Sundre, Alberta, Canada
March 4, 2025

It may not be on the local coffee shop menu yet, but barley tea is a popular staple in many Asian nations. It’s also an opportunity for Canadian growers, and another reason to consider a newer Alberta-made variety called AB Standswell.

The bushy semi-dwarf six-row barley was developed by the Western Crop Initiative at Lacombe, and is marketed by Mastin Seeds of Sundre. 2024 was the first season it was readily available on the market.

As a seedgrower and farmer in a livestock producing region, Mastin likes to focus on early maturing and forage varieties.

“Standswell is good for both grain and forage,” says Mastin. “Plus it’s drought tolerant, nitrogen-efficient and lives up to its name by standing strong and less prone to lodging.”

But Mastin is most excited these days about Standswell’s potential for the barley tea market. The drink is made from roasted barley and proponents claim numerous health benefits, ranging from weight loss to digestive relief. It’s considered a staple (both hot and cold) in homes in China, Japan and Korea, offering both a high fiber content and a nutty, mild taste.

A major Japanese company has reached out to Canada in search of a barley variety alternative for making the tea.

“Currently, they’re using Legacy barley,” explains Mastin. “But that’s an older variety, and so buyers are hoping to find a new six-row that could replace it, and give growers higher yields.”

Mastin has already sent the prospective buyers a small sample of Standswell barley for testing, and gotten favorable feedback. He followed by sending a tote with a tonne of Standswell barley to Japan for further testing.

“If that goes well, they will be back looking for more than 3000 tonnes in the fall,” says Mastin. “The market for Standswell may grow substantially very quickly, so it’s a great opportunity for farmers willing to try the variety.”

Reports from growers who have already used Standswell are positive on its high yields. The variety has generated attention for both its nitrogen and water use efficiencies. In fact, on average, Standswell uses nine per cent less nitrogen than the average barley. It also has a plumper seed, to go with its smooth awn, which makes it ideal for swath grazing, greenfeed, or silage.

In addition to all these traits, Standswell also has a slightly higher nutrient content, along with higher digestibility, making it ideal for a dairy ration, and also probably why the Japanese are looking at it for barley tea.

“A Saskatchewan seed grower who planted it last year told me it was his highest yielding crop,” says Mastin.

Mastin believes in order to secure a contract for barley tea needs in Asia, it will be important to ensure adequate supply.  So he’s looking for seed growers and farmers interested in growing Standswell barley this spring.

“It could become a great market for Canadian barley producers,” adds Mastin.

For more information, contact Bob Mastin (403) 556-2609 or email info@mastinseeds.com

Website: http://www.mastinseeds.com/

Published: March 10, 2025