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Bajan Mauby

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Chilled Bajan mauby bark drink in a glass and pitcher with lime and ice.
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Mauby is a traditional Barbados drink brewed from tree bark and warm spices, then sweetened and served very cold.

A concentrated bark infusion with cinnamon, clove, orange peel, and star anise is strained, diluted, and balanced with brown sugar and lime.

Keep a gentle bitter finish; mauby loses its character if it is diluted or sweetened too heavily.

Serving Suggestions

Serve over ice on a hot afternoon with a thin lime wheel.

Mauby bark, cinnamon, cloves, and orange peel steeping in a saucepan.

Recipe Notes

Brew one day ahead for easy chilling; refrigerated mauby keeps for five days.

Chilled Bajan mauby bark drink in a glass and pitcher with lime and ice.

Bajan Mauby

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A traditional Barbados drink brewed from mauby bark with cinnamon, clove, citrus, and brown sugar.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Cooling and chilling 3 hours
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 8 glasses
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Bajan, Caribbean
Calories: 110
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
 
 

Mauby Concentrate
  • 2 oz dried mauby bark rinsed briefly
  • 4 cups water
  • 2 whole cinnamon sticks
  • 6 whole cloves
  • 4 strips orange peel each about 3 inches long
  • 1 whole star anise
Finish and Serve
  • 6 cups cold water
  • 1 cup dark brown sugar or to taste
  • 1/3 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1 tsp aromatic bitters
  • 24 whole ice cubes for serving
  • 1 whole lime thinly sliced

Equipment

  • Medium saucepan
  • Fine-mesh strainer
  • Large heatproof pitcher
  • Wooden spoon
  • Serving glasses

Method
 

Brew Concentrate:
  1. Combine the mauby bark, 4 cups water, cinnamon, cloves, orange peel, and star anise in a saucepan. Bring to a boil.
  2. Reduce to a gentle simmer for 20 minutes, then remove from the heat and steep for 30 minutes.
Strain and Sweeten:
  1. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a heatproof pitcher, pressing the bark lightly, then discard the solids.
  2. Stir in the brown sugar while the concentrate is warm. Add the cold water, lime juice, and bitters. Taste and adjust sugar or water; mauby should keep a pleasant bitter edge.
Chill and Serve:
  1. Cool completely, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
  2. Serve over ice with a thin lime slice.

Nutrition

Calories: 110kcalCarbohydrates: 29gSodium: 12mgSugar: 27g

Notes

  • Mauby bark strength varies, so dilute the concentrate to taste before adding more sugar.
  • The drink keeps refrigerated for five days; stir before serving.

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