Mauby bark, cinnamon, anise, orange peel & sparkling water
Mauby is made from the bark of the Colubrina elliptica tree, known as the mauby tree. It has the most complex flavour profile of any non-alcoholic drink in the Caribbean — initially sweet, then intensely bitter, then mysteriously satisfying. Every Barbadian vendor has a slightly different recipe, and the debate over ginger vs no ginger is fierce.
Mauby bark is available at Caribbean grocery stores. The bitterness intensifies with longer brewing — 15 minutes gives a balanced drink. Taste the concentrate before adding more water — it's intensely bitter and needs diluting. If the first sip makes you wince, that's correct — by the third sip you'll want another.