Cerassie Tea - Jamaican Bush Tea

Cerassie Tea is one of the most famous Jamaican bush teas and has been enjoyed in the Caribbean for generations. The cerassie plant – also known as bitter melon or botanically as Momordica charantia – is known for its strong, bitter taste and is deeply rooted in Jamaican tea culture.

On the packaging, you may also find the name “Corilla.” This is another traditional name for the same plant, used in some Caribbean communities. So, Cerassie and Corilla describe the same popular bush tea.

In Jamaica, Cerassie Tea is often enjoyed as a classic herbal tea – in the morning, after meals, or simply as part of traditional home remedies. Its intense, tart taste, which many Jamaicans have known since childhood, is particularly typical.

How to drink Cerassie Tea

For a cup, simply pour hot water over a tea bag or some loose herbs and let it steep for a few minutes. The longer the tea steeps, the stronger and more bitter the taste. Many drink Cerassie pure, while others sweeten it with a little honey.

Traditional Jamaican Bush Tea

Bush tea continues to play an important role in Jamaican culture. Besides Cerassie, teas made from ginger, soursop leaf, or fever grass are also popular. Cerassie Tea is one of the island's most well-known traditional herbal teas and is appreciated worldwide by people who love authentic Jamaican products.