Jan 17, 2019 Mar 9, 2025 by [Archana Potdar] · This post may contain affiliate links · 37 Comments

Lemon Barley Water Recipe

Lemon Barley Water is good for the ailing, but it is also good for health, especially for your elevenses, even as a refreshing non-alcoholic drink.

Lemon Barley Water was a word I heard as a child, and the barley was purchased in the pharmacy.

It used to come packed in cans. I assume it was expensive, and the water was served to the patient only. I do not know what my mother did with the barley.

Refreshing summer drink, non alcoholic, barley

With the spurt in healthy eating, the long-forgotten grains are again in vogue. One of them is pearl barley!

I would rather embrace food based on its health benefits for a longer term. Never a subscriber to fashion, I hope I can get these grains, or rather, I can afford these grains when they fall out of grace.

The health benefits of barley water I would like to highlight here is that,

" Barley is loaded with B and E vitamins, antioxidants and 8 g fibre per ¼ cup raw. 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."

You do get bottled barley water; however, I do not have access to bottled barley water; I need to make it myself.

Anyway, I prefer to make my own food and drink unless I cannot, so even if it is available, I will make it for us at minimum costs. I know what I am using and avoid preservatives and additives.

Now when Valli announced the theme elevenses I kept wondering where I read it or heard it then Wikipedia my ever faithful friend solved the problem by telling me,

"Elevenses is a short break taken for light refreshments, usually with tea and coffee at about 11 in the morning.

For elevenses, Winnie-the-Pooh preferred honey on bread with condensed milk. Paddington Bear often took elevenses at the antique shop on Portobello Road run by his friend Mr Gruber,^[10] for which Paddington would buy buns and Mr Gruber would make cocoa (hot chocolate).

In the Middle-earth stories by J. R. R. Tolkien (The Lord of the Rings), it is a meal eaten by Hobbits between second breakfast and luncheon.^[11]"

Barley lemon water is a refreshing drink for your Elevenses, second breakfast or just your break from the tedious job you are doing! Team it with these 7 layer magic bars, cinnamon bread or even layered angel cake you are ready to attack the next 2 hours of work!

Most recipes for lemon barley water use sugar, but I used honey. You can also use maple syrup. To make ginger barley lemon water, add grated ginger to the boiling barley.

One word of caution is used pearl barley which means the barn has been removed and steamed for easy cooking.

Lemon Barley Water

Serves: 5 glasses
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Recipe Source: The Spruce Eats

Ingredients:

¾ cup pearl barley
1 tablespoon lemon zest
2 lemons juiced
6 cups water
½ cup honey

Method:

Wash and rinse the barley till the cold water runs clear.
Add the lemon zest and water in a deep pan.
Bring to boil and reduce the heat to medium. Simmer for 20 minutes.
Once cooked, strain the barley water. Keep the barley; you can make a delicious filling meal from it.
Add honey to the bowl and stir to dissolve.
Let the mixture cool a bit, then add the lemon juice.
Once the mixture comes to room temperature, pour it into bottles to chill.
Since I ran short of space in the fridge, I set them to form ice cubes.
Serve and enjoy!