Innovation has provided humanity with a wide range of technology, advances in science, and even unique coffee drinks. When it comes to innovation, the cascara latte is no exception – especially when you delve further into how it came about.
In short, the cascara latte is crafted utilizing the byproducts of the coffee industry, more specifically, the coffee cherry husk. Typically, this part of the cherry is discarded once the coffee beans have been harvested, never to be seen again.
Citizens of Ethiopia, however, took to saving the cascara for teas, and more. Cascara, which translates to husk in Spanish, may be used to produce a type of coffee or tea. When brewed, a fresh mug of dried and powdered cascara produces a drink with a moderate caffeine level, at an affordable cost. When it wasn’t being used as a form of fertilizer, cascara held a slew of benefits that were just waiting to be discovered. You can take advantage of these benefits for yourself, by simply brewing up a mug of cascara at home in the form of a cascara latte.
In this article, we will go through a quick and simple recipe for making Cascara at home. This will also include the top 5 Cascara Drink Variations that you can try. So, let’s get started!
Bringing Cascara Home
Offering more of a fruity flavor rather than bitterness, cascara differs from coffee right off the bat. Depending on where the coffee was originally grown and the type of soil, the cascara may provide hints of anything ranging from tobacco to mango, rose hips, or even cherries. If cascara is of particular interest to you, as it is to many coffee enthusiasts, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn you may order it online.
The biggest issue surrounding the purchase of cascara is the importation process. It isn’t strictly an illegal food; however, the laws are a bit uncertain considering the fact that it is a “novel” food item. Make sure to research the laws surrounding shipping cascara into your place of residence (such as federal, state, and local laws).
How to Make a Cascara Latte of Your Own?
Chances are, if you are more interested in trying a mug of cascara without investing in a batch, you can enjoy it at your local coffee shop. For those of you who appreciate the process of crafting your own brew, there are several ways to get it done.
The most common method is to create a simple cascara syrup by boiling a predetermined amount of cascara in filtered water. Once the cascara has been boiled and allowed to simmer for five minutes, it’s time to strain the contents and whip up a drink. If you prefer sweetened drinks, you will want to add some type of sugar while the syrup is still warm enough to dissolve any. Many people utilize this cascara syrup as an alternative to pancake syrup and more.
Crafting Cascara Syrup
Here, we are going to begin by making a batch of simple cascara syrup, as mentioned above. Begin by gathering up the following ingredients and adhering to some simple directions. Once this task is completed, you will be able to utilize cascara syrup for a number of dishes and drinks the whole family will love.
- 1 cup Filtered Water
- ½ cup Cascara
- 1 cup Sweetener
Start off by adding your ingredients to a saucepan and slowly bring it to a steady boil. It’s important to bring it to a boil slowly in order to avoid burning or damaging any of the other components. Once the sugar has completely dissolved, you may remove the pan from direct heat and give it a bit of time to cool. At this point, you should strain the cascara bits out of the contents. This will leave you with a type of cascara concentrate, which will better enable you to craft a latte.
Putting Cascara Syrup to Use
- 1/3 cup Hot Espresso
- ½ cup Milk or Milk Alternative
Once you have prepared your espresso, drizzle cascara syrup over the top and finish with frothed milk or milk alternative. Frothing can be done through the use of an electric frother or with a jar and a microwave. Once the foam begins to form, top it over your espresso and enjoy.
Top 5 Cascara Drink Variations
If you are looking for additional ways to enjoy a cascara latte, you won’t be short on options. If you have had enough of a hot latte, simply try one of the following variations. These variations require very little effort to create a spin on such a unique drink. With ice, a blender, or even more in-depth tools, you will be well on your way to becoming a cascara brewing master. A few simple variations include:
- Frozen Cascara Latte
- Iced Cascara Latte
- Cascara Dalgona
- Hot Cascara Tea
- Iced Cascara Tea
Cascara tea is also very simple to prepare. Simply bring 1 cup of filtered water to a boil and add 1 teaspoon of cascara bits. Once it has brewed for some time, between 4 to 5 minutes, pour it through a strainer. Add sweetener to taste, and enjoy.
Final Thoughts
It is interesting to learn how other countries have taken advantage of such an easily recyclable material and utilized it to create a whole new world of drink and food possibilities – for everyone to enjoy. And while cascara has served a great purpose as fertilizer for the next batch of coffee beans, it also provides us, coffee lovers, with a delightful cup of coffee or tea.
Next time you are looking for a unique morning drink, consider ordering a bag of cascara to brew up before work or after a long day at the office. If you don’t have time, simply ask your local coffee shop if they can make a cascara latte for you. Before long, you will be a master at whipping up a batch of cascara lattes you will want to make for yourself, as well as your loved ones.