:QUOTE [quotetype:personal] Cascara is what coffee farmers drink. It is what the cherry becomes when you pay attention to the whole fruit. :INFO What Cascara Is Cascara is made from the dried husks of coffee cherries — the fruit that surrounds the coffee bean. After the bean is removed during coffee processing, the husks are traditionally dried and brewed as a beverage in Yemen (where it is called qishr) and Bolivia. The flavor is fruity and tangy — tamarind, hibiscus, rose hip, and dried cherry — with mild caffeine. It is not coffee. :COUNTER.half 4 Tablespoons | :COUNTER.half 150 to 165 F :PATH Measure and Steep Use 4 tablespoons per 8 oz of water at 150 to 165 F and steep 4 minutes. | :INFO Measure and Steep Add 4 tablespoons of dried cascara husks to a French press, teapot, or heat-proof pitcher. Pour water heated to 150 to 165°F over the husks — do not use boiling water, which extracts harsh bitter notes. Steep for 4 minutes. This ratio is stronger than most cascara guides recommend — adjust down if the flavor is too intense. :PATH Strain and Taste Pour through a fine strainer and taste before adding anything. | :INFO Strain and Taste Strain through a fine mesh strainer or French press plunger into a cup. Taste it plain first. Quality cascara tastes of tamarind, dried cherry, hibiscus, and a subtle earthiness. Sweetener is optional — a teaspoon of honey or sugar rounds the acidity. Serve hot or pour over ice for cold brew cascara. :CHECKLIST What You Need [ ] Dried cascara husks (coffee cherry tea) from a specialty roaster [ ] Kettle with temperature control — or thermometer [ ] French press, teapot, or heatproof pitcher [ ] Fine mesh strainer :NOTE Source Matters Enormously Cascara quality varies widely. Buy from specialty coffee roasters who source their cascara as intentionally as their beans — some sell leftover processing husks of poor quality. Good cascara smells intensely fruity and slightly floral when dry. Stale cascara smells flat and woody. :QUOTE [quotetype:personal] Once you taste good cascara you understand why coffee farmers kept it for themselves. :LINK https://www.perfectdailygrind.com/2017/07/understanding-cascara/ Perfect Daily Grind — Understanding Cascara: The Coffee Cherry Tea