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Our verdict
Barlico Original Granules (89/100, ₱199 for 100 g, about ₱6.03 a cup) is the best barley coffee we could verify: roasted barley and chicory, no coffee, an exact FDA food registration and 7,585 ratings. Barlico 3 in 1 (82/100, ₱14.92 a stick) is the ready-mixed version with sugar and creamer. The rest are coffee or herbal mixes with barley grass and thinner listings.
Most listings called “barley coffee” on Shopee are not barley coffee at all: they are coffee, herbal or slimming mixes with barley grass, and many promise to cure or lower things a drink cannot. This guide is general information, not medical advice. A coffee substitute is not a treatment for any illness.
We searched the Shopee affiliate offer list and Shopee search for barley coffee, barley and chicory, and coffee alternatives on October 24, 2026, then looked each candidate up in the FDA Philippines food registry. We ranked only listings we could match to an exact registration in the registrant’s or brand’s own store.
3.5×
One Santé Barliccino sachet costs ₱20.90 (₱209 for 10), about 3.5 times the ₱6.03 for one cup of Barlico Original Granules (₱199 for a 100 g jar of about 33 cups). The two are different drinks: one is a cappuccino coffee mix, the other plain granules. Prices checked on 24 October 2026.
Best choiceBest value Barlico Original |  Barlico 3 in 1 |  Golden Seed |  Santé Barliccino |  Magnum-C | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score | 89/100 | 82/100 | 70/100 | 68/100 | 54/100 |
| Our rating | |||||
| Best for | A plain caffeine-free cup you season yourself | A ready-mixed stick for the desk or a trip | A simple mix, hot or cold, from a Mall store | A cappuccino with barley grass, caffeine allowed | Nobody until the listing is fixed |
| What it is | Roasted barley and chicory | Barley and chicory, sugar, creamer | Barley “herbal drink mix” | Coffee with barley grass | Barley mix, “low caffeine” |
| Caffeine on the page | “100% caffeine free” | “100% caffeine free” | Not stated | Not stated (it is a coffee) | “Low caffeine” |
| FDA food registration | FR-1907348, to Apr 2028 | FR-2016319, to May 2028 | FR-4000014564831, to Oct 2028 | FR-4000008944890, to May 2029 | FR-4000015406943, to Nov 2028 |
| Ingredients on the page | No | Base named; sugar, creamer | Barley only | No | No |
| Nutrition on the page | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Ratings on this listing | 7,585 (4.92) | 3,283 (4.92) | 22 (4.91) | 922 (4.90) | 123 (4.96) |
| Price | ₱199 | ₱179 | ₱210 | ₱209 | ₱195 |
| Price per cup or sachet | ₱6.03 (3 g) | ₱14.92 (18 g) | ₱21.00 (18 g) | ₱20.90 | Not known |
| Listing problem | No ingredient list or gluten line | “Low Sugar” vs 6 g sugars | Almost nothing stated | No weight, no directions | No pack size; detox claims |
| Buy | ShopeeLazada | ShopeeLazada | ShopeeLazada | ShopeeLazada | Shopee |
Three different products sold as “barley coffee”
General information, not medical advice. The points below come from the FDA registry names we read, the listings, and the NHS page on coeliac disease for the gluten point.
- Roasted barley and chicory coffee substitute. No coffee in it. In the registry this is “Instant Coffee Substitute” or “Barley and Chicory Drink Mix” (Barlico). A seller can call it caffeine free because there is no coffee in it; this is the only kind where that statement makes sense.
- Coffee with barley grass. Real coffee, with powdered young barley leaf added. Santé’s Fusion listing says it combines Robusta beans and barley grass; JC’s lists “coffee powder, organic barley, leaf grass powder” and arabica. These contain caffeine, whatever the word “barley” suggests. In the registry they are “coffee mix with barley grass”.
- Herbal or slimming “barley coffee”. Mixes of barley grass with garcinia, green coffee, mangosteen, guyabano, collagen and more. The registry lists dozens, and several listings promise weight loss, lower cholesterol or to “treat” disease. We did not rank these.
- Barley contains gluten. The NHS says gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Roasted barley is a grain; barley grass is the young leaf, which is a different material, and none of the listings we read says whether a gluten test was done. If you avoid gluten, read the label and ask the seller (general advice).
- Chicory root is a common partner of roasted barley in coffee substitutes, and it is often a source of inulin, a fibre that can cause gas in some people (general advice; check the label).
- FDA registration for food is not approval of health benefits. A registered food may carry only the claims allowed for foods, and the registry itself marks supplement mixes as “registered as food supplement with no approved therapeutic claims”. A food registration number does not make a listing’s health claims true.
What the claims on these listings actually mean
| Claim | What it covers | Key exclusion |
|---|---|---|
| “100% caffeine free” (Barlico) | The drink is made of roasted barley and chicory, not coffee | The seller’s statement; we did not test it, and “100%” is an absolute no test is shown for |
| “Low caffeine content” (Magnum-C) | Some caffeine may be present | The page does not say what is in it or how much; barley alone has none |
| “Arabica … organic barley” (JC) | A coffee with barley grass added | It contains coffee, so it is not caffeine free |
| “FDA approved” or “FDA and HALAL approved” | That a food registration (FR number) exists for a product | Registration is not a health endorsement; check the exact product name and expiry in the FDA portal |
| “Healthy coffee alternative” | A marketing description | Undefined; Barlico 3 in 1 has 6 g of sugars per stick and is labelled “Low Sugar” |
| “Supports immunity and overall wellness”; “boosts immunity” (Santé, Magnum-C) | A general wellness claim | No study or amount of barley grass is given |
| “Helps support detoxification, improve digestion” (Magnum-C) | A health-benefit claim | No source; a drink does not “detox” the body (general information) |
| “Helps lower blood cholesterol and blood glucose”, “promotes weight loss” (JC) | Treatment-type claims | Not claims a food listing can support; we did not rank this listing |
| “Prevention and treatment”, “cure acid reflux” (RAZ) | Disease claims | Food products are not registered to treat disease; the listing also shows an expiry attribute of 11/01/2023 |
| “Sugar free”, “organic” on mixes with creamer and flavouring | Marketing words | Check the nutrition table; none is shown on the listings that use these words |
Barley coffee listings we would be careful with
| Product | What we found | Our check |
|---|---|---|
| JC Barley Coffee Classic and Mocha, ₱412 to ₱419 (HealthMarketPH, regular shop since 2017) | JC has registrations for several barley coffee drink mixes, but this listing lists coffee powder and arabica, says it helps “enhance mental alertness”, and lists 13 health benefits including lowering cholesterol and blood glucose and promoting weight loss. | Not scored (disease claims; contains coffee) |
| RAZ Barley with Chia Seeds Coffee, ₱619 for 2 boxes (RAZ Herbal Supplement Trading) | The brand has a registration (FR-4000009745205), but the listing says “prevent colon cancer”, “cure acid reflux”, “good for prevention and treatment” and “100% no side effect”, and its expiry attribute reads 11/01/2023. | Not scored (disease claims, stale expiry) |
| Nature’s Green Barley Slim Coffee 7 in 1, ₱250 (Pangaea Health and Wellness PH) | A slimming blend: barley grass with garcinia cambogia and green coffee (registered as FR-4000013849063). The FDA has issued an advisory (No. 2024-1735) on a different product, “Pangaea Health and Wellness Barley Grass Powder”. | Not scored (slimming blend; see our slimming coffee guide) |
| Nature’s Best Vita Barley Coffee with Stevia, ₱320 (three small reseller shops) | Sold by several shops under one name; we found no registry record for it in our barley searches. | Not scored (no record found) |
| Daily Harvest Barley Coffee Buy 1 Take 1, ₱191 (Pure Blend Manila) | The shop opened on 22 May 2026, has 196 followers, and we found no registry record under this name. | Not scored (new shop, no record found) |
| Grainsmart Rice Coffee with Stevia and Barley, ₱489 (S&N Sweet Spot) | The brand has a registration (FR-4000015578327), but the reseller shop opened in May 2026 and has 58 followers; we did not find the brand’s own store. | Not scored (new reseller shop) |
| Avocado, moringa and mangosteen “herbal coffee with barley”, ₱59 to ₱299 (up to 10K sold) | Mixes where barley is one ingredient among many. Titles promise “wellness”, “energy booster” or weight support, and we could not match the best sellers to a registration. | Not scored (not a barley coffee) |
| Mugicha barley tea bags from Japan (Ito En, Hakubaku), ₱160 to ₱499 | A roasted barley tea, not a coffee. Ito En has registry records for “Mugicha Spring Scent Barley Tea” and an institutional-use mugicha, but the 54-bag retail packs on Shopee come from small reseller shops and do not match those names. | Not scored (tea, reseller packs) |
| Barley grass powders (“FDA Approved”, Weekit7 and others) | Green juice powders, not coffee. The FDA has issued advisories against many unregistered barley products, including a roasted barley, rye and chicory instant drink (No. 2024-1680). | Not scored (not a barley coffee) |
Our picks
89/100
Caffeine free (stated)
Barley and chicory
FDA food registration
₱6.03 per cup
| FDA status | Instant Coffee Substitute – Barley and Chicory, brand Barlico, FirstMcKinley Enterprises Inc., FR-1907348, valid to 8 April 2028; no advisory names this product (a 2023 advisory on a different Barlico item was lifted) |
| Specifications stated | 100 g glass jar; instant roasted barley and chicory granules; made in Egypt; about 33 servings of 3 g (1 teaspoon) per jar |
| Nutrition stated | Per 3 g serving: 25.25 kcal, 0 g fat, 2.65 g carbohydrate, 0 g sugars, 0.35 g protein, 0.2 mg sodium |
| Directions stated | 3 g in 100 ml hot water; 6 g for a stronger cup; can be served over ice or with milk, creamer or sweetener |
| Claims | “100% Caffeine Free”; “a healthy coffee alternative”; “all Barlico products are approved and registered with the Philippine FDA” |
| Missing | No ingredient list on the page (it points to the label); no gluten or allergen statement |
| Seller | Barlico Philippines (the brand’s own store, not Mall): joined 2019, 13.8K followers, 25% response; 4.92 stars from 7,585 ratings on this listing, about 30K sold |
| Price | ₱199 for 100 g = ₱6.03 per 3 g cup |
The only listing in this guide that is plainly what the name says: roasted barley and chicory, no coffee, with a nutrition table, a serving guide and an exact FDA food registration for “Instant Coffee Substitute – Barley and Chicory”. It has the longest buyer record of any pick here, 7,585 ratings, and it is the cheapest cup. Plain granules with no sugar also let you decide what goes in the cup.
The listing does not carry an ingredient list, and it does not say that barley contains gluten, so anyone avoiding gluten should read the label first. “Caffeine free” is the seller’s statement; we did not test it. It is a store run by the brand rather than a Mall store, with a 25% reply rate, so questions may go unanswered for a while.
Why it scored well
- Exact FDA food registration, valid to April 2028
- Nutrition table and serving guide on the page
- Cheapest per cup, 7,585 ratings
Watch-outs
- No ingredient list or gluten statement
- “Caffeine free” is stated, not tested
- 25% reply rate from the store
82/100
3-in-1 with sugar and creamer
FDA food registration
6 g sugars per stick
₱14.92 per stick
| FDA status | Instant Coffee Substitute 3 in 1, brand Barlico, FirstMcKinley Enterprises Inc., FR-2016319, valid to 14 May 2028; no advisory names this product |
| Specifications stated | 12 sticks of 18 g (216 g); roasted barley and chicory base with sugar and non-dairy creamer |
| Nutrition stated | Per 18 g stick: 86 kcal, 3.15 g fat, 13.82 g carbohydrate, 6 g sugars, 0.6 g protein, 29 mg sodium |
| Directions stated | One stick in 180 ml hot water, stirred; can be served over ice or with extra milk |
| Claims | “100% Caffeine Free”; “a healthy coffee alternative”; attribute “Low Sugar” |
| Inconsistencies | The “Low Sugar” attribute sits beside 6 g of sugars in an 18 g stick, a third of the stick by weight |
| Seller | Barlico Philippines (brand’s own store): 4.92 stars from 3,283 ratings on this listing, about 10K sold |
| Price | ₱179 for 12 sticks = ₱14.92 per stick (₱82.87 per 100 g) |
The same brand and base as the pick above, in a stick that already has sugar and non-dairy creamer in it. It has its own FDA food registration, a full nutrition table and directions, and it suits an office desk or a trip where measuring granules is a nuisance.
You pay for the convenience: ₱14.92 a stick against ₱6.03 for a cup of plain granules, and each stick carries 6 g of sugars. We would not call that “low sugar”, although the listing does. Pick it for the taste and the shortcut, not for the sugar.
Why it scored well
- Own FDA food registration, valid to May 2028
- Nutrition table shows the sugar
- Ready to drink: one stick, hot water
Watch-outs
- “Low Sugar” label vs 6 g sugars per stick
- ₱14.92 a stick, about 2.5 times the granules
- No gluten or allergen statement
70/100
Instant herbal mix
FDA food registration
Mall store, 22 ratings
₱21.00 per sachet
| FDA status | Barley Coffee Herbal Drink Mix, brand Goldenseed, Golden Seed Packaging Solutions Inc., FR-4000014564831, valid to 22 October 2028; no advisory found |
| Specifications stated | 10 sachets of 18 g (180 g); ingredient “Barley”; made in the Philippines; shelf life 24 months; expiry on the listing 03/27/2028 |
| Directions stated | Put one sachet in hot or cold water, stir |
| Claims | “FDA and HALAL approved” |
| Missing | No ingredient list (the registry name says “herbal drink mix”), no nutrition, no statement on caffeine |
| Seller | Golden Seed Coffee (Shopee Mall, official): joined 2021, 5.3K followers, 0% response; 4.91 stars from 22 ratings on this listing, 103 sold |
| Price | ₱210 for 10 sachets = ₱21.00 per sachet (₱116.67 per 100 g) |
A barley coffee mix from the registered company’s own Mall store, with an exact FDA food registration and the plainest claims in the category: no cures, no slimming, no detox. Directions are one line, and it works hot or cold.
The listing says almost nothing. There is no ingredient list, no nutrition table and no word on caffeine, and the registered name calls it an “herbal drink mix”, so we cannot tell what else is in the sachet. It is a new listing with 22 ratings, and the shop shows a 0% reply rate. Ask before you buy.
Why it scored well
- Exact FDA registration, valid to October 2028
- No health claims on the page
- Hot or cold in one line of directions
Watch-outs
- No ingredient list, nutrition or caffeine statement
- Only 22 ratings on a 2026 listing
- 0% reply rate
68/100
Coffee with barley grass
FDA food registration
Mall store, 922 ratings
₱20.90 per sachet
| FDA status | Cappuccino Coffee Mix with Santé Barley & Stevia, brand Barliccino, Santé International Inc., FR-4000008944890, valid to 10 May 2029 (renewal); no advisory found |
| Specifications stated | 10 sachets; cappuccino-style; “blended with 100% certified organic barley grass from New Zealand”; expiry on the listing 11-May-27 |
| Claims | “Supports immunity & overall wellness”; “vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants”; “perfect for morning boost or afternoon treat” |
| Missing | No ingredient list, sachet weight, nutrition or directions; no statement on caffeine; the weight attribute reads “0.32g” |
| Seller | Santé Official Store (Shopee Mall): joined 2019, 48.8K followers, 100% response; 4.90 stars from 922 ratings on this listing, about 3K sold |
| Price | ₱209 for 10 sachets = ₱20.90 per sachet |
A reliable seller and a current FDA food registration: Santé’s Mall store sells it, and the registry has this exact product, valid to May 2029. The listing is honest that it is a coffee: a cappuccino coffee with organic barley grass added, “for a morning boost”.
That is the catch. It is a different product from a roasted barley coffee substitute, and the page never says how much caffeine is in a sachet. It lists wellness benefits for the barley grass but no ingredients, no weight and no directions, and the weight attribute is plainly wrong. Buy it if you want a cappuccino with a little barley grass in it; do not buy it expecting a caffeine-free drink.
Why it scored well
- Exact FDA food registration, valid to May 2029
- Mall store with 922 ratings on this listing
- Clear that it is a coffee
Watch-outs
- No ingredient list, weight or directions
- No statement on caffeine
- “Supports immunity” wellness claims
54/100
Registered, but the listing tells you little and promises a lot
5. MAGNUM-C Barley Coffee (Hiyang International Store)
ShopeeBarley coffee drink mix
FDA food registration
Pack size not stated
Price per cup not known
| FDA status | Barley Coffee Drink Mix with Wheatgrass Makabuhay and Chia Seeds, brand Magnum-C, Hiyang International OPC, FR-4000015406943, valid to 24 November 2028; no advisory found |
| Specifications stated | “Made with premium barley”; “smooth, non-acidic taste” |
| Claims | “Rich in antioxidants that help support detoxification, improve digestion, and boost overall immunity”; “low caffeine content”; “natural energy without the usual crash” |
| Inconsistencies | The registered name adds wheatgrass, makabuhay and chia seeds that the listing never mentions; “low caffeine” is unexplained for a barley drink |
| Missing | No pack size, sachet count, net weight, ingredient list or directions |
| Seller | Hiyang International Store (the registrant’s own store, not Mall): joined 2020, 752 followers; 4.96 stars from 123 ratings on this listing, 964 sold |
| Price | ₱195; price per cup cannot be worked out because the page gives no pack size |
The registrant sells it itself and the registry has the exact product, valid to November 2028. It is the brand that sold the most (964) among the picks that sell their own listing, which is why it is here at all.
The listing is the weakest on disclosure: no pack size, no ingredients, no directions, and a long run of benefits (detox, digestion, immunity) with no source. “Low caffeine” suggests coffee may be in the mix, but the page does not say. Until the seller states what is in the sachet and how many you get, we cannot compare its price with the others.
Why it scored well
- Exact FDA food registration, valid to November 2028
- Registrant’s own store
- 123 ratings at 4.96 on this listing
Watch-outs
- No pack size, ingredients or directions
- Detox and immunity claims with no source
- “Low caffeine” is unexplained
How to choose a barley coffee
- Decide what you want first: a caffeine-free coffee substitute (roasted barley and chicory), a coffee with barley grass, or neither. The three get sold under the same words.
- Read the ingredients. If the listing shows no ingredient list, ask the seller or read the label on arrival. A product that lists coffee, arabica or green coffee has caffeine.
- Check the nutrition table. Plain granules are about 25 kcal and no sugar a cup, while a 3-in-1 stick has 6 g of sugars. Most mixes show nothing.
- Compare per cup, not per box: ₱6.03 a cup for plain granules against ₱14.92 to ₱21.00 for sticks and sachets.
- Check the exact product name in the FDA verification portal, and its validity date. A brand can be registered for one product and not another.
- If you avoid gluten, do not assume a barley product is safe; the NHS names barley as a gluten-containing grain. Ask the seller or the brand.
- Ignore disease claims. A drink does not cure acid reflux, lower your sugar or treat cancer, whatever the listing says. Ask a doctor about any health condition (general advice).
- Pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medicines? Ask a doctor before adding herbal mixes to your routine (general advice).
How we researched this guide
We searched the Shopee affiliate offer list and Shopee search for barley coffee, roasted barley coffee, barley and chicory, mugicha and coffee substitutes on October 24, 2026, then searched the FDA Philippines food registry for barley, chicory, Barlico, Goldenseed and Magnum. We identified each shop (Mall status, year joined, followers, ratings, response rate), read the full listings and checked advisories. We scored five with our published rubric: provenance and registration (25), disclosure (20), claims (20), consistency (10), seller record (15) and value (10). We did not use, taste or test any product.
The registry search returns only the first matches for a word, so a product we list as “no record found” may be registered under a name we did not try. The gluten point comes from the NHS and is general information, not medical advice. The listing claims we quote are the sellers’, and we did not verify them. This guide has not yet been reviewed by our health content reviewer, and we have not checked the Shopee affiliate programme’s rules for this category.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best barley coffee in the Philippines?
Of the products we could match to an exact FDA food registration, Barlico Original Granules (89/100, ₱199 for 100 g, about ₱6.03 a cup) scored highest. It is a roasted barley and chicory coffee substitute, with a nutrition table and a serving guide on the page.
Is barley coffee caffeine free?
Roasted barley and chicory coffee substitutes such as Barlico contain no coffee, and the listing says "100% caffeine free". Many "barley coffees" on Shopee are coffee with barley grass added, such as Santé and JC, and those contain caffeine. Check the ingredient list.
Is barley coffee gluten free?
Not necessarily. The NHS says gluten is found in wheat, barley and rye. Roasted barley is a grain; barley grass is the young leaf. None of the listings we read says whether a gluten test was done, so ask the seller or the brand if you need to avoid gluten.
Is Barlico FDA registered?
Yes. We found FR-1907348 (Instant Coffee Substitute – Barley and Chicory, valid to 8 April 2028) for the granules and FR-2016319 (Instant Coffee Substitute 3 in 1, valid to 14 May 2028) for the 3-in-1 sticks. A 2023 advisory on a different Barlico item was lifted.
Does barley coffee lower blood sugar or cholesterol?
We found no listing that supports this. Several listings claim it, but they show no source, and a registered food is not registered to treat disease. If you have diabetes or high cholesterol, ask a doctor (general advice).
Can barley coffee help me lose weight?
A coffee substitute is not a weight-loss product. Slimming blends add garcinia or green coffee and make weight claims; see our slimming coffee guide for what the FDA found.
What is the difference between barley coffee and barley grass coffee?
Barley coffee substitutes are made from roasted barley grain, often with chicory, and contain no coffee. Barley grass coffee mixes add powdered young barley leaf to real coffee or to herbal blends.
Is barley coffee safe for kids?
Plain roasted barley drinks contain no caffeine, but products with sugar, creamer or coffee are not made for young children. Ask a doctor or pediatrician (general advice).
How do I make barley coffee?
Barlico's listing says to stir 3 g (one teaspoon) of the granules into 100 ml of hot water, or use 6 g for a stronger cup. A 3-in-1 stick goes into 180 ml of hot water.
Is barley tea (mugicha) the same as barley coffee?
It is also roasted barley, but it is brewed from tea bags and is not instant coffee. Ito En has registry records for mugicha, but the retail packs we saw on Shopee came from small reseller shops.
Why are some popular barley coffees not in your picks?
We left out listings with disease claims, slimming blends, new shops and products we could not match to a registration. The reasons are in the "careful with" table.
Can I drink barley coffee while pregnant or breastfeeding?
Ask a doctor. Plain roasted barley has no caffeine, but herbal mixes with added plants may not be suitable and we do not give medical advice.
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