Mauby Recipe: How to Make Caribbean Mauby Drink
Mauby is a traditional Caribbean drink made by boiling mauby bark with spices to create a bold, bittersweet concentrate that’s diluted with water and sweetened to taste before serving. This mauby recipe is popular across Trinidad and Tobago and other Caribbean islands, and is one of those drinks people either love instantly… or need a few tries to appreciate.
This homemade mauby recipe shows you how to make mauby concentrate from scratch using bark, bay leaf, cinnamon, and aniseed for a refreshing drink best served ice cold.
Known for its distinct flavor and slight bitterness, mauby has been a longtime favorite at Sunday lunches, family gatherings, and hot Caribbean afternoons.
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t the biggest Mauby fan as a child. Too many versions I tried were overly bitter and strong. But once I started making homemade mauby myself, I realized the flavor can be adjusted to suit your own taste. Now I prefer it lighter, colder, and just sweet enough to balance the bitterness.
What is Mauby?
Mauby is a popular Caribbean drink made from the bark of the mauby tree, also known as buckthorn or colubrina bark. The tree bark is boiled with spices to create a concentrate that’s diluted with water and sweetened before serving.
Different Caribbean islands have their own versions of mauby. In Trinidad and Tobago, it’s commonly flavored with spices like cinnamon, bay leaf, and aniseed. Puerto Rico has a similar drink called mavi, while in Haiti it’s known as mabi.
Traditionally, mauby is served cold and is especially popular during hot weather, Sunday lunches, and family gatherings across the Caribbean.
What does mauby taste like?
Mauby has a bold, bittersweet flavor with a slightly herbal aftertaste. Some people say it has an acquired taste. Depending on how strong the concentrate is, the bitterness can range from mild and refreshing to sharp and lingering.
Some people compare mauby to root beer because of its earthy, spiced flavor, though the taste is much more herbal and less sweet. The amount of sugar and water added can also completely change the final flavor.
If you grew up drinking mauby, there’s a good chance you already love it. If not, it may take a few sips to fully appreciate. It’s definitely one of those Caribbean drinks people feel strongly about.
Caribbean drinks come in all kinds of flavors, from creamy punches to bittersweet drinks like mauby. If you enjoy homemade island beverages, check out my collection of Caribbean punch recipes for more traditional favorites.
How to Make Mauby
Ingredients to make mauby
Mauby bark
We’re using pieces of mauby bark to create the mauby concentrate that forms the base of the drink.
Water
Water is used both to boil the bark and later to dilute the concentrate before serving.
Spices and flavorings
Cinnamon sticks, bay leaf, aniseed or star anise, and mixed or vanilla essence help balance the bitterness and give mauby its signature flavor. Some people also add orange, cloves, nutmeg, or other spices, depending on the version they grew up with.
Sugar
You can use your sweetener of choice. I like brown sugar, but cane sugar, coconut sugar, or granulated sugar, depending on the flavor you prefer, can substitute.
Make sure to check out the recipe card for the full ingredients list and quantities.
How to make Mauby
Making homemade mauby is a simple process. First, you’ll create a mauby concentrate by boiling the bark with spices. Then, when you’re ready to serve, you’ll dilute the concentrate with water and sweeten it to your liking.
Step 1: Clean the bark
Depending on where you got your mauby bark, you may need to clean it first. If it came in a sealed package from a brand, you’re probably good to go. But if you bought one of those little tie bags from a market vendor or small biz? Check for bits of stone, stick, or other debris. Rinse the bark well and pick out anything that doesn’t belong.
Step 2: Boil and steep
Add the cleaned bark, along with aniseed, bay leaf, and cinnamon, to a large saucepan.
Pour in enough cups of water to cover the bark by about an inch.
Bring to a rolling boil on the stove, then remove from the heat and let the mixture steep for several hours or overnight for a stronger flavor.
Step 3: Strain and store
Once the mixture has cooled completely, strain out the solids and discard them. What remains is your mauby concentrate. Store this liquid in a clean bottle or mason jar in the fridge until you’re ready to use.
Step 4: Mix and serve the mauby
To make the actual mauby drink, combine some of the concentrate with cold water and sweeten to taste. Start with about 1 part concentrate to 3 or 4 parts water and adjust to taste.
Serve chilled or over ice.
Prefer a stronger, more bitter mauby? Use less water. Want it lighter and sweeter? Add more water and sugar until you find your perfect balance.
Some people also add milk or sparkling water for different variations, like mauby fizz.
Tips for making mauby less bitter
- The color of mauby can vary from light brown to deep dark brown, depending on how much water is used and the type of sugar added.
- To avoid an overly bitter mauby, don’t boil the bark for too long. Boiling at a hard rolling boil for more than about 5 minutes can create a much stronger bitterness.
- If your mauby turns out too bitter, simply dilute it with more water. Some people also add coconut water to help soften the bitterness.
How to serve mauby
Mauby is best served cold over ice, especially on hot days. You can make it sweeter, lighter, or stronger depending on your preference.
Some people also enjoy mauby with sparkling water or milk for different variations.
How to store mauby
Store the mauby concentrate in a sealed bottle or jar in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
Once diluted into the finished drink, mauby is best enjoyed within about a week.
If the drink becomes extremely frothy, slimy, or develops an unusual smell, discard it.
More Caribbean drink recipes
Frequently Asked Questions
You can find pre-packaged mauby bark in many Caribbean grocery stores and markets. These often come in resealable bags so you can make small batches and keep the rest fresh. Mauby bark can also be purchased online from Caribbean retailers and specialty sellers.
Yes, mauby naturally has a bittersweet flavor. Some people prefer it stronger and more bitter, while others like it sweeter and lighter. You can easily adjust the taste by adding more water or sugar.
Yes. In fact, many people find the flavor improves after the concentrate has had time to sit and steep before chilling and serving.
Homemade mauby concentrate can last for up to about 1 month in the refrigerator when stored in a sealed container.
Mauby is traditionally served cold over ice, especially on hot Caribbean days. Some people may enjoy it warm, but it’s most commonly enjoyed chilled.
Yes. Mauby is known by different names across the Caribbean. In Puerto Rico it’s often called mavi, while in Haiti it’s known as mabi. The ingredients and preparation can vary slightly from island to island.
Mauby is definitely a Caribbean beverage that people have strong opinions about. If you grew up drinking it, let me know how you like yours. With a strong bitterness, or sweeter and lighter?
And if you try this homemade mauby recipe, don’t forget to leave a rating and comment below.
Recipe
Homemade Mauby Recipe
Ingredients
Method
- Wash mauby bark, and get rid of any stones or debris that may have been missed in the packaging.
- Add mauby bark, cinnamon, bay leaf, and aniseed to the pot.
- Add water to a pot about 1 inch above the level of mauby barks and spices.
- Bring to a rolling boil and continue to boil for about five minutes.
- Remove pot from stove and cover and leave to steep for 3 hours or can be left overnight.
- Cool, strain, and pour the mixture into an airtight bottle (can be stored in the fridge).
- Take concentrate and add to a large bowl
- Add 3 – 4 cups of water to get the desired taste level.
- Add sugar (I start with one cup of sugar) and alternate between water and sugar to get the desired taste balance.
- Add mixed essence and bitters
- You can also add a little lime juice.
- Store in an airtight container. I leave it out over night for the flavors too heighten then put it in the fridge.
Nutrition
Recipe Printed From ThisBagoGirl.com
I've never heard of this drink but it sounds refreshing on a hot day and I love trying new things!
Thanks so much for the links to getting the bark to try this! I'm so intrigued!!! I love learning about foodways of the world!
Nice.. I used less sugar cause I like it bitter. But everything else was good. Thanks!
yes mauby sweetening is really to personal taste. Thanks for sharing here!!