Barbican (drink) facts for kids
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| Type | Non-alcoholic malt drink |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Aujan Industries |
| Distributor | Aujan Coca-Cola Beverages Company (ACCBC) |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Introduced | 1983 |
| Alcohol by volume | 0% |
Barbican is a popular non-alcoholic malt drink. It's made by the Aujan Coca-Cola Beverages Company (ACCBC). This drink is mostly sold in the Middle East and North Africa.
Barbican is so well-known in countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE that its name is sometimes used for any non-alcoholic malt drink. Think of it like how some people call all tissues "Kleenex"! Because it has a fruity and malty taste, Barbican is also used in cooking. You can find it in special non-alcoholic mixed drinks called mocktails, desserts, or even served with cheese or chocolate.
The Story of Barbican
Barbican was first made in the United Kingdom by a company called Bass Brewery. In 1983, Aujan Industries started bringing Barbican to the Middle East. It was one of the first non-alcoholic malt drinks sold in that area.
Later, Aujan faced problems getting enough Barbican from Bass Brewery. So, in 1999, Aujan bought the Barbican brand for certain markets. By 2010, Aujan owned the entire Barbican brand. They then started making it themselves at their factory in Dubai.
Barbican is also sold in Malaysia. It comes from Saudi Arabia and is distributed by Coca-Cola Refreshments Malaysia. In 2011, a group in Malaysia called the National Fatwa Council said that Barbican was okay for Muslims to drink. This is because it has 0% alcohol and is not intoxicating. This means it is considered halaal.
How Barbican is Made
Barbican is made at ACCBC's factories in Dammam and Dubai. It's brewed using a special three-step process. This process uses barley malt, which is a type of grain.
First, the barley malt is mixed with water at different temperatures. This step is called mashing. It helps break down the starch in the barley into simpler sugars. Next is lautering. Here, all the good parts from the barley malt are taken out, leaving behind a liquid called wort. Finally, the wort is boiled with hops. Hops give the drink its special aroma and a slightly bitter taste. Boiling also helps make the drink stable and clean.
Different Flavours
Besides the original malt flavour, Barbican comes in many fruity tastes. You can find Barbican in 330 ml glass bottles and cans. Some flavours, like Mango & Passion Fruit and Pomegranate, are only sold in glass bottles.
Here are the different flavours:
- Malt
- Peach
- Raspberry
- Strawberry
- Pineapple
- Mango & Passion Fruit
- Apple
- Pomegranate
- Lemon
Barbican and Your Health
In 2015, a study was done at the Hawler Medical University in Erbil, Iraq. Researchers looked at how drinking Barbican affected people's bodies.
The study found that drinking Barbican did not cause a big increase in a substance called uric acid in urine. However, it did show that the amount of calcium in urine went down a bit after drinking Barbican. This change happened mostly in men who regularly drank Barbican. This decrease in calcium is thought to be because of the barley in the drink.
