Lemon Barley Water Recipe - The Spruce Eats

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• Drinks & Cocktails
• Non-Alcoholic Drinks

Lemon Barley Water By Syrie Wongkaew Syrie Wongkaew Sydney-based food writer, editor, photographer, and food stylist with a focus on Australian and Thai cuisine. Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process Updated on 10/30/25 Tested by Renae Wilson Tested by Renae Wilson Renae has certifications in both Pastry Arts and Culinary Arts from the Institute of Culinary Education and works as a private chef and caterer, recipe tester and developer, and food writer. Renae has written and developed recipes for Rachael Ray In Season, the Kitchn, Food52, and more. Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process (213) Save Write a Review Print Prep: 5 mins Cook: 15 mins Total: 20 mins Servings: 5 to 6 servings Yield: 5 to 6 cups 213 ratings Write a Review Add a comment SaveRecipe

• This lemon barley water is a classic non-alcoholic drink loved in Australia and beyond.
• A touch of honey brings natural sweetness and a richer flavor to this recipe.
• Serve this drink hot or cold, making it versatile for any season or occasion.

Lemon barley water is an old-fashioned tonic that dates back to the ancient Egyptians and can be enjoyed hot or cold. In Mexico, lemon barley water is one variety of a popular street beverage known as aguas frescas. Brits, Australians and Asians all have their own varieties drunk either chilled or warm. Some people use sugar in their recipes, but try honey for a more intense flavor. If you have any fresh ginger handy, finely grate about 1 tablespoon of it and boil it with the barley for a gingery kick.

Barley adds body and a nutty flavor to the drink. Pearl barley or pearled barley is the variety best suited for this recipe—pearled barley just means that the bran has been removed through a polishing process and has been steam treated for quicker cooking. Use the leftover barley to make a tasty side dish, add it to soup, or make risotto.

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"Great tonic for cold and flu season! The suggestion of adding ginger is highly recommended." —Renae Wilson

A Note From Our Recipe Tester Keep Screen Awake

• 3/4 cup pearl barley

• 2 medium lemons, zested and juiced

• 6 cups water

• 1/2 cup honey

1. Gather the ingredients.

2. Place the barley in a sieve and rinse under cold water until water runs clear.

3. Place barley in a 2-quart saucepan with grated lemon zest and 6 cups of water.

4. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

5. Strain mixture into a heatproof bowl. Reserve the barley for another use.

6. Add honey to the bowl and stir to dissolve.

7. Stir in lemon juice and serve hot or then let the mixture cool to room temperature.

8. Pour into bottles and refrigerate until chilled. Serve and enjoy!

How to Store

Barley water will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. If you like to enjoy barley water hot, you can reheat it on the stove or in the microwave.

Tips

Don't toss that barley! With a little more cooking, the grain can be used in a variety of applications:

• The barley will only be partially cooked after making barley water. Pearl barley needs to simmer for at least 30 minutes (and up to an hour) in a 2:1 ratio of water or broth to grain. The barley is done cooking when it is tender with a bite, like al dente pasta, but not hard.
• Use barley in salads or pilafs, as a hearty grain in soups and stews, or as a grain base and pile vegetables, meat, herbs, and sauces on top.

Ingredients

• Non-Alcoholic Drinks
• Australian Food

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
175	Calories
1g	Fat
47g	Carbs
2g	Protein

Show Full Nutrition Label ×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 5 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories	175
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g	1%
Saturated Fat 0g	0%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 14mg	1%
Total Carbohydrate 47g	17%
Dietary Fiber 5g	18%
Total Sugars 32g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 84mg	418%
Calcium 49mg	4%
Iron 1mg	7%
Potassium 309mg	7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

• mocktail
• australian
• winter
• beverage

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