Mauby

Mauby, also known as madi, maví, mobi, mabi and maubi, is a tree bark-based beverage grown, and widely consumed, in the Caribbean. It is made with sugar and the bark and/or fruit of certain species in the genus Colubrina including Colubrina elliptica and Colubrina arborescens, a small tree native to the northern Caribbean and south Florida. Recipes usually include other ingredients as well, spices such as aniseed being very common. Mauby was traditionally a fermented beverage made in small batches, but is now predominantly a commercial non-fermented soft drink. It is often bought as a pre-made syrup and then mixed with water (sparkling or still) to the consumer's taste, but many make it themselves at home or purchase it from neighbourhood producers or street sellers. The mauby has been known to cause an initial laxative reaction unexpected to many first-time drinkers. Its taste is initially sweet, somewhat like root beer or sarsaparilla, but changes to a prolonged, but not astringent bitter aftertaste.