the barley water is still hot. Use a wooden spoon to stir the mixture while it’s still warm so the sugar completely dissolves in the water.^{[8]
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Tip: If you don’t want to use sugar, you can substitute ¹⁄₂ cup (120 ml) of honey or 1 cup (225 g) of artificial sweetener instead.
2
Mix in lemon juice for a citrusy flavor. You can either use juice squeezed from a fresh lemon or bottled lemon juice. Pour 1 cup (240 ml) of lemon juice in the barley water and stir it until it’s thoroughly mixed together.^{[9]
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- Test the flavor of your water, and add more lemon juice if you want.
3
Add peppermint leaves if you want to infuse fresh flavors. While the water is still warm, drop 5 fresh peppermint leaves and stir them in. Leave the leaves in the water for at least 20 minutes so the flavors can infuse with the water. After 20 minutes, you can choose to leave the mint in the water or strain them out.^{[10]
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- If you want a slight spiciness to your water, add 1 sprig of fresh oregano along with the peppermint.^{[11]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Serving and Storing the Barley Water

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Transfer the pitcher to the refrigerator so it can cool off. Make sure to cover the pitcher so nothing can get into your water. Leave it there for about 2 hours or until it’s cold enough to drink.^{[12]
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2
Drink barley water over ice in the morning for a healthy start to your day. Fill a glass with ice and pour your barley water into it. Add slices or wedges of fresh lemon to garnish your drink and add more flavor to the drink.^{[13]
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- You don’t have to use lemons if you don’t want to.
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.^{[14]
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Warning: If you have diarrhea after consuming barley water, stop drinking it immediately.
Keep the barley water in a covered pitcher or in single-serving bottles so they’re easy to drink. After 1 week, dump out any leftover barley water since it will start to go bad.^{[15]
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Warnings

Barley water contains gluten, so don’t drink it if you have a gluten intolerance or wheat allergy.^{[16]
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If you develop rashes, feel stomach cramps, have diarrhea, or have headaches after having barley water, stop drinking it immediately.^{[17]
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