Did you know that tea can be made from a coffee plant? You heard it right. Roastery Coffee House in Banjara Hills has introduced Cascara — coffee cherry tea made from the dried skins of the coffee fruit — one of the only outlets to serve this drink in the country. Cascara usually refers to the outer skin of the coffee fruit that is usually discarded or used as manure. While new to India, it is no stranger to Ethiopia, Yemen and Bolivia as Qishr and Sultana.
During one of our visits to the cafe, we take a few sips of Cascara. The brewed drink is earthy red in colour and has a tangy undertone with an aftertaste of coffee. High in antioxidants, potassium and minerals, it is healthy to the point of it being referred to as the next superfood. If boiled in water, it gives you the mellow flavours of tea.
Talking about the versatility of Cascara (meaning husk in Spanish), owner of Roastery Coffee House, Nishant Sinha explains, “Cascara is neither coffee nor tea, it is a commodity. Based on brewing techniques, it can be served as tea, hot or cold coffee. It is also used to make syrups and wine among many others.” The café sources their cascara from the high-elevated, organic farms in Chikmagalur, Karnataka. After the extraction of the cherry, it is washed in purified water and sun-dried for six days. It can be brewed like normal coffee in a French press or American press and even as a cold brew when soaked overnight. Our favourite is the cold brew with apple cider, sure to relax and refresh you on a hot summer afternoon.
That apart, the popular coffee shop has also introduced Giesen — a new roasting machine from the Netherlands. Working on a double drum, it avoids the direct contact of the beans with heat, we’re informed by Nishant. “If you rated coffee from the Roastery as six out of ten, with this machine, it would easily be a nine or ten. It extracts more from the coffee, making it smooth, light with a non-smoky flavour,” he explains.
Priced at Rs 120 onwards.