Collection: Cascara

Cascara is still a completely mysterious name for many people. And that's a shame, because it really is a wonderful product that deserves attention, even though not so long ago it was considered just a production waste. Where does this product come from? What does it have to do with coffee? We'll explain.

What is Cascara?

Cascara is a word of Spanish origin, literally meaning "skin" or "husk". In this case, it refers to the husks and pulp of the coffee fruit, which remain after the coffee beans have been cleaned during processing. In some parts of the world, it was assumed that it was merely a by-product that could possibly be used as a natural fertilizer. It turns out, however, that cascara can be used to make an excellent drink full of flavor and health benefits. It has been drunk for centuries in Ethiopia and Yemen, and is now gaining popularity in other countries, even in Poland.

Taste qualities

The infusion prepared from dried coffee tree skin is difficult to clearly identify. Some wonder whether to consider it coffee or tea. Due to its origin, it should definitely be considered coffee, because it is made from coffee tree fruit. However, considering this issue in terms of taste and preparation method, one can come to the conclusion that the prepared infusion resembles the decoctions from dried fruit popular in our country. You will certainly feel a lot of fruit notes and a pleasant, delicate acidity in it. The most dominant aromas are usually apple, cranberry or raisin.

What properties does it have?

Since it is a derivative of the coffee plant, it is right to conclude that the drink contains caffeine. However, it is worth mentioning that there will be much less of it than in coffee. Therefore, it is a slightly stimulating drink and will not be as stimulating for the body as coffee itself. It should also be emphasized that drinking cascara infusion brings many benefits to the body. Firstly, it is a product rich in antioxidants, which remove excess free radicals that have a negative effect on the human body and contribute to the development of civilization diseases. In addition, the infusion supports the regeneration of the gastric and intestinal mucosa and supports the digestion process by activating the cells responsible for the secretion of digestive juices to work harder. This drink is therefore aromatic and tasty, and simply healthy.

Preparation and use of Cascara

Cascara infusion is quite easy to prepare. When you decide to buy dried fruit, you can do it in two ways, which we describe below. In addition to the dried fruit itself, our store also offers a ready-made concentrate made from coffee cherries, i.e. cascara. Its use is trivially simple and convenient - using a tap, just measure the right amount and add it to water or your favorite drink. The concentrate works great as an addition to drinks and cocktails, and you can also use it to sweeten tea or further enhance the flavor of your favorite coffee. There are really many possibilities, and you can prepare your favorite drink easily and quickly.

Brew

If you want to make a warming infusion from dried coffee cherries, prepare them and pour hot water over them, then leave for 5-8 minutes. The process itself is very similar to brewing tea - exactly the same way you extract the flavor from the dried fruit. You can also successfully use devices such as Aeropress or French press to prepare this drink. One portion of the dried fruit can be brewed even twice, although the second time you will of course get a more delicate and less sweet infusion. Depending on your preferences, you can add ginger, cinnamon or nutmeg to it. It is also possible to "brew" it cold, allowing you to obtain a refreshing variant, perfect for hot days - the so-called cold brew. In this case, just throw the dried fruit into a screw-top container, pour cold water over it and put it in the fridge, preferably for at least 12 hours.