Vincentian Mauby
The Quirky Foodster Team
Ingredients
- Dried mauby bark — 30 g (1 oz)
- Water — 1.5 L (6 cups)
- Cinnamon stick — 1
- Cloves — 2
- Anise seed — 1/2 tsp
- Sugar, or to taste — 200 g (1 cup)
Method
- Combine the mauby bark, water, cinnamon, cloves and anise seed in a saucepan.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let steep, covered, for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Strain through a fine sieve into a jug.
- Stir in the sugar until dissolved, adjusting to taste.
- Chill thoroughly before serving over ice.
Introduction: A bittersweet, spiced drink brewed from the bark of the mauby tree, a distinctly Caribbean refreshment.
Cultural Background: Mauby is made by boiling the bark of a native tree with sugar and warming spices, producing a uniquely bitter-sweet drink that many Vincentians grow up with and continue to enjoy throughout adulthood.
Tips: Mauby is naturally quite bitter — start with less bark if you prefer a milder brew and adjust in future batches. Let it steep the full time for the best balance of flavours.
Variations: Add a strip of orange peel while steeping for a citrus note; some households let mauby ferment lightly for a few days for a slightly fizzy version.
Storage: Store in a sealed bottle or jug in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Reheating: This drink is served cold and is not reheated.
Nutrition: Approx. 80 kcal, 0 g protein, 20 g carbohydrate, 0 g fat per 250 ml serving.
FAQs:
Q: Where can I find mauby bark?
A: It is sold dried in Caribbean grocers, sometimes as a bark or as a pre-made concentrate.
Q: What does mauby taste like?
A: A distinctive bittersweet flavour with warm spice notes, an acquired taste for some newcomers.
- Dried mauby bark — 30 g (1 oz)
- Water — 1.5 L (6 cups)
- Cinnamon stick — 1
- Cloves — 2
- Anise seed — 1/2 tsp
- Sugar, or to taste — 200 g (1 cup)
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