Reap the many amazing benefits from drinking a chilled version of this traditional Jamaican bitter beverage. This Iced Cerasee Tea only requires 4 ingredients to make from scratch with minimal effort.
If you are from the Caribbean then you will probably know what this drink is and may know it by a different name.
On the other hand, if you aren't Caribbean then this herbal tea will confuse you.
Hopefully by the end of the post those of you who aren't from the Caribbean will become more familiar with cerasee.
I'm going to show you how to make a chilled version of this traditional Caribbean beverage using tea bags (or leaves if you can get hold of it).
Like most Caribbean children cerasee played a crucial role in my life.
In my household it was given to us to drink to "clean out our system" or "give us a "wash out" as my mother and grandmother would say.
As an adult I still like to keep up with many traditions such as drinking a cup of cerasee tea for optimal health even if it's just once in awhile.
What is cerasee ?
Cerasee (pronouced Sir-See) is a plant bearing orange and yellow bumpy fruit which grows in tropical climates - The Caribbean, Africa, Asia and the middle East.
In the Caribbean it's referred to by a few names depending on the Island including Corilla or Cersaille .
Other parts of the world know it as karela, Bitter Gourd, Bitter Melon, Paria or Ampalaya just to name afew.
The fruit is green (turning yellow with age) rough with a bumpy texture that at best resembles a cucumber.
In spite of its bitterness it is including in many international cuisines but in Jamaica the primary focus/use is the stem, seeds and leaves for its medicinal properties.
Ingredients you will need
- Cerasee: The fresh bush is far more potent but difficult to source outside of the Caribbean. Use tea bags if you cannot obtain the former.
- Water: Cold water is needed for boiling and steeping the teabags/bush.
- Ginger: Use a thumb sized piece of ginger to omit the bitterness
- Sweetener: agave, maple syrup, coconut sugar is optional and used to take off the bitter edge
- Ice Cubes: To make an extra cold beverage.
Is cerasee tea good for you
Yes it is, while any people loathe the extremely bitter taste (trust me I do understand). Having drank it for the vast majority of my life I have grown used to it.
I would advise drinking a small amount of cerasee to begin with, maybe ½ a cup and work your way up to a cup.
It does take some time especially if you hate anything that has a STRONG bitterness to it but the health benefits out weight the insipid taste.
How to make iced cerasee tea
- Pour cold water into a large saucepan and bring to the boil (if using leaves or ginger, boil both together). (picture 1)
- Once boiled, add the teabags and allow the teabags to steep in the water for 10-15 minutes (picture 2).
- Once the tea has brewed (should be a dark tanned colour) discard the teabags/leaves/ginger by straining or using a slotted spoon (picture 3).
- Allow to cool before pouring into a jug and sweeten if needed (to take the edge off, not the bitterness completely) (picture 4).
- Pour into glasses and serve with ice
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy cerasee tea?
You can purchase Jamaican Cerasee Tea online or from any Afro-Caribbean grocery store
Is there a way to eliminate the bitter taste?
You can try adding sweetener as suggested but the bitterness is soooooo potent that it cannot be omitted.
How many cups of cerasee can I drink a day?
1-2 cups is enough to reap the benefits.
Can I mix the cerasee with another tea?
I wouldn't advise this as it might be contradicted, just drink the cerasee by itself.
Notes and tips
- Make sure the water is boiled before adding the teabags
- Allow the tea to brew before removing the teabags. The longer the tea is left to brew the more bitter and stronger the taste will be.
- Sweetener will help to reduce the bitterness somewhat but it's recommended to drink it in its neat form.
- Cerasee is also spelt carassie it's the same thing!
More Caribbean drinks you may like
- Jamaican Sexy Juice
- Mauby Drink
- Aloe Vera Juice
- Akasan (Haitian Cornmeal Drink)
- Jamaican Hot Chocolate
- Sea Moss Drink (Jamaican Irish Moss)
- Tamarind Juice
- Jamaican Ginger Beer
- Sousop Punch
- Guinep Punch (Spanish Lime)
- Jamaican Carrot Juice
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Iced Cerasee Tea
Ingredients
- 4 cerasee teabags or a bunch of leaves if you can get hold of them
- 8 cups of water 1 litre + ½ ltr
- a thumb sized amount of ginger optional
- Low GI sweetener coconut sugar, nectar, agave, raw maple syrup(optional)
Instructions
- Pour cold water into a large saucepan and bring to the boil (if using leaves or ginger, boil both together).
- Once boiled, add the teabags and allow the teabags to steep in the water for 10-15 minutes.
- Once the tea has brewed (should be a dark tanned colour) discard the teabags/leaves/ginger by straining or using a slotted spoon.
- Allow to cool before pouring into a jug and sweeten if needed (to take the edge off, not the bitterness completely)
- Pour into glasses and serve with ice
Notes
- Make sure the water is boiled before adding the teabags
- Allow the tea to brew before removing the teabags. The longer the tea is left to brew the more bitter and stronger the taste will be.
- Sweetener will help to reduce the bitterness somewhat but it's recommended to drink it in it's neat form.
- Cerasee is also spelt carassie it's the same thing!
Meesh says
Hello, I have read that cerasse shouldn't be consumed more than 9 days in a row, but my Jamaican grandmother used to drink it every night. Is this ok? Also, I have read that it can make you lose a baby, but also that Babies are born beautiful when the mother drinks...what are your thoughts?
Charla says
I grew up drinking it often but I don't think there was much information as there is now. It appears that more research has been conducted in respect to cerasse so it's best to follow these guidelines.