Cascara –
Costa Rica - Finca Santa Lucia
Produced in a
dedicated facility, this Costa Rican Cascara is Certified Organic, European Organic,
USDA-NOP and JAS.
The flavours found in Cascara are as expected, “fruity tasting”. Notes include cherry, raspberry, raisin,
orange, honey and hibiscus. If you need a Tea reference, it is comparable
to a green tea or herbal tea mouthfeel and aftertaste.
Cascara, (Spanish for ‘shell or husk’) is the dried skin of coffee cherries. Often referred to as Coffee Cherry Tea,
Cascara is neither Tea nor Coffee if we are being literal. Coffee is made from the dried
stones/pits/beans of the coffee cherry, tea is made from the leaves of Camellia
Sinensis Plant. Technically, Cascara
could be called Herbal Tea, a Tisane, or a fruit infusion. Whatever you chose
to call it, Cascara is definitely worth adding to your Coffee lifestyle.
Once the
coffee beans are removed and the cherries pulped, the producer is left with the
cherry skins (that would have been used as compost or discarded). Cascara is produced by washing the Cherry Skins,
heating them for food safety and then dehydrating them. Cascara can be used to create magnificent hot
or cold infused beverages/cocktails or on its own as a refreshing cup of
“Coffee Cherry Tea”.
Why is Dark
City Coffee carrying Cascara if it’s not Coffee?
There are several reasons we have chosen to add Cascara to our offerings.
- We firmly believe in livable wages for people at every stage of Coffee Production.
Cascara offers farmers, processors, distributors and retailers another
potential product/income stream.
- Cascara allows more of the coffee plant to be used, reducing waste and
increasing the profitability of the crop.
- There may be digestive and antioxidant benefits from consuming brewed/steeped
Cascara.
- It has caffeine, lower concentrations than coffee, but it’s there.
- It tastes great hot or cold and we drink it ourselves!
Brewing
Suggestions:
Hot
Cascara
-
Boil
your water and bring it off the heat (between 93-95 °C).
-
Start
with approximately 18g of cascara to 250g of water and adjust to
your taste.
-
Place
the Cascara (whole or crushed) in a reusable (or biodegradable) tea bag.
-
Steep
for 2-4 minutes depending on taste preference
-
Remove
the teabag and enjoy.
Cold
Cascara
-
Add
35g of Cascara for each 250g of water to any container with lid
(we recommend a French Press).
-
Place
the container in the fridge overnight (or up to 24 hours if you have the
patience).
-
Pour the “Tea” through a
strainer, plunge the French Press, or leave the pulp in the drink for
appearance, and serve over ice.
