How to Brew Barley Tea (Mugicha, Boricha): Boil and Steep Times
Roasted barley tea is not steeped for a minute like leaf tea. The three sources we found boil or simmer the grain, then steep or strain: 5 minutes of boiling plus 5 to 20 minutes steeping, 10 to 15 minutes of simmering, or 30 minutes off the heat. They are Japanese mugicha instructions; we did not find a Korean producer page with numbers, so boricha (the Korean name) is assumed to follow the same method.
By Cha2go Editorial Team. Sources checked October 20, 2026.
Open the timer for Barley teaThree methods, three timings
Ippodo uses 15 g (1.5 tablespoons) in about 500 ml: bring water and barley back to a boil, turn off the heat, and leave it 30 minutes. Kaji Shoten (via Tezumi) uses 25 g in 1000 ml in a pot or stovetop kettle, boils 5 minutes, then steeps as it cools for 5 to 20 minutes depending on strength. Chopstick Chronicles simmers 4 tablespoons in 4 cups on low for 10 to 15 minutes.
In grams per 100 ml, Ippodo is 3 g and Kaji Shoten is 2.5 g.
Tea bags
The Ippodo and Ito En mugicha bag pages we fetched did not list times, so check the package. The timer is built for loose roasted barley; its leaf amount is replaced with a package reminder when you select "Tea bag".
Every source
| Preparation | Temperature | Time | Leaf | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barley tea, western | boiling (100°C) | 30 min | 15 g (1.5 tablespoons) in about 500 ml | Ippodo Tea (Kyoto producer) |
| Barley tea, western | boiling (100°C) | Boil: 5 min, Steep as it cools: 5 min to 20 min | 25 g in 1000 ml | Kaji Shoten via Tezumi |
| Barley tea, western | boiling (100°C) | 10 min to 15 min | 4 tablespoons in 4 cups | Chopstick Chronicles |
Questions
How long do you boil barley tea?
Kaji Shoten boils 5 minutes; Chopstick Chronicles simmers 10 to 15 minutes and says to boil at least 10 minutes for the most flavour; Ippodo returns the pot to a boil and turns off the heat.
How much barley per litre?
Kaji Shoten uses 25 g per 1000 ml; Ippodo uses 15 g per about 500 ml, which is 30 g per litre.
Is boricha the same as mugicha?
Both names mean roasted barley tea, Korean and Japanese respectively. The numbers here come from Japanese and English-language recipe sources.