Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through one of them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Allergy note: mugicha is made from barley, which contains gluten. Some bottled barley teas also include other grains – check the label if you have allergies. Lineups and labels change often in Japan.
Quick Picks
- Japan’s best seller: Kenko Mineral Mugicha (Ito En) – sweet, toasty and easy to drink. Guinness World Records lists it as the best-selling ready-to-drink barley tea brand.
- Most toasty, “kettle-brewed” taste: Yakan no Mugicha (Coca-Cola) – made with a high-temperature boiling method for a fuller roast.
- Lightest and softest: GREEN DA・KA・RA Yasashii Mugicha (Suntory) – gentle, with roasted rice and Job’s tears in the blend.
- Can’t get to Japan? Ito En sells a bottled Mugicha outside Japan – caffeine-free, made from water, barley and vitamin C. Ito En Mugicha bottles on Amazon
- Want to make it at home? A cold-brew pitcher and mugicha tea bags make a liter for a fraction of the price. Cold-brew tea pitchers on Amazon
Below: how the major brands taste, how to read the labels, which to choose for which moment, and how to recreate bottled mugicha at home.
In a Japanese convenience store, the barley tea section is almost as big as the green tea section – and in summer, it may be bigger. Bottled mugicha is caffeine-free, unsweetened, cheap and wonderfully refreshing, which makes it the drink of choice for families, office workers, athletes and anyone escaping the summer heat.
But the bottles look alike, and they taste surprisingly different. Some are sweet and mellow, some deeply roasted, some blended with other grains. Here’s how to tell them apart.
The Problem You’re Actually Trying to Solve
You want a caffeine-free, sugar-free drink in Japan – or you’ve tried bottled mugicha and want to know which brand to buy next, or how to get something similar at home. The labels are in Japanese, and you can’t tell the brands apart from the shelf.
Who This Article Is NOT For
- If you want to brew mugicha from tea bags or grains, my mugicha guide covers how to make it properly.
- If you want to compare all of Japan’s caffeine-free drinks, my caffeine-free Japanese tea guide covers mugicha, sobacha and more.
- If you avoid gluten, barley tea isn’t for you.
The Main Brands, Compared
| Brand | Maker | What’s in it | Taste |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenko Mineral Mugicha | Ito En | Barley, malt, deep-sea water, vitamin C | Sweet, toasty, smooth, no bitterness |
| Yakan no Mugicha | Coca-Cola | Six-row barley, barley extract, vitamin C | Fuller roast, “boiled in a kettle” style |
| GREEN DA・KA・RA Yasashii Mugicha | Suntory | Barley, sprouted barley, roasted rice, Job’s tears, seaweed extract | Light, soft, easy to drink |
| Juroku-cha Mugicha | Asahi | Barley blended with other grains and herbs | Toasty with a clean finish |
| Ito En Mugicha (sold abroad) | Ito En | Water, barley, vitamin C | Classic, clean roasted barley |
Ingredients as listed by manufacturers and retailers at the time of writing. Recipes change, so check the label.
Kenko Mineral Mugicha (Ito En)
This is the best-known bottled barley tea in Japan. Ito En blends barley with malt for a naturally sweet, roasted flavor with no bitterness, and uses deep-sea water to add a small amount of minerals. Guinness World Records lists Kenko Mineral Mugicha as the best-selling ready-to-drink barley tea brand, based on 2024 sales. In a 2022 survey of 500 people in Japan by All About, it also came first among favorite bottled barley teas, with respondents praising its easy, non-bitter taste and large bottle.
Yakan no Mugicha (Coca-Cola)
Yakan means kettle, and that’s the idea: a mugicha that tastes like it was boiled at home in a kettle. Coca-Cola uses a high-temperature boiling method to bring out a fuller, toastier barley flavor. It’s the pick if you like a stronger roast. There are a few versions under the Sokenbicha brand as well.
GREEN DA・KA・RA Yasashii Mugicha (Suntory)
Yasashii means gentle, and this is the softest of the major brands. Suntory blends barley with sprouted barley, roasted rice and Job’s tears (hatomugi). It’s light and easy to drink – popular with families and with people who find other barley teas too strongly roasted.
Juroku-cha Mugicha (Asahi)
Asahi’s barley tea draws on its famous blended “sixteen tea” (juroku-cha), combining barley with other grains and herbs. It’s toasty with a clean finish – a good pick if you like a more complex flavor.
Ito En Mugicha (Outside Japan)
If you’re outside Japan, Ito En’s bottled Mugicha is one of the easiest Japanese barley teas to find. Its US listing describes 500ml bottles made from water, barley and vitamin C, naturally caffeine-free.
Why Mugicha Is Everywhere in Japan
Mugicha has been a household drink in Japan for generations. Before bottled drinks existed, families boiled roasted barley in a kettle every morning and cooled it in the fridge, and many still do. Its appeal is simple:
- No caffeine, so children, older people and anyone avoiding caffeine can drink it freely.
- No sugar, so it’s a healthier everyday alternative to soft drinks.
- It suits Japanese summers. A cold, slightly toasty drink is refreshing in hot, humid weather, and many people drink it to stay hydrated.
- It goes with everything. It doesn’t compete with food, from rice balls to barbecue.
Bottled mugicha simply made that home habit portable.
Bottle Sizes and Where to Buy
- Convenience stores and vending machines usually sell bottles of around 500-650ml – perfect for a day out.
- Supermarkets and drugstores sell large 2-liter bottles, often much cheaper per liter. Families buy them by the case in summer.
- Seasonal displays – mugicha takes over more shelf space from late spring through summer, with special and limited editions.
- Hot mugicha occasionally appears in winter in some stores and vending machines, though hot green tea and hojicha are more common.
How to Read the Labels
| Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 麦茶 / むぎ茶 (mugicha) | Barley tea |
| カフェインゼロ | Caffeine-free |
| 無糖 | Unsweetened |
| 六条大麦 (rokujo omugi) | Six-row barley – the classic barley for mugicha |
| 国産 | Japanese-grown |
| はと麦 (hatomugi) | Job’s tears (another grain) |
| ミネラル | Minerals |
Almost all bottled barley teas in Japan are unsweetened and caffeine-free. If an ingredient list includes several grains, it’s a blend.
Which Bottle for Which Moment?
| Moment | Grab | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A hot summer walk | Kenko Mineral Mugicha | Sweet, easy and refreshing |
| With grilled food or ramen | Yakan no Mugicha | The stronger roast stands up to rich food |
| With kids or for all-day sipping | Yasashii Mugicha | Light and gentle |
| After exercise | Any large bottle of mugicha | Caffeine-free and unsweetened |
| Late evening | Any mugicha | No caffeine to keep you awake |
How to Make “Bottled” Mugicha at Home
Bottled mugicha is convenient, but homemade is cheaper, greener and just as good:
- Use a pitcher or cold-brew bottle. One with a built-in filter is easiest.
- Add one mugicha tea bag per liter (check the bag size on the pack).
- Cold brew for 1-3 hours, or boil for 3-5 minutes and cool. Boiling gives the “yakan” kettle-style flavor.
- Remove the bag so it doesn’t turn bitter.
- Keep it in the fridge and drink within about two days. Mugicha has no preservatives.
Want Kenko Mineral Mugicha’s sweetness? Look for mugicha bags that include malt, or try a deeper-roasted barley.
A Few Things People Ask Me
Is bottled mugicha caffeine-free? Yes. Barley tea has no tea leaves, so it’s naturally caffeine-free.
Is bottled mugicha sweetened? The major brands are unsweetened. Any sweetness comes from roasted barley and malt.
Is mugicha gluten-free? No. Barley contains gluten.
Can I buy Japanese bottled mugicha outside Japan? Ito En’s Mugicha is sold in some countries and online. Other brands are mainly found in Japanese and Asian supermarkets, if at all.
Which is the most popular in Japan? Kenko Mineral Mugicha from Ito En is the best-selling brand.
Where I Landed
Bottled mugicha is one of the best things you can drink in Japan: caffeine-free, sugar-free and perfect in the heat. Start with Kenko Mineral Mugicha for a sweet, smooth classic, try Yakan no Mugicha if you like a stronger roast, and Yasashii Mugicha if you want something gentle. Back home, a pitcher and a box of mugicha bags will keep you stocked all summer.