Since the beginning of our kombucha brewery, innovation has been the focus at BOUCHE. As part of the changeover to the new 0.33 l bottle, we changed the name from CASCARAH to CHEEERRY. In our search for deep and complex flavour profiles, this time we were inspired by cáscara. The name CHEEERRY refers to "coffEE chErry", the skin of the coffee cherry, the dried husk around the coffee bean. Cáscara, Spanish for "husk", can be infused much like tea leaves.

The result is a kombucha with a delicate caramel profile and hints of cocoa, complemented by fresh citrus notes and a subtle lavender bouquet. It does not taste like coffee, but it does contain caffeine from the coffee cherry.

Where cáscara comes from

Cáscara comes from coffee-producing regions around the world and reflects a coffee culture built on craft and sustainable growing.

Aida Batlle, a visionary coffee farmer and entrepreneur, is rooted in the coffee heritage of El Salvador. Her family's coffee farming legacy spans four generations, tracing back to her great-great-grandfather. Aida's own work began in 2002 when, at the age of 28, she took over the family farm facing plummeting commodity coffee prices.

Rejecting conventional methods, she opted for an organic approach, treating coffee cherries as the precious fruit they are. She recognised the untapped potential of the cherry skins, often discarded during milling, and turned them into something new. That was the beginning of cáscara: a tea brewed from dried cherry husks.

With it, Aida not only saved her family's business but established an approach to sustainable coffee farming and created a secondary market for growers.

A long road to recognition

For many years, cáscara sat in a legal no-man's land in the European Union. Under food safety regulation it was neither strictly prohibited nor officially approved. In June 2021, a new report from the European Food Safety Authority laid the groundwork for cáscara-based drinks to be sold in the EU. That is where our cáscara story begins.

Our cáscara, straight from the farm

With that knowledge, we found a partner whose values and expertise were essential to the conception of our CHEEERRY kombucha. Our partner redefines "direct trade" in coffee sourcing with rigorous criteria that bypass intermediary steps. For us that means our cáscara comes directly from high-quality coffee plants in Peru.

Our cáscara is certified organic and ensures fair pricing through direct trade. For offsetting its greenhouse gas emissions, our partner has been awarded the "climate-neutral product" certification.

This partnership guarantees a direct and transparent supply chain, supports the livelihoods of coffee producers, and brings a cáscara flavour into the glass that carries the essence of the finest coffee cherries.

Our commitment to quality and innovation shows in every sip of CHEEERRY kombucha, brewed in our own brewery in Berlin. The full range is in the kombucha collection.