Learn how to make traditional Mauby, a refreshing bittersweet Caribbean beverage with an acquired taste made from tree bark and a medley of spices.
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If you are looking for a drink that's unique in its taste then this one is what you need in your life. Bittersweet is the most appropriate word to describe it yet truly refreshing.
What is mauby?
In short, mauby is a drink which origins lie within the Caribbean shores. This beverage is made from the bark of the Colubrina genus tree.
The Colubrina genus tree is small in size and native to the Caribbean islands.
In the Spanish and French speaking islands it is called Mavi or mabi. However, the Virgin Islands and Dutch Caribbean call it Maubi. The pronunciation is very similar only the spelling tends to differ.
Back in the day, mauby was a drink that was fermented and sold by vendors. These vendors would walk around towns and villages selling their drink via buckets.
Nowadays, mauby is readily available in bottled syrup form where you simply add water. There is even a fizzy carbonated version too.
In its bitter state, mauby is also good for your overall health and well being. Many people consume bitter mauby for its health benefits and to ease ailments.
The taste of mauby
As mentioned before, it has a bittersweet taste. Ask anyone who knows about this drink and they will describe it the exact same way.
When you first taste it, you are immediately hit by the sweetness then left with a strong bitterness to the point where you don't know whether to spit it out or swallow it.
I first tried this mauby drink recipe in Barbados some years ago.. When I first tasted it I didn't like it (I tried the syrup/fizzy version).
It wasn't until I tried some local, homemade mauby that I loved it and couldn't get enough of it. Its bitterness is very similar to cerasee only, mauby seems to be more diverse.
Ingredients you will need
- Mauby bark - In order to make this drink you will need mauby bark (as pictured) and there is no substitute for this.
- Water - You will need water to make the mauby concentrate and to also make single glasses or a pitcher worth of drink.
- Aniseed - Needed for that strong liquorice taste.
- Orange peel - Fresh or dried to counterbalance the flavours.
- Cloves/cinnamon - For warmth
- Sweetener - I'm using maple syrup, but any sweetener will work!
How to make mauby at home
In order to make the actual drink, first of all the bark needs to be boiled. This is typically done with spices (cinnamon sticks, aniseed/star anise, cloves, nutmeg) and dried orange peel.
This boiling process results in a very bitter, yet spice infused liquid.
The boiled liquid is often referred to a "concentrated mauby " because of its high potency and strength. Once the concentrated mauby is made it is left to steep for a minimum of several hours or even days.
The concentrated mauby is strained off and due to it's extreme bitterness is diluted with water and sweetened with sugar to taste.
The steps
- Place the mauby bark, cinnamon sticks, aniseed, cloves, orange peel and water in a large saucepan.
- Bring the pot to a boil then simmer on medium-low heat for 15 minutes.
- Remove the saucepan from the stove, cover and leave to steep overnight.
- The next day strain off the concentrated mauby into a bottle/mason jar.
- To make the actual drink pour 1 cup of concentrated mauby into another jug/pitcher, pour some water into the jug (start with 8 cups and adjust, adding more water if needed. At the same time sweeten until you strike a balance in taste that works for you.
Frequently asked questions
Mauby bark is available to buy online, it's much easier to obtain stateside then it is in the UK.
In the UK you can find mauby bark more accesible online
If you want to make your mauby into a tonic. Follow the first steps on making the mauby, however use 6 cups of water.
Once the mauby has boiled and been left to steep overnight, pour it into a bottle and drink a ½ cup unsweetened (this will be extremely bitter but good for overall well-being
No, although both share the same bitterness. Cerasse and mauby are not the same. Mauby is made using the bark of the tree.
On the other hand, cerasee is made from the leaves and the vines.
No there isn't a direct substitute for mauby bark
You want a sweetener that has a low GI (glycemic index) so it doesn't release quickly into the blood stream causing a crash and burn effort.
I would recommend unrefined maple syrup, coconut sugar or agave nectar.
YES! Do not throw away your mauby bark. You can either blot it dry and dehydrate it for 3 hours @ 70c/158c or leave it to dry out in the open air then store in an airtight bag.
Yes, drink mauby any time of the year.
Notes and tips
- To make a single glass of mauby use ¼ cup of the concentrate and add 2 cups of water or more and sweeten to taste.
- There is no direct substitute for the mauby bark. If you are unable to source it then I'm afraid you won't be able to make the recipe (sorry).
- However concentrated the overall drink is will be up to you. The more water you use the weaker the mauby and the less bitter it will be and vice versa.
- Spices vary according to each island, some like to include bay leaves, angostura bitters, mixed/vanilla essence or bay leaves.
- Once the concentrate is made, you will need to determine how much water/sweetener you will need to meet your tastebuds.
- If you want your mauby unsweetened/bitter simply omit the use of sweetener. You may even want to add more water when making the concentrate and serve it as a tonic.
- Keep the mauby (both drink and concentrate refrigerated) both should last for several days.
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Homemade Mauby Drink (Caribbean Bark Beverage)
Ingredients
- 3 oz mauby bark 85g (about 1 cup worth)
- 8 cups water you may want to use more (1.8litres)
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 6 cloves
- 1 tablespoon aniseed or 3 star anise (15g)
- orange peel dried
To make mauby drink
- maple syrup to taste can agave nectar or another low GI sweetener
- additional water see instructions
Instructions
To make the mauby concentrate
- Place the mauby bark, cinnamon sticks, aniseed, cloves, orange peel and water in a large saucepan.
- Bring the pot to a boil then simmer on medium-low heat for 15 minutes.
- Remove the saucepan from the stove, cover and leave to steep overnight.
To make a pitch/jug of mauby
- The next day strain off the concentrated mauby into a bottle/mason jar.
- To make a drink of mauby pour 1 cup of concentrated mauby into another jug, pour some water into the jug (start with 8 cups and adjust, adding more water if needed. At the same time sweeten until you strike a balance in taste that works for you.
To make a single glass of mauby
- Add ¼ cup of mauby in a glass.
- Pour 2 cups or more, sweeten to taste (add more water if needed).
Video
Notes
- To make a single glass of mauby use ¼ cup of the concentrate and add 2 cups of water or more and sweeten to taste.
- There is no direct substitute for the mauby bark. If you are unable to source it then I'm afraid you won't be able to make the recipe (sorry).
- However concentrated the overall drink is will be up to you. The more water you use the weaker the mauby and the less bitter it will be and vice versa.
- Spices vary according to each island, some like to include bay leaves, angostura bitters, mixed/vanilla essence or bay leaves.
- Once the concentrate is made, you will need to determine how much water/sweetener you will need to meet your tastebuds.
- If you want your mauby unsweetened/bitter simply omit the use of sweetener. You may even want to add more water when making the concentrate and serve it as a tonic.
- Keep the mauby (both drink and concentrate refrigerated) both should last for several days.
EllenHodges says
HI CHARLA This drink is not so common in Jamaica I never heard of it my mother never did have it made for us children but thanks does that mauby on AMAZON
Charla says
Yes, you can get the sticks on Amazon.
Yolie says
Goodm thks for inf
My question no ginger in the mauby?
Charla says
No I don't include ginger in my version of mauby.
YOLIE says
hi goodevening i'm missing when i made my Mauby it has a very good taste but less frot
what is my mistake
thank you
Charla says
Hi there, sounds like you made no mistakes. It shouldn't have a lot of froth.