Japan Ingredient Sourcing
Raw material / 原材料Beverage ingredients

Mugicha (Barley Tea)

麦茶 (Mugicha)

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Why source from Japan

Mugicha is a Japanese roasted barley tea, naturally caffeine-free and served cold in summer as a household staple.

Key spec

MOQ from 100–500 kg (loose / tea bags).

Typical end-product

Caffeine-free children's RTD tea — Naturally caffeine-free family beverage in 250–500 mL PET / tetra packs, positioned as healthy alternative to sugary soft drinks.

At a glance

Suppliers listed
4 suppliers
Typical MOQ
100–500 kg (loose / tea bags)
Typical lead time
4–8 weeks
Regions of origin
Nationwide; major barley production in Tochigi, Saitama, Fukuoka
Category
Beverage ingredients
Harvest season
June (barley harvest)
Japan regulatory status
Food Sanitation Act
Japanese name
麦茶
Romaji
Mugicha

About this ingredient

Mugicha is a Japanese roasted barley tea, naturally caffeine-free and served cold in summer as a household staple. Export applications include children's beverage ranges and caffeine-free functional beverage lines. Note: mugicha contains barley gluten.

Regulatory status

JapanFood Sanitation Act
EUFood import
United StatesGenerally recognized as food; allergen note (barley contains gluten)
ChinaVerify

FAQ for OEM buyers

Q. What is the MOQ and lead time for export-grade mugicha?

Industry-typical MOQ is 100–500 kg for loose roasted barley or tea bag inserts, with 4–8 week lead times. Custom blends (with brown rice, hatomugi / Job's tears, or buckwheat), tea-bag conversion, and private-label printing add 2–4 weeks. Crop seasonality (June barley harvest in major prefectures) creates an annual cycle: most roasting houses prefer to roast against the current year's crop, and supply can tighten in late spring before new harvest.

Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26

Industry-knowledge claim — not yet pinned to a single primary source

Q. Which prefectures are major barley producers?

Tochigi is consistently the top six-row barley producer in Japan, followed by Saitama, Fukuoka, and Saga, per MAFF crop statistics. Hokkaido produces a substantial share of two-row (malting) barley but most mugicha is made from six-row barley. Specific cultivar (six-row vs. two-row) affects aroma profile — confirm with supplier.

Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26

Q. What COA parameters and certifications should I request?

Standard COA: moisture, color value (roast indicator), microbiological limits (focus on aerobic plate count and yeast/mold given grain product), heavy metals, pesticide residues against destination-market MRLs, mycotoxin testing (deoxynivalenol DON, ochratoxin A — both barley-relevant), and acrylamide if dark-roasted. JAS Organic certification is available from several producers; non-GMO statement standard for Japanese-produced barley.

Sources · Last reviewed: 2026-04-26

Q. How should mugicha be packaged for export?

Loose roasted barley is typically supplied in 5–10 kg multi-layer paper / poly-laminate bags inside cartons. Tea-bag (cold-brew) format is the strongest growth segment for export — request individually-foil-wrapped pyramid bags or strip-pack flat bags for convenience. Specify shelf life and maximum cumulative temperature exposure for tropical-destination shipping; aroma loss accelerates above 25 °C.

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.

    Sources

  • 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.

    Sources

Japanese suppliers

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Disclaimer

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Information shown — including company details, product descriptions, regions of origin, minimum order quantities, lead times, certifications, and regulatory references — is compiled primarily from publicly available sources and manufacturer websites. Specifications change without notice; buyers are expected to verify current specifications, pricing, certification status, and regulatory compliance directly with each manufacturer before placing orders or signing contracts.

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Last updated: 2026-04-24

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