{
  "id": 1800945,
  "title": "Popularity of Bottled Barley Tea Booms in Japan as Summer Temperatures Soar",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/popularity-of-bottled-barley-tea-booms-in-japan-as-summer",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-18T21:00:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Nippon.com",
    "slug": "nippon-com",
    "url": "https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h02855/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Japan, the popularity of mugicha, or barley tea, is on the rise as summer temperatures soar. According to a survey by the country's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, production of mugicha beverages increased by 4.9% in 2025, reaching a new high of 1.5 million kiloliters. Over the past two decades, production has grown more than sevenfold, from 204,000 kiloliters in 2005. The extreme heat of recent summers in Japan has been described as reaching \"disaster-level,\" prompting people to seek alternative ways to stay hydrated. Mugicha, which is caffeine-free and contains minerals, has become a popular choice to prevent heatstroke. Major manufacturers are packaging mugicha in relatively large bottles containing 600 or 650 milliliters at relatively low prices, making it an increasingly attractive option for consumers. While in the past, Japanese households would make mugicha in kettles or large pots during the summer months and keep it in the refrigerator, cold-brew barley tea has become widespread, greatly reducing the amount of work involved. However, consumers today seem to be shifting towards the even more convenient option of bottled mugicha.",
  "summary": "During the intense heat of summer in Japan, mugicha (barley tea) has become increasingly popular as a way to stay hydrated.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}