Cascara Colombia Finca Alcatraz

Cascara is a fascinating middle ground between the worlds of coffee and tea. These are the dried husks of coffee cherries, which, instead of a classic coffee flavor, offer pure fruity sweetness and a healthy dose of antioxidants. If you are looking for light refreshment with a gentle caffeine boost, the cascara from Alcatraz farm will delight you with its complexity and aromatics.

Cherries, oranges, and hibiscus tea in a single cup

Cascara from Alcatraz farm is beautifully light and refreshing. Its flavor profile most resembles fruit or hibiscus tea, but with a depth provided by its coffee origins.

• Flavor experience: Expect notes of ripe cherries, oranges, and dried apples.
• Caffeine and health: Cascara contains approximately half the caffeine of coffee and is literally packed with antioxidants. It is an ideal choice for all-day sipping.

Alcatraz Farm: Where cascara is fine-tuned like a premium blend

Wilfredo Vargas and his family in the Colombian region of Huila (which we personally visited at Rebelbean) take cascara deadly seriously. At Alcatraz farm, cascara is not waste, but the main product:

• Immediate drying: To ensure the husks retain their freshness and sweetness, they go to the drying beds immediately after the beans are removed.
• Master variety blend: Wilfredo carefully tunes the composition of the resulting lot by mixing different varieties to achieve the best possible flavor. This cascara is a unique blend of the Typica, Red Bourbon, Geisha, and Caturra varieties.

How to prepare cascara?

Preparation is simple and very similar to loose-leaf tea. Don't be afraid to experiment with the ratio and steeping time:

1. Dosage: Use 50 g of cascara for 1 liter of beverage.
2. Water: Pour over with hot water (approx. 93 °C, but it can also handle boiling water).
3. Time: Let it steep for up to 10 minutes, then strain.
4. Tip: On hot days, it tastes absolutely great chilled as Iced Cascara with a slice of orange.