What Is Cascara Tea?
Cascara tea is the delicious fruit forward brew made from the husk of a coffee cherry.
The low in caffeine fruit tea has seen some ups and downs over the last few years.
But what is Cascara coffee and is it here to stay?
The word Cascara means skin or shell in Spanish and in the world if specialty coffee refers to the outer layer of a coffee cherry.
It is believed that the coffee cherry was consumed before the coffee bean but as with the origins of coffee it is all folk law.
Cascara is also traditionally consumed as a tea in many coffee growing counties throughout the world, such as Yemen and Bolivia where it is dried, toasted and brewed with cinnamon.
Coffee is grown all over the world with the vast majority grown 20 degrees either side of the equator which is known as the coffee belt.
Farms range from a one man band, planting, maintaining, harvesting and processing the crop through to vast expanses of rolling farmland where heavy duty machinery is used to harvest the coffee.
A coffee tree can range in size and shape depending on the varietal of the fruit.
Some are barely above 1 metre high, while others tower above 4 metres.
A coffee tree usually has one but occasionally two harvests per year (some countries even have 3 per year) when the coffee fruit is picked from the tree.
A coffee cherry is normally red but can also be yellow and shades of orange.
The two seeds inside the cherry (which can sometimes be one seed and is referred to as a peaberry) is what we know as a coffee bean.
The two beans side by side at the core of the coffee cherry are covered in a layer of slimy mucilage which is protected by the red or yellow outer skin (cascara).
When coffee cherries are ripe, they are picked either by hand or machine.
The coffee is then processed in various methods such as washed, natural or honey.
Depending on the farm and the resources, some farmers use a nearby coffee mill to process their coffee. I
f the coffee is naturally processed the coffee sherry is laid out to dry on patios straight after it is picked.
At the wet mill the coffee cherry is stripped from the two seeds inside which will later have the mucilage removed before laid out to dry.
What is Cascara?
The coffee cherry (Cascara) is usually a bi-product of coffee farming.
Many of the farms that I have visited, collect the cascara and turn it into compost to use on the farm.
This can sometimes be an issue when it is overused as compost as the cascara has a high acidity level which can have a negative effect on the soil.
I have also seen cascara being used to make rum in Colombia and brewed fresh to make tea in various countries I have visited.
It is now however seen as a speciality product across the world and sold as a tea, although the classification of Cascara has become quite a hot topic over the last few years and is the reason why it was deemed illegal in EU countries.
Cascara was unknown to the EU before 1997 and the law stipulates that any novelty product that was unknown before this time must be deemed safe by food safety authorities.
There is currently an application to make cascara legal that should be approved later this year.
Although the most popular method of brewing Cascara is as a hot tea it technically isn’t a tea as it doesn’t originate from the tea plant.
It is now classified as a fruit herbal tea.
As you would imagine with any fruit tea the main flavour profile is fruit forward.
There are often notes of florals and it has a delicious sweet undertone.
The acidity can sometimes be a little sharp at the end of the brew but all together creates sweet and balanced fruit tea.
How Much Caffeine is in Cascara Tea?
Caffeine in any beverage is sometimes hard to quantify. It depends on the quality and ratio of the substance to water.
However, a study that was carried out by Square mile coffee roasters showed that the caffeine content of cascara is roughly around one fifth or 20% of brewed coffee.
Is Cascara Tea Good For You?
Cascara tea is packed full of antioxidants which are believed to prevent certain diseases.
The fairly low caffeine content can also be seen as a positive and can be consumed as an alternative to coffee.
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How Do You Make Cascara Tea?
Cascara is most popularly and in my opinion best brewed as a hot tea.
Hot Cascara Tea Method
Per 300ml cup you will need around 3 tablespoons (15g) of dried cascara.
Place the cascara in a tea strainer or french press.
Pour over 300ml of water straight from the boil.
Let the cascara steep for 5 minutes.
Strain or press and pour into your cup.
Iced cascara tea is also becoming very popular:
Iced Cascara Tea Method
Per 300ml cup you will need around 5 tablespoons (25g) of dried cascara.
Place 5 tablespoons of cascara in a tea strainer or french press.
Pour over 300ml of cold water
Let the tea steep overnight.
Strain or press and pour into a jug and then refrigerate for a couple of hours.
What is the Difference Between Cascara Coffee and Cascara Sagrada?
Cascara Coffee is the fruit outer layer of a coffee cherry that is often a byproduct of coffee farming but has recently been exported commercially as a dried tea product that is classified as fruit herbal tea.
Cascara coffee has a fairly low caffeine content and contains antioxidants.
Cascara Sagrada is a dried bark that was originally used by indeginous people in the Pacific NorthWest as a natural laxative but today is sold as a dietary supplement to relieve constipation.
Learn why coffee makes you poop.
Where Can I Buy Cascara Coffee?
If you live in the EU you will not be able to buy Cascara legally anymore although this should change very soon.
There are still some independent coffee shops selling Cascara, if you are lucky enough to know one.
Does cascara taste like coffee?
Cascara coffee doesn’t taste coffee at all.
Coffee gains many of its flavours via the processing and roasting of the coffee beans whereas cascara is just dried coffee fruit.
The taste is more comparable to certain fruit based teas.
Who should not take cascara?
While cascara is generally safe for most people to drink, there are a few groups of people who should avoid it or consume it in moderation.
Pregnant women and individuals who are sensitive to caffeine should avoid cascara or consume it in moderation as it contains caffeine.
Those with a history of cardiovascular disease or high blood pressure should also be cautious as caffeine can potentially exacerbate these conditions.
Additionally, people taking certain medications, such as stimulants, should consult with their doctor before consuming cascara.
It's always best to consult with a healthcare professional if you have any concerns or questions about your dietary choices.
What is cascara made from?
Cascara is a beverage made from the dried skins of coffee cherries, which are the fruit that surrounds the coffee bean.
Traditionally, the skin and pulp of the coffee cherry were seen as waste products after the coffee beans were removed, but cascara has become increasingly popular as a drink in recent years.
The dried cascara is often brewed like tea and has a fruity, slightly sweet flavor with notes of hibiscus, cherry, and citrus. It contains caffeine, but in lower amounts than coffee, making it a popular alternative for those looking for a milder caffeine boost.
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