Mesquite Coffee and Tea
7/14/08 - 2nd Day - After Breakfast. We're back to work here at the ranch. We're working on completing the exterior of my main pasture fence, and today we will be doing some major work in the garden, preparing for the fall garden.
Hey, it is mesquite pod season here in Central Texas, and we had our first cup of beautiful mesquite coffee this morning. Here are some mesquite pods roasting in the solar oven:
Here is a very artsy picture of the roasted mesquite pods in a 1/2 gallon storage jar, waiting to be ground into coffee:
As much as we hate mesquites most of the year (except when we are eating delicious meat cooked over mesquite wood), we love it when the mesquite pods are ready. On the Lord's Day, Ms. Irby brought mesquite tea to the fellowship. It was quite delicious. In addition to tea and coffee, I have made syrup, beer, wine, and liquor from the mesquite pod. It can also be ground into flour and used to fortify and give sweetness and added flavor to breads and other baked goods.
This year we are planning to harvest as much of the mesquite pods as we can. Yesterday, we gathered a 5 gallon bucket full, and today we will do the same (if the Lord wills). We will pre-roast a lot of it for coffee and tea, and will store it in the root cellar.
So how does it taste? Well, the first time I made mesquite coffee, I thought I had made a mistake and had put some gourmet coffee in the blender. It is that good. Full strength it has 4X the caffeine as regular coffee (I am told), but it has many more health benefits than regular coffee. It can also be blended with regular coffee, or made much weaker since it has such a strong taste. Supposedly the sugars in mesquite are more easily processed by diabetics, and can be used to manage blood glucose levels. Frankly, I am shocked and surprised that no one is out there selling pre-ground and roasted mesquite coffee. It is some of the best coffee I have ever tasted - and it is so abundant that it would cost about 1/2 or less than imported coffees. I hope to gather enough this year to not have to buy coffee until the next time we get pods.
Maybe I'll gather some extra, roast it up, and y'all can buy it and experience this unique southwestern delicacy!
Your servant in Christ Jesus,
Michael Bunker
Hey, it is mesquite pod season here in Central Texas, and we had our first cup of beautiful mesquite coffee this morning. Here are some mesquite pods roasting in the solar oven:
Here is a very artsy picture of the roasted mesquite pods in a 1/2 gallon storage jar, waiting to be ground into coffee:
As much as we hate mesquites most of the year (except when we are eating delicious meat cooked over mesquite wood), we love it when the mesquite pods are ready. On the Lord's Day, Ms. Irby brought mesquite tea to the fellowship. It was quite delicious. In addition to tea and coffee, I have made syrup, beer, wine, and liquor from the mesquite pod. It can also be ground into flour and used to fortify and give sweetness and added flavor to breads and other baked goods.
This year we are planning to harvest as much of the mesquite pods as we can. Yesterday, we gathered a 5 gallon bucket full, and today we will do the same (if the Lord wills). We will pre-roast a lot of it for coffee and tea, and will store it in the root cellar.
So how does it taste? Well, the first time I made mesquite coffee, I thought I had made a mistake and had put some gourmet coffee in the blender. It is that good. Full strength it has 4X the caffeine as regular coffee (I am told), but it has many more health benefits than regular coffee. It can also be blended with regular coffee, or made much weaker since it has such a strong taste. Supposedly the sugars in mesquite are more easily processed by diabetics, and can be used to manage blood glucose levels. Frankly, I am shocked and surprised that no one is out there selling pre-ground and roasted mesquite coffee. It is some of the best coffee I have ever tasted - and it is so abundant that it would cost about 1/2 or less than imported coffees. I hope to gather enough this year to not have to buy coffee until the next time we get pods.
Maybe I'll gather some extra, roast it up, and y'all can buy it and experience this unique southwestern delicacy!
Your servant in Christ Jesus,
Michael Bunker
posted by Michael Bunker at 7/14/2008 07:31:00 AM
5 Comments:
Michael,
I'm sold. Gather it together, roast it up, and I'll buy some.
And I'll bet I'm not the only one. You have just started a great little home business!
Post details when you're ready to be swamped with orders.
Herrick Kimball
Mr. Bunker,
Did you build that solar oven or buy it?
Joseph,
Actually, I had two of those ovens, but mine got accidentally driven over by my truck. So the one in the pic is one I borrowed from Brother David Sifford.
Herrick,
I will be roasting you up some tomorrow. By the way, we had the pancakes and official New York maple syrup. Delicious. Very nice, and thank you very much for that. Email me your super-private mailing address for the coffee.
Michael
Greetings Michael,
I, too, want to order some of your roasted coffee beans. Please put me on your list. I think this is awesome.
I will ask Ms. Josie how to steep the tea.
I have my own coffee grinder, and coffee press, thanks to you my dear brethren.
Elaine K
Okay, will do. Many thanks.
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