Cascara Tea Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits

Cascara tea—also called coffee cherry tea—has become popular in coffee shops around the country. The word "cascara" means husk or skin in Spanish. Cascara tea is an herbal beverage made from the dried husk of the coffee fruit.

Cascara tea (coffee cherry tea or brewed coffee fruit) is not made from cascara sagrada (Rhamnus purshiana). Cascara sagrada is sold as a dietary supplement, but is also sometimes consumed as a tea. While coffee cherry tea can be a delicious and healthful beverage, cascara sagrada and cascara sagrada tea may not be safe for all people to consume.

Cascara Tea Nutrition Facts

The recommended serving size of cascara tea is 1.5 cups, or 355mL. The following nutrition information is provided by the USDA for one serving of brewed coffeefruit (cascara) by the Nomad Trading Co.

Carbs

There are approximately 7.5 grams of carbohydrates in a brewed cup of cascara tea (coffee fruit).

Fats

Cascara tea contains no fat.

Protein

Cascara tea is also not a viable source of protein.

Vitamins and Minerals

The brewed coffee fruit, or cascara tea, provides limited amounts of calcium and potassium. A 1.5-cup serving of the beverage will pack in 36mg calcium (about 3% of your daily recommended value) and 401mg of potassium (about 11% of your daily recommended value).

Calories

Depending on the variety you purchase at the grocery store or coffee shop, cascara tea has approximately 39 calories in a 1.5-cup serving (in the Nomad Trading Co. variety). A different brand—Caskai—offers a sparkling cascara beverage that has 41 calories in a 275mL (approximately 1 cup) serving.

Health Benefits

What Is Cascara Tea?

As a consumer, it is important to fully understand the difference between cascara tea and cascara sagrada that is often sold as a supplement or as a tea.

Coffee Cherry Tea

The cascara tea that you consume at your local tea or coffee shop is technically not a tea. Tea comes from leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Cascara, on the other hand, comes from the discarded skins of the fruit from a coffee plant, these are called coffee cherries, or coffee fruit.

Coffee cherries are harvested for their beans which are then roasted and sold to make coffee. The pulpy skins remain and can be discarded, composted, or used as fertilizer. But in some areas of the world, the skins are dried and used to make a tisane or herbal tea.

Cascara lattes and cascara teas are known to have a fruity, sweet, raisin-like taste. Some also describe the flavor as reminiscent of hibiscus, cider, peach, cinnamon, or orange zest. Where the fruit is grown and how it is harvested and processed can play a role in how it tastes.

When you order the beverage at your local coffee or tea shop, it might be called cascara tea, cascara coffee or coffee cherry tea.

Cascara Sagrada

Cascara sagrada is the dried bark of a tree that grows in North America, usually on the Pacific coast, and in areas including Costa Rica and El Salvador. The product also goes by other names including buckthorn, California buckthorn, or sagrada bark. The dried bark is sometimes used as a flavoring agent and is also used to make medicine and dietary supplements. Cascara sagrada is known to have a laxative effect and is also sometimes consumed as a tea.

According to the National Institutes of Health, Cascara sagrada used to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an over-the-counter treatment for constipation. However, in 2002 concerns about the product led the agency to request that companies selling the product submit evidence that the medication was safe and effective. When companies didn't comply with the request, the FDA published a statement ruling that the medications are no longer generally recognized as safe and effective.

Today, you can buy cascara sagrada as a dietary supplement because supplements don't need to meet the same standards that the FDA applies to over the counter medications or drugs.

Unfortunately, cascara tea (coffee cherry tea) and cascara tea made from cascara sagrada share the same name. So how do you know which product you are buying when you buy cascara tea?

How to Prepare

You can make coffee cherry tea as a hot or cold beverage. Some people also used cascara to make simple syrup as a base for hot or cold beverages or alcoholic drinks.

Making Hot Cascara Tea

• Place a half an ounce (about 3 tablespoons) of loose dried coffee cherry in a tea strainer. You can also place loose cascara at the bottom of a cup.
• Pour 8–10 ounces of hot water over the infuser or tea leaves.
• Let the coffee cherries steep for five to seven minutes.
• Remove the infuser or strain loose cascara before drinking.

Making Cold Cascara Tea

There are two different ways to brew cold cascara tea. You can either brew it hot using slightly more coffee cherries and a longer steep time. Then let the tea cool, add ice and enjoy. You can also place about 6 tablespoons of dried coffee cherries in 12 ounces of cold water and allow it to steep overnight (about 12-16 hours).

Caffeine Content

Like coffee beans, coffee cherry tea contains caffeine. However, it is reported to contain less caffeine than traditionally brewed coffee. According to one report, even with a longer brew, a cup of hot cascara contains a quarter or less of the caffeine in a cup of black coffee.

Cascara sagrada is not known to contain caffeine.

Health Benefits

Cascara (coffee cherry) and cascara sagrada provide potential health benefits that are very different.

Coffee Cherry Tea

Coffee cherry tea contains antioxidants, specifically polyphenols. In fact, some manufacturers claim that cascara contains 50% more antioxidants than cranberries, but independent nutritional data for the tea is lacking so it is hard to document the specific amount. 

Cascara Sagrada

Cascara sagrada may also provide benefits in the treatment of constipation.  There is also some limited evidence supporting its use for bowel prep prior to colonoscopy. However, the research remains limited and not enough evidence has been provided to change the FDA's ruling regarding its safety or effectiveness.

Lastly, some people use cascara sagrada as an herbal weight loss aid, specifically as a laxative to stimulate bowel activity. However, health experts advise caution when using the product for this benefit.

Side Effects

Side effects for the two products also differ substantially.

Coffee Cherry Tea

Coffee cherry tea is known to contain caffeine. Consuming any beverage with caffeine may produce side effects in some people including an increased heartbeat (tachycardia), palpitations, restlessness, nervousness, problems with sleep, or a headache. Some people may even experience more severe symptoms. However, because the amount of caffeine in coffee cherry tea is lower than in a standard cup of coffee, it is unlikely to produce these side effects.

Cascara Sagrada

Side effects related to the use of cascara sagrada have been widely documented. Some studies suggest that chronic use can lead to cramps or electrolyte balance.  Other studies have suggested that medicinal herbs are not safe for those with kidney problems or renal failure.

Health experts advise that cascara sagrada may be unsafe when used for longer than one or two weeks. Long-term use can cause more serious side effects even including heart problems, muscle weakness and other health issues.