Coffee Cherry Tea

Coffee cherry tea is a herbal tea made from the dried skins of the coffee fruit. Often it is more than the skins that are used, and include the dried berries (or "cherries") of the coffee plant that remain after the coffee beans have been collected from within. It is also known as cascara, from the Spanish '' cáscara'', meaning " husk". It is different from cáscara sagrada tea, a powerful plant-based laxative derived from ''Rhamnus purshiana'', which is native to the Pacific Northwest.

Coffee cherry tea is a common drink in some coffee-growing nations, notably Bolivia, as well as in Yemen (where it is called ''qishr'') and Somalia (where it is called ''bun''). Outside of these traditional uses, the coffee fruit is usually considered a wasted byproduct of the coffee-production process. However, increasing demand for cáscara from large U.S.-based coffee chains has, in some cases, led to the dried husks fetching higher prices than the coffee beans.

It is commonly consumed in Bolivia, where it is referred to as ''sultana'', and is made of sun-dried and lightly toasted coffee cherries. It may also be mixed with sticks of cinnamon. It is also called "the poor man's coffee", and "the coffee of the Army". It is believed that cáscara tea was consumed in Yemen even before the form of coffee we know today.

Coffee cherries contain caffeine, as does the tea, though while the tea is popularly understood to have a high level of caffeine, it actually only has about a quarter the caffeine levels of coffee. Cascara is known to be high in antioxidants. The taste of coffee cherry tea is different from coffee, and has been described as somewhat sweet and cherry flavored, surprisingly pleasant.

Brewing

Brewing guidelines are not standardized, but 20 grams per liter of water, or approximately 5 grams per cup (8 oz, 240 ml) is suggested. When the coffee cherry tea is ground and classified to loose tea industry standard size, one teaspoon per 6 ounces of water, steeped for 5 minutes are the standard brewing instructions.

Proper brewing yields a dark red tea; brew time guidelines range from 4 minutes to 7 or 8 minutes.

Health Benefits

A study published in the Cambridge University Press showed evidence that extracts derived from coffee fruit increase BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) in healthy subjects, likely due to its high polyphenol content, thought this was a small study involving 25 subjects and the authors note larger clinical studies are needed. A systemic research review demonstrated that polyphenol consumption may increase cognition both acutely and chronically, though comparisons between studies are hampered by methodological inconsistencies.

As noted above, coffee fruit contains caffeine. Caffeine has possible neuro-protective properties, including a possible prevention or reduction in rate of progression of dementia.

Availability

Starbucks Coffee and Blue Bottle Coffee have both featured cascara-based drinks on their seasonal menus, including a "cascara latte" and a "cascara fizz", respectively. In October 2019, Dashfire Bitters of Minnesota released a ready-to-drink Manhattan cocktail using fig and cascara.
All Bai Brands beverages contain a small amount of coffee fruit extract.

See also

* Coffee-leaf tea
* Qishr, a Yemeni drink using coffee husks

References

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External links

What is Cascara?
Ciummo Brenna, May 20, 2014, ''Fresh Cup'' magazine.

Coffee Extraction

Coffee derivatives
Herbal tea