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Category: Botanicals

Cascara sagrada

Cascara sagrada is the dried bark of Rhamnus purshiana, intensely bitter in taste. Some historic formulas have used it as a botanical.

Its earthy bitterness can reinforce structure alongside gentian, cinchona or wormwood. It is used in very small doses because its character is potent and persistent.

Its food use is subject to caution and regulation by market; a traditional mention does not guarantee it is present in a current recipe. It belongs to the vocabulary of bitter botanicals.