I admit I had not heard of Cascara until I stumbled across a news article on medium and it intrigued me because it’s been around for a number of years, but it hadn’t really reached me at my local coffee shop in London – so this was all news to me. In case you’re like I was, and in the dark about the wonders of Cascara, let me tell you all about it.
What is Cascara?
I’m glad you asked because it’s kind of weird. It’s referred to as Cascara tea, but it’s not actually a tea. In fact, it’s made from the discarded husks of the coffee during processing often referred to coffee cherries. These husks are dried and packed to keep fresh, and they retain an incredible flavour that is tea-like but with the essence of tobacco and herbs. It’s also naturally sweet and fruity and is claimed to be good for a range of ailments.
Cascara Tea Health Benefits
I’m a big fan of drinking both coffee and tea’s, in part for their health and athletic performance benefits. So a tea made from coffee cherries? oh yes, where do I sign! It is reported that Cascara helps with constipation in particular, hmm (I’m ok in that department, but I know this is big deal right now for a lot of people) and it supposedly helps with overall digestive health and can be used as part of a Detox plan. Now that’s interesting to me because I’ve been reading about how most of the population suffers from digestive issues like leaky gut syndrome. It purportedly helps with mental clarity – something I’m keen on and finding herbal teas like Holy Basil also gives me a boost here.
Some other health benefits include helping with clear skin, good hair, and getting a good nights sleep. Just a side note here – we’re not doctors and are not making any recommendations here. Do your own research.
How do you Prepare Cascara Tea?
Simply use a french press as normal, or cafetiere if you talk fancy. start with a smaller dose and see how you feel, then work your way up if necessary. I’ve not experimented with brew times and water temperature, but I’m keen to do that and see how it affects the flavour extraction. Talking of flavours…
What Does Cascara Tea taste of?
First, it was surprisingly sweet, with a mixture of fruit flavours which left a very pleasant taste. I’m told you can add a second pot of hot water to the french press to make another cup, and the second cup will hold the flavour but with less sweetness.
Summary
I’m fascinated with trying out new coffee’s and teas, but this one has really grabbed my attention. My local amazon shop had 500g selling for just under £20, and then I noticed the shipping time of 2-3 months!!
I’ll be finding a good source and maybe write an update when I’ve experimented with different brewing techniques.
