lemon barley water

I first found this recipe in a favourite, totally hammered recipe book of mine by a local writer and Mum of an old lost friend; Samela Harris. The book is called On a shoestring and it is a fantastic, cheap to make, easy to make, everyday, family, seasonal glut kind of book - right up my alley. This is actually the whole book online! My mum bought it for me as a bit of a joke not long after I left school as it has loads of stories in it about my friend. Funnily enough it is one of my most frequently used books.

The lemon barley recipe is in a chapter titled 'forget the fizz' - and you know what - if you could manage it - I bet a load of jugs of this at a kids party and NO ONE would ask for anything else!

Lemon barley is a stock standard cold and flu drink in this house but this year we are going to use it as a pre-emptive strike drink! Once a week I hope to make it and our family enjoy its goodness as a healthy top up.

I have tweaked the recipe and I double it when I make it...

Lemon Barley Water

1 cup organic barley
grated rind and juice of 2-4 lemons
1 - 3 tablespoons of local preferably raw honey
4 cups boiling water

Put barley in a saucepan and just cover with cold water.
Bring to the boil while boiling full kettle.
Drain barley well and put in a large heat proof jug or bowl.
Pour 4 cups of boiling water over.
Cover.
Well warm add lemon rind and juice and honey to taste. I add more lemon.

The longer you wait (I usually try overnight) the better the mix as the barley really opens.
But if you can't wait - drink immediately!
To store, pour into glass jars and store in fridge. I find it keeps well for about a week but to be honest it never lasts more than a few days.
Can be watered down for drinking as I find it quite strong and rich and also this makes it go further. I tend to water it down in the bottles as everyone else seems to drink it however they find it!
This drink needs to be shaken or mixed before drinking as the barley settles.
DO NOT add honey and lemon when the water is hot it will ruin all the goodness of both. I do tend to peel strips off one lemon and add that while the water is quite hot but put all the rest in when warm.
Also when drained, I tend to add another 2-3 cups of warm water to the barley and sit for a bit

Aaah. Enjoy. Believe me - really quick and easy and OH so good!
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