While most of us are familiar with coffee, little light is shed on coffee cherry tea, also known as #cascara tea. We decided to shed light on this issue. We place a pedestal on the humble but perfect bridge between coffee and tea.
Cascara means "shell" in Spanish, and while it's still not very common in the Western world, the drink's history goes back centuries to Ethiopia. Here it is called "Qishr". . Coffee is a cherry-like fruit with flesh, and the coffee beans we know are the roasted seeds of these cherries. To obtain seeds, the flesh of the fruit must be removed. When coffee is carefully processed, its flesh can be dried and then brewed as tea.
Why is Cascara a rising star? First off, what was considered sustainable – the “waste” from coffee processing is now a great beverage that combines the best of both worlds, coffee and tea, and provides an additional source of income for farmers.
Cascara is also known as an antioxidant. According to the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) chart, cascara is reported to be the fourth highest antioxidant-rich superfood in the world, with 78 times more antioxidants than blueberries and pomegranates. It may also increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which supports brain health, memory, and focus. Cascara contains less caffeine than coffee, making it a great choice when looking for an enjoyable drink in a small sip.
So how does cascara taste? It is like herbal tea with a sweet and fruity taste due to the coffee cherry.
Here are 3 of your favorite recipes;
Hot Brewed Cascara:
Heat the water to 95 °C.
Put 6 g of cascara in 100 ml of water.
Brew like tea and let it steep for 4-8 minutes.
Strain using a strainer and enjoy.
Cold brewed Cascara:
Pour 100 ml of room temperature water per 10 g of cascara into a container with a lid.
Leave to infuse covered for 12 hours.
Filter using a strainer
Serve with ice on top or store in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Caskara Cocktail;
Use 250 ml of Cascara cold brew.
Add 5 ml of fresh lemon juice (adjust to taste).
Add 7.5g of sugar or sugar syrup (adjust to taste).
Serve with ice on top and garnish with a lemon slice.