What is Cascara
Tea or coffee? Well, this is coffee brewed as a tea!
Cascara means “husk” in Spanish, but the history of this beverage goes back centuries to Ethiopia, where it is called “Qishr”. Coffee is a fleshy cherry-like fruit that grows in countries between the tropic of Cancer and the tropic of Capricorn. The coffee beans that we know are the roasted seeds from these cherries. In order to obtain the seeds, the flesh of the fruit must be removed. When a coffee is processed with care, the flesh can be dried and then brewed as a tea.
Benefits
Cascara contains less caffeine than coffee, which makes it a perfect choice when looking for an enjoyable drink with a small kick.
Cascara also contains many antioxidants. It has been reported that cascara may contain up to 50% more antioxidants than what is found in cranberries. Antioxidants are a key component to maintain a healthy and happy life. The antioxidants found in the cascara are fundamental for gut health, weight loss and treating neurodegenerative, and cardiovascular diseases.
Cascara is also environmentally friendly as it uses the waste that comes from processing coffee. It also provides additional income for coffee farmers.
About the farm
The Cascara San Adolfo is produced in Huila, Colombia. Cherries from this cascara are picked following a strict ripeness criteria and hand sorted at each farm. The cherries are then transported to Garzon, Huila where the coffee is processed as a Natural, and dried with precision. Cherries are exposed to a heat below 40 degrees celcius, and dried on raised beds for 15 days. We love this as a French Press, and hope you too. Happy brewing!
