Nonalcoholic beverages

Nonalcoholic drinks such as barley water and barley tea are made by boiling barley in water. In Italy, barley is used as a substitute for coffee. This drink is obtained from roasted and ground barley. It is prepared as an espresso or using percolators / filter machines / cafetieres).

It was widely used during the Fascist period and the war, as Italy struggled to import coffee. It was also a cheaper option for poor families in the period. Afterwards, it was promoted and sold as a coffee substitute for children.

Nowadays, it is experiencing a revival and it can be considered some Italians’ favorite alternative to coffee when, for health reasons, caffeine drinks are not recommended.

Alcoholic beverages

Barley is a key ingredient in beer and whiskey production. Two-row barley is traditionally used in beers of Germany and England. Six-row barley was traditionally used in beers of U.S.A

Distilled from green beer, whiskey has been made primarily from barley in Ireland and Scotland. The other countries have used more diverse sources of alcohol, such as corn, rye and wheat.

Barley wine is a style of strong beer from the English brewing tradition. Another alcoholic drink known by the same name, enjoyed in the 18th century, was prepared by boiling barley in water, then mixing the barley water with white wine and other ingredients, such as lemon, sugar and borage.

In the 19th century, a different barley wine was made prepared from recipes of ancient Greek origin.