Mauby is one of those classic refreshing drinks you’ll find throughout the Caribbean. Other than freshly squeezed orange or grapefruit juice, we’d have a tall glass of mauby with our beloved “Sunday Lunch”. As I’ve mentioned before, the biggest meal of the week in the Caribbean is usually the Sunday lunch, so it’s one of those fond memories we have of growing up on the islands. With a unique sort of liquorice flavor, mauby must be enjoyed cold to really appreciate it… especially on a hot day. You can certainly find the mauby concentrate sold under many labels in the Caribbean, but nothing beats making your own from the ‘bark’ which is easily available in most West Indian food marts.
In this recipe I’ll show you how to make your own concentrate which can be stored in the fridge for the next time you get a craving for this lovely drink. All you’ll have to do is add water and sweeten to taste and you’re good to go.
You’ll Need…
4 cups water
10 mauby bark
2 cinnamon sticks (small)
2 (4 inch) pieces of orange peel (dried)
nutmeg (see note below)
3-4 cloves
Note: If cinnamon is not your thing, you can leave it out but note that it does add a nice overall flavor to the drink. The nutmeg is totally optional.. if you have a whole one, simply crack off half and add it to the brew (half).
In a deep saucepan place all the ingredients and on a med/high heat, bring it to a boil.
You now have two options. If you’re intention is to make this mauby juice immediately, allow it to simmer for about 30 minutes. If you’re like me and in no rush, all you do is allow it to go for 5 minutes at a rolling boil, then turn off the stove, cover the pot and allow it to steep for about 5 hours. I usually allow it to steep overnight for best results. Both options gives you a mauby concentrate. All you have to do is … for every cup of concentrate add 2 cups of water, then sweeten to your liking. For the perfect glass of mauby, I usually sweeten with cane sugar and hit it with a couple drops of Angostura bitters… top with crushed ice and a slice of lime or lemon!
* Strain and store in a glass (or plastic I guess) in the fridge.
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I remember when I was younger I would sneak a come because I like the flavor. I always felt like it was like a seltzer type feeling in your mouth at the end of the palate. Am I wrong?
I remember my Mother also would add some annise seed or leaves and it give the Maubi a real nice flavor
Hi Chris,
Thank you for the Mauby recipe if I am using ground nutmeg how much should use.
Merle
Can you show us how to make local fruit wines?
The drink mauby its good for what?they tell thats its good for cleanup its good for your face cutis and its like a viagra.and what more ?
I ferment mine. Makes it bubbly and smoother. I also like to add a little fresh ginger while fermenting.
we add: Bay leaf, a couple of anise seeds and it perks it up.
A bottle of old mauby does the trick for fermentation. Whenever you make, keep a bottle for the “leaven”.
Give it a try Chris. (smile)
The only spice I use is star anis
Recently began fermentation projects and added Mauby to the list the other day. There were recipes that called for brewing yeast but I use ginger bugs instead. It came out absolutely delicious with very heavy carbonation. In fact, you have to burp the bottle within hours to keep it from exploding. The bitterness is diminshed by the brewing and it bubbles profusely!
Hi Ethalfrida, Im Sjasja
Hope you’re doing well, I read your comment about your fermentation projects. Im into the same thing and was wondering what have you try so far?
I have made p
Ginger beer
Pineapple wine/ mauby
Pineapple vinager
Beets kvass
Kimchee
Makkoli
Lacto orange(no no)dont like it
New on my list to try are:
Kilju/ sugar wine
Banana wine
I have the milk and the water kefir
This was great. Thanks!
You can get Mavi on Ebay!
You can make Mavi like they call it in Puerto Rico on Ebay. Plus I let it ferment under the sun until it gets all the bitterness out. White sugar and brown sugar are also added then placed in bottles with a cloth covering the tops.
I make it in gallons and place it on a sunny window to ferment. It takes sometimes 8 to 12 hours sometimes longer to get the bitter out. I just take a nail and make a hole on the cap to let the bitter bubbles run out while it ferments.. Oh and I use 1 oz of ginger..
Hello Ana!
I was strolling the site and came upon your comment of fermentation. How exactly do you ferment? What is needed and how to process. I do not like any bitterness in anything and I was looking to learn the fermentation process on how is done. I want to try making this. Thank you in advance for your assistance with this. Much blessings!!
It may be helpful to note that mauby bark comes from the buckthorn tree.
Buying ingredients now
Chris….I like to add a lil star aniseed and of course Kola and aniseed essence…
Thanks for you great recipes, keep sharing our good island treats!
Mauby is good for high blood pressure and diabetes. It keeps it under control.
very true Ken!
Hi Chris, thanks for the recipe. Mauby is one of my favorite drinks and now I’ll make for it to last me longer. One thing is that I didn’t know that you can put nutmeg in it. Thanks again.
Thanks for the recipe. Just found the bark at a west indian supermarket and I will try your version. I like that it tells me how to make the concentrate so I no longer have to buy from the supermarket
hi chris that mauby is tasty
Love this drink! I found the recipe I want right here. Some places sell pre-made Mauby but I totally am on a mission to avoid processed health drinks. Thank you for posting this.
Where did you get mauby sticks? I want some!
I can help you with that
Hi Chris
I had Mauby in Trinidad last September. In addition, I had Ox-tail for the first time. It was great. Thanks for all your recipes and videos. I really enjoy them.
Pastor Dorsey Marshall
Hi Chris
This site was recommended to me by some Trini friends who sware by it. I read your Mauby recipe which looks good however I will raise the comment from good to great if you add some aniseed. Either the herb / star anise when boiling or a few drops of aniseed extract before serving or a combination of both.
Keep up the good work.
Hi Chris! I just came back from my first trip to the Caribbean (Barbados) and had a suitcase full of rum, seasoning, spices and mauby cordial. I didn't realise what I purchased was only mauby and wasn't prespiced and sweetened so thanks for this as I fell in love with the unusual sweet and bitter hit it delivered!
Hi Cris
Mauby is one of my favorite drinks so I definitely will be try this version.
Thanks for sharing.
Can't get bark in Vegas! Love Mauby..