What is cascara? Coffee cherry tea explained
Cascara, also called coffee cherry tea, is an herbal tea brewed from the dried skin of the coffee fruit. It tastes fruity and naturally sweet, with about 25mg of caffeine per cup, roughly a quarter of coffee and close to green tea.
Every coffee bean grows inside a small red fruit called the coffee cherry. Roasters keep the seed, the bean, and most of the world throws the fruit away. Cascara is that fruit, dried and steeped into a tea. The name comes from the Spanish word for husk or skin.
What does cascara taste like?
Nothing like coffee. It is fruity and naturally sweet, with notes of tamarind, dried cherry, and dark fruit and a little tartness at the edge. There is no roast, so there is no bitterness, and no sugar is added.
How much caffeine is in cascara?
About 25mg per cup, roughly a quarter of a cup of coffee and close to green tea. Gentle enough to drink in the afternoon.
How to brew cascara
Hot. Steep about a tablespoon of loose leaf, or one sachet, in water just off the boil (around 200F) for 4 to 5 minutes, then strain.
Iced. Brew it hot and strong, then pour over ice.
Cold brew. Steep loose leaf in cold water in the fridge for 12 to 24 hours. This is the sweetest way to drink it.
Is cascara the same as cascara sagrada?
No. Coffee cherry cascara is the dried fruit of the coffee plant. Cascara sagrada (Rhamnus purshiana) is an unrelated plant bark sold as a laxative. They share the name cascara but are completely different.
Want to try it? Shop cascara coffee cherry tea, or read what cascara tastes like and how much caffeine it has.
Common questions about cascara
Can you drink cascara tea at night?
It contains caffeine, about 25mg per cup, so treat it like green tea. Most people can enjoy it in the afternoon. If you are sensitive to caffeine, avoid it close to bedtime.
How do you store cascara tea?
Keep it in an airtight container away from light, heat, and moisture. It is dried fruit, so a cool, dry place keeps its flavor best.
Can you reuse cascara?
Yes. You can steep the same cascara a second time for a lighter cup, or add more water to make a larger batch.
Is cascara tea safe to drink during pregnancy?
Coffee cherry cascara is a food that naturally contains caffeine, about 25mg per cup. If you are pregnant, nursing, or watching your caffeine, check with your healthcare provider about your total daily intake. Note this is coffee cherry tea, not cascara sagrada, a different plant.
Where does cascara come from?
Cascara is the dried fruit of the coffee cherry, so it comes from coffee-growing regions. It has a long history in Yemen, where it is brewed as qishr, and in Ethiopia.
How long does cascara last?
As dried fruit, cascara keeps well. For the best flavor, use it within about a year and store it airtight and dry.
Does cascara tea have sugar?
No sugar is added. Cascara is naturally sweet on its own.
Is cascara the same as qishr?
Qishr is a traditional Yemeni drink made from dried coffee husks, often spiced with ginger. So qishr is essentially a spiced cascara.
