Lots of nutrients in barley, but to make barley water you boil barley in water and throw away the barley. I am afraid that barley water hasn't much going for it but for feeding sick people water that has been boiled.

Barley water: Happens to be a British favorite and can be served hot or cold - any time of the year. You can make it with both barley grain or barley flour. When made with the grain, water is added and boiled then slowly simmered until the grain is very soft, and then you can finish it in several ways. You can flavor it with lemon, lime or orange, but dried raisins and figs are also used. You can also add spices and different sweeteners, if you like, but you can also drink it plain - make a concentrate and then add water to-taste.

It's supposed to be good for your complexion, and my sister drinks barley water in the winter to help her sinus problems.

I sprout barley and grow it into barleygrass and juice it (like I would wheatgrass juice). I have also roasted barley grain and made "tea" with it (for more information: http://www.livestrong.com/article/238461-the-health-benefits-of-roasted-barley-tea/). I've also used Black and Purple Barley - which are higher in antioxidants.

There used to be more fields of barley grown here in Kansas when I was a kid, but it's not a very common field crop these days. If you find a field, it's probably destined for animal feed or malting for beer-making at a micro-brewery. The straw from the barley plants is used for all kinds of things, including adding it (in barley straw holders, or small bails of it) to water tanks to keep the algae from growing in them.

-Grainlady

Hmmm....to many barley water means beer. My son brews his own, boils up barley, lets it soak and drains it. I'll remind him it's good for his complexion!

It is really just another healthy alternative to a beverage that some like, as opposed to those that reach for a canned soda.

Like saving and using the whey from cheese making. Use the broth/liquid from grain. A healthier choice. I use all of it in from everything...with lemon and ginger in ice cube trays, then frozen. With cilantro stems chopped fine, then frozen with meyer lemon, etc. Add to soups at the end of cooking...sprouted grain and veg instead of flour gravy. The grain is still grain for a salad. After soaking and cooking.

I had a custom tea made last fall in ChinaTown. I knew exactly what to ask for. I like green and white tea, ginger and lemongrass...no spice or floral. Earth and grain i like in small amounts. She added earthy plant flowers and sprouted dried grain.

I actually don't care for it on its own but do add lemon and ginger and mint if i have fresh mint from the garden.

It is an ancient beverage choice not just for the sick. Though getting fluids into those suffering the flu or any dehydrating illness is where it came from.

Nothing is a cure-all but just trying better choices into your diet is better than the bad choices. If you like the grain, save the drained liquid. Use it.

Barley water is very common in Chile and is sold on the street, at the parks, the beach, wherever. There it is made with dried peaches and served cold with the barley filling about a third of the glass at the bottom.

I agree with sleevendog: "It is really just another healthy alternative to a beverage that some like, as opposed to those that reach for a canned soda."

I use a lot of barley. IMO, it's an underutilized grain, high in fiber and nutrients. It's good as a pilaf, with mushrooms or other vegetables and herbs added. Barley adds texture to soups like split pea or lentil and cooked barley can be used as a substitute for white rice in items like stuffed peppers or cabbage.