Coffee is one of the most commonly traded high-value agricultural commodities, with up to 25 million farming families, the majority of whom are smallholders, involved globally. For the past three decades, Nepal has also been growing Arabica coffee commercially. According to data from the National Tea and Coffee Development Board, 26,719 smallholder Nepali farmers produced 296.5 tonnes of coffee on 2,360 hectares in 2019-20. Kavrepalanchok district produced the most, with 34 tonnes, followed by Gulmi and Lalitpur districts, which produced 24 and 18 tonnes, respectively.
Nepal exported 46,893 kg of coffee worth Rs57.7 million in 2019-20, according to the development board's estimates. Germany received the largest shipment of 13,002 kilograms, followed by Switzerland and Japan with 9,058 kg and 5,572 kg, respectively. Nepal purchased 266,172 kg of coffee for Rs118.8 million over the same time. The bulk of the imports came from India, Italy, and Malaysia, totaling 251,915 kilograms, 5,518 kilograms, and 3,944 kilograms, respectively.
Coffee that has not yet been consumed peels of cherries
Despite the increasing coffee production and exports to international markets, Nepali farmers have not been able to get the most from coffee cherry skins–sold and consumed as cascara tea in international markets. However, coffee cherry skins, either dumped or used as compost in Nepal, are set to be offered as cascara tea. In Sindhupalchok, coffee farmers have started preparing cascara products for home consumption. Thanks to an exchange visit to Peru, facilitated by Practical Action, farmers from Sindhupalchok saw, experienced, and learned the cascara preparation technology. The organization engaged coffee producers, pulper operators, district coffee cooperative union, Nepal Coffee Producers Associations, and other stakeholders to further promote cascara tea.
“It is a sustainable solution for the environment, and reduces waste thrown into rivers or other water sources,” said Rudra Basnet, a lead coffee farmer from Melamchi, Sindhupalchok. “Besides, it provides additional sources of income for coffee producers by converting waste into cash and increasing job opportunities.”
Cascara or coffee cherry skins have been used for over 1,000 years in Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee, and for hundreds of years in Kenya, Yemen and Bolivia, writes Joel Jelderks, co-founder and managing director at Caskai, a company producing cascara-based beverages.
Called cascara in Spanish, the coffee husks are sold and consumed as sultana in Bolivia, the hash is in Ethiopia, and the wish in Yemen. After removing the coffee beans, the cherry skins are pulped and dried in the sun (not in the direct sun). They are then packaged and delivered to consumers around the globe. In these countries, the dried coffee cherries are usually steeped with spices like ginger, nutmeg, honey, and cinnamon. In recent decades, coffee growers in Latin America have been brewing cascara tea along with coffee.
Cascara tea looks similar to loose leaf tea, but the cherry remnants are slightly larger. It tastes somewhere between coffee and tea. Although it comes from a coffee tree, it doesn’t have the same taste as the coffee bean it grows with. Being less expensive, cascara tea is widely served more than coffee in Yemen. It is also gaining popularity around the globe due to its lower caffeine content than coffee. The dark brewed cascara tea has 111.4 mg per liter caffeine while coffee contains 400-800 mg per liter caffeine. The quality of cascara drink strongly depends on variety, cleaning, drying, packaging, and delivery. Cascara tea can be prepared and drunk as per a person’s need and interest. It can be served hot or cold with different flavors and additives.
Besides the cascara drink, dried cascara can be ground into good quality powder. The powder can be used in various products like cookies, muffins, fruit and nut bars, desserts, bread, chocolates, ice creams, soft drinks, and sauces in various proportions. It can be mixed with other types of flour in a proportion of 10 to 25:100. However, it depends on the taste and preference of consumers. Since it contains so many antioxidants, its shelf life is longer than that of other products.
Cascara contains chlorogenic acid, which can aid in blood pressure reduction. Chlorogenic acid is a phenolic chemical that may be found in a variety of fruits and vegetables (carrots, tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes, and sweet potatoes), as well as coffee and tea. Chlorogenic acid suppresses hunger, lowers daily calorie consumption, and promotes body fat reduction through thermogenesis. The pulp is high in antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and it aids in the body's anti-inflammatory activities. It's thought to help regulate blood sugar levels. Furthermore, it may aid in weight loss, as well as boost mood and cognitive performance, and prevent bacterial infections.
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