Homemade Lemon Barley Water vs Traditional Greek Orangeade

Both drinks are chilled, sweetened citrus refreshers, but they are built in very different ways. Homemade Lemon Barley Water begins by simmering pearl barley until it releases its starches, giving a slightly cloudy base that is infused off the heat with lemon zest, strained, and finished with fresh lemon juice for a balanced sweet-tart flavor. Traditional Greek Orangeade relies instead on fresh orange juice mixed with cooled simple syrup, diluted with cold water and brightened by fine orange zest, with the juice of half a lemon only an optional touch to temper the sweetness.