On a hot day in Japan, there's a good chance the drink waiting in the fridge isn't iced tea or lemonade. It's barley tea.

Known as mugicha, barley tea is made by roasting barley before steeping it in hot water. It's believed to help cool the body and, once chilled, becomes one of Japan's favourite summer drinks.

It's common to pour a glass of mugicha after coming in from the heat or after a bath. Just as yuzu tea belongs to winter, barley tea is one of the flavours of the Japanese summer.

Unlike green tea, mugicha contains no caffeine, making it a favourite for both children and adults. It has a gentle roasted flavour that's especially refreshing on a hot day.

In many Japanese homes, a jug of chilled mugicha sits in the fridge ready to be poured after school, after work or whenever someone comes in from the heat. It's as much a sign of summer as cicadas or fireworks.

Every season has its own flavours.

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