For those of us who are initiated, we know. But if, like me, there was a time you didn’t know, then I’d have appreciated having someone introduce it to me sooner.

Barley tea is a non-caffeinated tea that is incredibly delicious. It’s not flowery like a chamomile and still has the weight and texture of a caffeinated tea. Depending on the season, I’ll have it differently. In the colder months, as it is now, I’ll have it hot. Sometimes with oat milk, though most often plain. If you push the steeping time, you can get a very rich flavor and that pairs well with a milk, but it is possible to over steep it and the taste becomes overly strong. My current go to milk of choice is the Barista Oat Organic blend from Minor Figures. The texture is supreme.

If you’d like to take it a ste(e)p further, grab a cinammon stick, heat some milk with it on a stovetop, and then add it to your steeped tea. When I do add milk, I steep the barley tea longer to get more flavor and nuance. But don’t oversteep! I usually steep it for as long as it takes to boil some milk + cinnamon.

P.S. Re-use cinammon stick, one steep won’t use it all:)

If you like this, also look into corn tea.

That’s all...