Food · Teas
Mugicha (Barley Tea)
麦茶 (Mugicha)
Also known as: Japanese Barley Tea
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| Category | Food |
|---|---|
| INCI name | Not applicable (food use primarily)↗ |
| Japanese labeling name | Not applicable (food use primarily) |
| Common Japanese notations | 麦茶, ムギチャ |
| Origin | Plant-derived (roasted barley) |
| Typical functions | Caffeine-free beverage |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Food regulated under the Food Sanitation Act. |
Mugicha is infused roasted barley, served cold in summer in virtually every Japanese household and hot in winter. It is caffeine-free, making it the default tea for children and for hot-weather hydration.
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Classification
Tags below link to other ingredients sharing the same attribute, so you can pivot from one ingredient to its peers.
Product applications
Functions
Regulatory tags
Origin
Common OEM product categories
Finished-product categories where Japanese OEM manufacturers commonly formulate with this ingredient.
- Summer beverage (chilled bottled and pitcher tea)
- Children's tea (caffeine-free)
- Roasted-grain RTD beverages
- Tea-based confectionery and gelato
- Cosmetic toners (mild antioxidant lines)
Ingredient profile
Mugicha is produced by roasting unmilled barley grains and packaging them for brewing. Modern convenience versions are sold in tea bags that brew in cold or hot water. The beverage has a distinctive roasted-grain aroma and a slightly nutty, mildly sweet flavor.
OEM applications
Mugicha is a default summer household beverage in Japan — brewed in large pitchers and chilled. It is also a common offering in restaurants and a school-lunch tea.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Food regulation under Food Sanitation Act.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | Food use permitted. |
|---|---|
| USA | Imported as specialty tea. |
| China | Imported. |
| Korea | Korean boricha is a related barley tea. |
Market reference formulations
Example finished products will be added after verification.
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Alternative ingredients
Related ingredients commonly evaluated as substitutes.
Quick answers
- What is Mugicha (Barley Tea)?
- Mugicha is infused roasted barley, served cold in summer in virtually every Japanese household and hot in winter. It is caffeine-free, making it the default tea for children and for hot-weather hydration.
- What is the regulatory status of Mugicha (Barley Tea) in Japan?
- Food regulated under the Food Sanitation Act.
- What products typically use Mugicha (Barley Tea)?
- Summer beverage (chilled bottled and pitcher tea) / Children's tea (caffeine-free) / Roasted-grain RTD beverages / Tea-based confectionery and gelato / Cosmetic toners (mild antioxidant lines)
- Where does Mugicha (Barley Tea) come from?
- Plant-derived (roasted barley)
- What is the INCI / JSCI labeling name for Mugicha (Barley Tea)?
- INCI: Not applicable (food use primarily) / JSCI: Not applicable (food use primarily)
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From the same origin
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Regulatory guidance
Take the next step
FAQ for OEM buyers
Q. What is mugicha?
Mugicha (麦茶) is a Japanese infusion made from roasted unhulled barley grains (Hordeum vulgare). The roasted grain is brewed in hot or cold water to give a caffeine-free amber beverage with a roasted-grain aroma. Mugicha is the traditional summer household drink in Japan, served chilled in pitchers and tetra-pack RTD bottles, and is a default beverage for young children due to its lack of caffeine.
Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26
Q. Is mugicha really caffeine-free?
Yes. Barley contains no caffeine, and roasting and brewing do not introduce caffeine. Mugicha is a true caffeine-free beverage, distinguishing it from green, black, and oolong teas (which all contain caffeine even after high-temperature roasting). This is the principal reason mugicha is the default Japanese household tea for young children and for late-evening consumption.
Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26
Q. Does mugicha contain gluten?
Yes — mugicha is made from barley, which contains gluten (specifically hordein). The brewed beverage contains very low extractable gluten levels relative to the source grain, but mugicha cannot be labelled 'gluten-free' under FDA (≤20 ppm) or EU regulations because the source grain is barley. Manufacturers must declare 'cereals containing gluten (barley)' on the label in the EU under Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011.
Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26
Q. Are there any documented bioactive properties of roasted barley?
Roasted barley grains and brewed mugicha have been studied for antioxidant capacity associated with melanoidins (Maillard-derived polymers formed during roasting) and for anti-coagulant 2H-pyran-2-one compounds (alkylpyranones) identified by several Japanese research groups. Findings to date are exploratory and do not support specific health claims; roasted barley products in Japan are sold as ordinary food, not as functional foods.
Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Use cases
Caffeine-free children's RTD tea
- Positioning
- Naturally caffeine-free family beverage in 250–500 mL PET / tetra packs, positioned as healthy alternative to sugary soft drinks.
- Formulation notes
- Cold-brew tea bag format (pop in a 1–2 L pitcher in the fridge) is the dominant Japanese household format and a strong export-retail format too.
Summer hydration / electrolyte beverages
- Positioning
- Caffeine-free 'Japanese summer hydration' RTD lines, sometimes paired with mineral / electrolyte fortification.
- Typical usage level
- Mugicha extract or strong infusion as the base liquid, with added sodium and potassium for sport / heat-relief positioning.
Sources
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Roasted-grain confectionery and gelato
- Positioning
- Niche 'roasted barley' flavor SKU in artisan gelato and bean-to-bar chocolate, similar in spirit to roasted-malt or barley-malt flavor profiles.
- Typical usage level
- 1–3% mugicha powder or 5–10% strong-brewed concentrate in finished mass.
Sources
Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source
Cold-brew tea bag retail SKUs
- Positioning
- Pyramid or flat tea bag format for export retail in 'Japanese cold-brew' specialty tea sections, often co-branded with hojicha and genmaicha.
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Official regulatory databases
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References
- 農林水産省 (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) food classification — mugicha
Last updated: 2026-04-22. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.