Mauby

Name: Mauby
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Guyanese
Ingredients: 50g mauby bark; 2 liters water; 2 cinnamon sticks; 3 cloves; 1 piece orange peel; 1 cup brown sugar; 1 tsp vanilla extract; Pinch of anise seed

Mauby (MAW-bee)

Bitter Bark Beverage

⏱ Prep Time 30 min plus chilling

📈 Difficulty Easy

👥 Servings

Refreshing bittersweet drink brewed from mauby bark with cinnamon and spices, sweetened and served ice-cold with a distinctive foamy head.

Nutrition & Info

Carbs 22.0g

Dietary

vegetarian vegan dairy-free gluten-free nut-free

Equipment Needed

large pot strainer bottles or pitcher funnel

Presentation Guide

Vessel: tall glass with ice

Garnishes: cinnamon stick, foam

Accompaniments: any Guyanese meal

Ingredients

50g mauby bark
2 liters water
2 cinnamon sticks
3 cloves
1 piece orange peel
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Pinch of anise seed

Instructions

1
Boil mauby bark, cinnamon sticks, cloves, anise, and orange peel in water for twenty minutes until the liquid is dark and fragrant.
2
Strain the liquid through a fine sieve, discarding the bark and spices. The liquid should be deep brown.
3
Dissolve brown sugar and vanilla into the hot liquid, stirring until completely incorporated. Taste and adjust sweetness.
4
Cool to room temperature, then transfer to bottles or a large pitcher and refrigerate until ice cold.
5
Before serving, shake or stir vigorously to create the characteristic foam on top.
6
Serve over ice in tall glasses. The first sip is pleasantly bitter before the sweetness comes through.

💡

Did You Know?

Mauby is an acquired taste and Guyanese people say you must drink it three times before you begin to love it.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

large pot
strainer
bottles or pitcher
funnel

Garnishing

cinnamon stick, foam

Accompaniments

any Guyanese meal

The Story Behind Mauby

Mauby is one of the Caribbean's oldest beverages, brewed from the bark of the mauby tree by indigenous peoples long before European contact. The drink spread across the Caribbean but remains particularly beloved in Guyana. Its distinctive bitter-sweet flavor profile is unlike any commercial beverage, and homemade mauby is considered far superior to bottled versions. The drink is believed to have medicinal properties for lowering blood pressure.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed daily refreshment, especially hot days 📜 Origins: Amerindian and Caribbean tradition

Comments (0)

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!