What To Know About Cascara, The Coffee Drink That's More Like Tea

Learn about its health benefits, where to find it and how to prepare it.

If recent caffeine-related trends are of any indication (Proffee! Japanese iced coffee! Caffeinated gummy bears!), one thing is certain: Americans love their caffeine any which way they can get it—which is why we’re excited to introduce you to a slightly different form of java called coffee cherry tea. Also known as cascara, which means “husk” in Spanish, the product is made from the dried skins of the coffee fruit and it is predominantly consumed in coffee-growing nations like Bolivia, Ethiopia and Yemen, among others. The concoction has, however, garnered a following throughout the United States in the past few years, as destinations like Starbucks, Blue Bottle Coffee and Shake Shack have all introduced seasonal cascara-based drinks on their menus at one point in time.