August Birth Tea
Birth Tea
Barley Tea (Mugicha)
Barley tea is created by carefully roasting selected barley grains 2-3 times at high temperatures of 200-280°C, making it a beverage deeply connected to the Japanese summer landscape. Originating from 'mugiyu' enjoyed by nobility from the Heian to Muromachi periods, it spread to common people during the Edo period. The roasting process releases barley's natural oils while heating starches, sugars, and proteins, creating its distinctive savory aroma and flavor. Being caffeine-free and safe for everyone from babies to elderly, it has become the centerpiece of family gatherings during Obon in August. Since the 1950s with the spread of refrigerators, drinking it cold became standard, establishing its unshakeable position as a Japanese summer staple.
Features
- Unique production method with 2-3 roastings at 200-280°C
- Blood flow improvement effect from alkylpyrazine (lasting 60 minutes after consumption)
- Contains minerals easily lost in summer: sodium, potassium, calcium
- Prevents growth and adhesion of cavity-causing bacteria
- Gentle protective effect on stomach lining
Personality
- Embracing warmth - Possesses a depth that accepts everyone, creating a space where all family members can gather comfortably
- Humble and modest presence - Not flashy but reliably there as a behind-the-scenes supporter
- Timeless universality - Holds unchanging value across eras, quietly preserving tradition
- Gentle heat relief - Embodies moderation by providing just the right coolness without overcooling the body
Symbolic Meaning
- Family bonds and gathering - Serves as a medium connecting families during Obon, facilitating intergenerational dialogue
- Tradition inheritance - Symbol of passing down Japanese summer customs from ancestors to future generations
- Crystallization of summer memories - Childhood experiences etched with evening cool-downs on verandas, wind chimes, and cicada songs
- Abundance and gratitude - Appreciation for early summer barley harvest and spirit of ancestor veneration
Reason for Selection
- August coincides with Obon, an important month for families to gather and remember ancestors. Barley tea symbolizes sharing the same thing across all generations
- An optimized beverage for Japan's climate that naturally cools the body while replenishing minerals during the peak of summer heat
- Embodies lifestyle wisdom of surviving summer while appreciating seasonal blessings through barley harvested in early summer
- The roasted aroma evokes Obon's welcoming and farewell fires, creating a sense of connection with ancestors
Protection & Effects
- Protection from heatstroke - Guards the body from summer heat through proper hydration and mineral replenishment
- Family health maintenance - Watches over entire family's health as a caffeine-free beverage safe for everyone
- Digestive protection - Gently guards the digestive system weakened by summer fatigue, maintaining appetite
- Mental stability - Familiar taste and aroma provide emotional anchor in our rapidly changing modern society
Trials & Growth
- Lack of innovation challenge - Tendency to settle in tradition with resistance to revolutionary changes
- Expression of individuality - Difficulty in becoming uniquely special due to universal appeal
- Health management with excessive cold drinking - Struggle with body cooling from overindulgence in cold temptation
- Generational value differences - Acquiring flexibility to meet new generation needs while preserving traditional values