Lemon Barley water is an old fashioned tonic that was given to the weak as an alternative source of nourishment.
As a child my mother would be served breakfast in bed when she was under the weather. On her breakfast tray, would be a vase with a fresh rose in it, a boiled egg and vegemite toast and a bottle of lemon barley water to help buoy her spirits.
Some people use sugar in their recipes however I like to use honey for a more intense flavor. If you have any ginger handy, finely grate about 1 tablespoon of it and boil it with the barley for a gingery kick.
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup of pearl barley
- Finely grated zest and juice of 2 lemons
- 1/2 cup of honey
- 6 cups of water
Preparation:
- Place the barley in a sieve and rinse under cold water until water runs clear.
- Place barley in a saucepan with grated lemon zest and 6 cups of water.
- Bring to the boil over medium heat. Once boiling, simmer for 10 minutes then strain mixture into a heatproof bowl. Discard the barley.
- Add honey to bowl and stir to dissolve. Stir in lemon juice and then let mixture cool to room temperature.
- Pour into bottles and refrigerate until chilled.