Qishr: Yemen’s Spiced Coffee Husk Drink
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In much of the world, the coffee cherry’s fruit is thrown away so the seed inside can be roasted. In Yemen, the dried husk has its own drink. Qishr (also spelled kishr, gishr or geshir) is a hot, gingery infusion of dried coffee husks, often with cinnamon or cardamom and sweetened to taste. It’s lighter than coffee, closer to a spiced tea, and it has quietly followed Yemeni coffeehouses abroad. If you’ve wondered what qishr is and how to make Yemeni qishr at home, here’s the short version: simmer coffee husks with ginger, strain, sweeten.
Below: where it comes from, how it differs from coffee and from Western cascara tea, and a simple recipe.
Key takeaways
- Qishr is a traditional Yemeni drink made from dried coffee husks (the fruit around the bean) brewed with ginger and sometimes cinnamon or cardamom.
- Wikipedia notes it’s usually drunk as an alternative to coffee, since the husks don’t need roasting.
- It’s gentler than coffee; one Yemeni coffeehouse owner interviewed by Saveur described it as “like decaf.”
- To make it, simmer husks and spices in water for about 5–10 minutes, strain and sweeten.
In this article
What is qishr?
Every coffee bean grows inside a small fruit, the coffee cherry. Strip away the skin and pulp, dry them, and you’re left with brittle, raisin-colored husks. Brew those husks with ginger and you have qishr: a reddish-amber, lightly fruity, warming drink that tastes more like a spiced fruit tea than coffee.
Wikipedia’s entry describes qishr as a traditional hot drink of Yemen made from spiced coffee husks, ginger and sometimes cinnamon. Saveur’s 2019 profile of Qahwah House, a Yemeni coffee shop opened in Dearborn, Michigan in 2018, describes qishr brewed from dried husks with ginger and cardamom, a drink that sits somewhere between tea and coffee.
What does qishr taste like?
- Fruit first: dried cherry, hibiscus-like tartness, sometimes a hint of raisin or tamarind.
- Ginger heat: the dominant spice, warming rather than fiery.
- Gentle body: thin like tea, not heavy like coffee.
- Sweetness: usually added sugar, which rounds the tartness.
A short history of qishr
Yemen sits at the center of coffee’s early history. Coffee crossed the Red Sea from Ethiopia, and Yemen became the first place where coffee was cultivated and traded at scale, through ports such as Mocha. (Our article on Yemeni coffee covers that story in full.)
Husk drinks are part of that story. Wikipedia’s summary of historical sources notes that early Yemenis are said to have made a fermented drink from coffee cherry pulp, also called qishr, before the unfermented husk infusion became common. Travelers’ accounts quoted there describe an “infusion of coffee husk” served to guests, and ginger coffee as an everyday hospitality drink, with cups refilled again and again. Treat the oldest details as historical accounts rather than settled fact; written records of early coffee use in Yemen are sparse.
Why husks rather than beans? One practical reason: in coffee-growing regions, the husk is the cheap part. The beans were the export crop, and the husks stayed home. Wikipedia also notes that husks don’t need roasting, which made the drink simple to prepare.
Qishr vs coffee vs cascara tea
| Qishr | Coffee | Cascara tea | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the plant | Dried husk (cherry skin and pulp) | Roasted seed | Dried husk |
| Spices | Ginger, often cinnamon or cardamom | None, unless flavored | Usually none |
| Preparation | Simmered or steeped, then strained | Brewed from ground roasted beans | Steeped like tea |
| Flavor | Fruity, tart, warming | Roasty, bitter-sweet, varied by origin | Fruity, tea-like |
| Caffeine | Lower than coffee | Higher | Lower than coffee |
| Where it’s traditional | Yemen | Worldwide | Producing countries; specialty cafés |
In short, qishr is cascara with a Yemeni spice profile and a hospitality tradition behind it. If you want the plain husk tea itself, our guide to cascara coffee cherry tea covers buying and steeping it.
How to make Yemeni qishr at home
Coffee husks are sold as “cascara” or “qishr” by specialty coffee and Middle Eastern grocers. Feel Espresso doesn’t sell husks, so you’ll need to buy them elsewhere.
Ingredients (2 cups)
| Ingredient | US | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Water | 2 cups | 480 ml |
| Dried coffee husks (cascara) | 2 tablespoons | about 10–12 g |
| Fresh ginger, thinly sliced | 1-inch piece | about 2.5 cm |
| or ground ginger | ½ teaspoon | about 1 g |
| Cinnamon stick (optional) | ½ stick | ½ stick |
| Green cardamom pods, lightly crushed (optional) | 2 | 2 |
| Sugar or honey | 1–2 tablespoons, to taste | 12–25 g |
Steps
- Put the water, husks, ginger and any whole spices in a small saucepan.
- Bring to a gentle boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 5–10 minutes. Longer gives a stronger, tarter drink.
- Stir in sugar to taste while it’s hot.
- Strain through a fine sieve into small cups or a thermos.
- Serve hot. Traditionally it’s poured into small cups and refilled often.
Tips and variations
- Too sour? Shorten the simmer or add a little more sugar.
- Too weak? Add another tablespoon of husks rather than simmering longer.
- Spice level: fresh ginger gives a brighter bite; ground ginger is warmer and muddier, so strain through a paper filter.
- Iced: brew double strength, sweeten, then pour over a full glass of ice.
- With milk: not traditional, but a splash of milk turns it into something like a fruity chai.
Can’t find husks? Try these instead
We don’t sell coffee husks, but if you’re drawn to qishr for its ginger warmth, two teas come close in spirit. Turmeric Ginger is a caffeine-free herbal blend of turmeric and ginger with lemongrass, licorice root and citrus. Chaga Spice Chai blends Assam black tea and chaga with cinnamon, ginger and cardamom, the same trio of spices you’ll find in many qishr recipes. And if it’s the coffee side of Yemen you’re after, a spiced cup of our Ethiopia Natural, a fruity, sun-dried coffee from just across the Red Sea, pairs well with a pinch of cardamom. See more in our tea collection.
Qishr FAQ
Does qishr have caffeine?
Yes, but less than coffee. Coffee husks contain some caffeine, and qishr is generally described as a milder, lower-caffeine drink. Exact amounts vary with the husks and brew strength.
Is qishr the same as cascara?
Both are made from dried coffee cherry husks. Qishr is the Yemeni tradition, brewed with ginger and spices; cascara usually refers to the husks or a plain tea made from them.
How do you pronounce qishr?
Roughly “KISH-er,” which is why it’s often written kishr or gishr.
Can you make qishr with coffee beans?
No. Qishr is defined by the husk. Brewing ground coffee with ginger gives you ginger coffee, a different (also traditional) drink.
Where can I try qishr in the US?
Yemeni coffeehouses, such as Qahwah House in Dearborn, Michigan, profiled by Saveur, serve it alongside traditional Yemeni coffees.
Sources
- Qishr, Wikipedia
- This Michigan Coffee Shop is Bringing Yemeni Coffee to the Masses, Devorah Lev-Tov, Saveur, 2019
Facts checked in October 2026.
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