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Dominica Mauby

The Quirky Foodster Team

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10 min
Prep
20 min
Cook
6
Servings

Ingredients

  • 50 g dried mauby bark
  • 2 l water
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 4 whole cloves
  • 1 strip orange peel
  • 150 g granulated sugar (to taste)

Method

  1. In a large pot, combine the mauby bark, water, cinnamon stick, cloves and orange peel.
  2. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes to extract the bark's flavour.
  3. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely, then strain through a fine sieve into a pitcher, discarding the solids.
  4. Stir in sugar to taste until dissolved; the drink should have a balanced bittersweet flavour.
  5. Refrigerate until well chilled and serve cold over ice.

Introduction: Mauby is a distinctively bittersweet drink made by boiling the bark of the mauby tree, then balancing its natural bitterness with sugar and warming spices.

Cultural Background: Mauby is a distinctively bittersweet drink made by boiling the bark of the mauby tree, then balancing its natural bitterness with sugar and warming spices. It is a traditional Dominican refreshment enjoyed year-round, especially in the heat of the dry season.

Tips: Some Dominican cooks encourage a light natural fermentation by leaving the strained mauby covered at room temperature for a few hours before chilling, which develops a slightly effervescent quality.

Variations: A few drops of vanilla or extra orange peel can round out the bitterness for those new to the flavour.

Storage: Refrigerate in a sealed pitcher for up to 5 days.

Reheating: This drink is served cold and is not reheated.

Nutrition: Calories: 80 kcal | Protein: 0 g | Carbs: 20 g | Fat: 0 g | Fibre: 0 g

FAQs

Q: Why does mauby taste bitter?
A: The bitterness comes naturally from the mauby bark itself, which is balanced but not eliminated by the added sugar and spices, giving the drink its signature bittersweet character.

Q: Can mauby be fermented at home?
A: A brief natural fermentation at room temperature is traditional in some households for a livelier, slightly fizzy version, though the drink is also enjoyable unfermented.

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