The Mysterious Caffeinated Drink

A Mysterious Caffeinated Beverage

– that’s cascara. More precisely, cascara refers to the dried husks of coffee cherries. From these husks, a beverage is prepared that resembles a fruity tea more than coffee. Historically, consuming the coffee cherry (including its husk) can be considered the first way coffee fruits were used. Indigenous people in Ethiopia chewed whole coffee cherries both for their sweet taste and for the energy contained within them.

Cascara naturally contains various vitamins, minerals, and natural antioxidants. And of course, caffeine. Caffeine is present in the entire coffee plant as a natural defense against pests, because it is bitter. A typical tea cup (280ml) of brewed cascara contains about 22mg of caffeine, which is roughly the same as in green tea.

Cascara Ban

Cascara attracted significant attention in the EU. Between 2018 and 2022, its sale was banned due to its classification as a so-called novel food. This sparked a four-year-long process of ongoing approval and safety evaluation. And voila! Everything worked out, and cascara is once again ready to impress everyone!

Taste Buds on the Move

Cascara hides a lot of flavor, which is sweet and reminiscent of dried fruit, raisins, hibiscus, rosehip, as well as herbs and various spices.

How to Prepare It?

Preparing cascara is simple. Use 6g of cascara per 100ml of boiling water, let it steep for 5–8 minutes, and you’re done! If you’re a fan of rich, sweet flavors, add honey or cinnamon. Extra tip: the more the drink cools, the wider range of flavors it reveals!