What It Tastes Like
Cascara (kas-KAHR-rah) tea is a light drink with a gentle fruit-like flavor made from the outer fruit of the coffee plant rather than the roasted coffee bean itself. The flavor is naturally sweet with a clean, refreshing finish.
Despite coming from the coffee plant, cascara does not taste like coffee. And although the fruit is often called a coffee cherry (the fruit surrounding the coffee bean), it doesn’t taste like sweet cherries. Instead, it tastes more like a mild herbal tea with soft dried-fruit notes. Many people notice flavors similar to dried fruit such as raisins or dates, with a gentle tang similar to some fruit teas.
The color of cascara can vary depending on how it’s brewed. Some cups appear warm amber, while others lean toward a clear ruby red. Longer steeping usually produces a deeper red color, while shorter brewing keeps the drink lighter and golden.
Cascara sits between tea and coffee — brewed like tea but coming from the coffee plant.
💡 Behind the Cup
Coffee grows inside a small fruit known as a coffee cherry. During coffee processing, the fruit is usually removed so the inner seed can be roasted into coffee.
Cascara, meaning “husk” or “peel” in Spanish, refers to the dried skins of that fruit. Brewing these dried skins creates a tea-like drink that has been enjoyed for generations in coffee-growing regions such as Yemen and Ethiopia.
Because cascara uses a part of the coffee plant that is often discarded, it is sometimes described as an upcycled coffee product — making use of the whole fruit rather than only the bean.
Some specialty cafés also use cascara as the base for sparkling drinks or cascara sodas, highlighting its naturally bright, fruit-like character.
Cascara contains caffeine, usually less than coffee but more than most herbal teas.
How to Order
Simple version:
"Can I get a cascara tea?"
Some cafés may list it simply as “cascara,” while others describe it as a coffee-fruit tea.
With customization:
- "Iced cascara, please"
- "Cascara tea, no sweetener"
- "Hot cascara with lemon"
Availability varies, since not all cafés carry cascara.
Customize It
Temperature
Cascara works well both hot and iced. Iced versions often taste brighter and more refreshing.
Sweetness
Many people drink cascara plain because it already has a gentle natural sweetness.
Brewing Strength
Longer steeping creates a deeper fruit flavor, while shorter steeping keeps the drink lighter.
☕ Café Language
Cascara
The dried skins, or husks, of the coffee fruit. Although it comes from the coffee plant, cascara is steeped like tea and tastes closer to dried fruit than roasted coffee.
Coffee Cherry
The small fruit that grows on coffee trees. The coffee “bean” is actually the seed inside this fruit, while cascara is made from the dried outer skin.
Steeping (or Infusing)
Letting ingredients sit in hot or cold water to slowly release flavor, similar to preparing tea.
Upcycled
A term used when a part of a food that might normally be discarded is turned into something usable. Cascara makes use of the coffee fruit that is often removed during coffee processing.
Tisane (tih-ZANN)
A brewed drink made from fruit, herbs, or flowers rather than traditional tea leaves. Cascara is technically a fruit tisane.
Common Confusion
"Is cascara coffee or tea?"
It comes from the coffee plant but is brewed like tea, so it sits between the two.
"Does cascara have caffeine?"
Yes. It usually contains less caffeine than coffee but more than a typical herbal tea.
"Why don’t more cafés serve it?"
Cascara depends on coffee harvesting and processing, so availability can vary by region and supplier.
📌 Good to Know
How much caffeine is in cascara?
Cascara contains caffeine, but much less than coffee.
An 8 oz (240 ml) serving of cascara tea typically contains about 20–35 mg of caffeine. The exact amount can vary depending on the coffee variety, growing conditions, and how much cascara is used when brewing.
For comparison:
| Beverage (8 oz / 240 ml) | Typical Caffeine |
|---|---|
| Coffee | ~95 mg |
| Black tea | ~30–60 mg |
| Cascara | ~20–35 mg |
| Herbal tea | 0 mg |
Because cascara is made from dried coffee fruit rather than a standardized ingredient, caffeine levels can vary slightly from cup to cup. Brewing a stronger infusion (using more cascara) will also increase the caffeine.
This makes cascara a middle-ground drink for people who want some caffeine without the stronger effect of coffee.
Try Next
If you’re curious about other coffee drinks with a lighter profile, try cold brew for a smooth, low-acidity coffee, or explore yerba mate for another traditional brewed drink with natural caffeine.