Barley tea, a staple of summer in Japan. Did you know that Italy also has traditional barley tea?

"Orzo" is barley tea made from ancient barley. Orzo extracted with an espresso machine is a staple of Italian cafes.

I had never seen it at a Japanese supermarket, but I found it sold at a tea shop in the world, Lupicia. I drank a simple "Orzo" and a flavored "Orzo Ichigo".

Orzo

The ancient barley, which is said to have been used in Italy since Roman times, is slowly roasted at low temperature. Since it is not individually wrapped, prepare your own tea bag or dripper and infuse 2-3 g with boiling water for 3-5 minutes. In the case of watering out, put 10g (0.35oz) and water in a container and leave it for 1 to 2 hours to complete. The price of a 50g (1.76oz) can is 790 yen (tax included).


The impression I had after taking a sip was "It's like a mixture of barley tea and espresso." First, the aroma of barley tea comes out softly in your nose. What comes later is the richness and bitterness of espresso. With a deep yet sharp aftertaste, it is perfect when you want to refresh.

Orzo Strawberry

A blend of strawberry and chocolate scents with ancient Italian barley. The fragrance is felt first, and then the strawberry is wrapped in a refreshing scent. There is no bitterness, and the last thing that remains is the sweet finish of chocolate. The price of a 50g (1.76oz) can is 950 yen (tax included).

Orzo milk out

Not only hot water and water, but also "milk" is recommended. Barley tea and milk may not come out very well, but the aroma and richness melt together, which is surprisingly good. "Orzo" has a crisp taste for adults as it is, but by adding milk and sugar, even small children can enjoy it. In particular, "Orzo Ichigo" has a sweet finish and is likely to be a snack.


It's non-caffeine, so it's nice to be able to drink without worrying about the time of day. You can enjoy a taste that is a bit different from Japanese barley tea!