What is Mesquite?

Ancient superfood. Modern ritual.

Mesquite is a wild desert superfood that has sustained communities for thousands of years. Roasted and ground from a single ingredient, it brews like coffee and is naturally caffeine free.

The plant

An ancient tree. Extraordinary nutrition.

Mesquite, known scientifically as Prosopis pallida, is a wild desert tree native to the ancient arid plains of South America. There are more than 44 species of mesquite worldwide, but the Peruvian species is prized for its sweetness, depth of flavour and nutritional density.

It thrives in some of the harshest conditions on earth: extreme heat, minimal rainfall, and no irrigation or pesticides. Its roots can reach more than 50 metres underground, drawing minerals from deep in the earth. This is not a cultivated crop. It is ancient, wild and entirely natural.

For centuries, communities across Peru and the wider Americas have relied on the mesquite pod as a staple food. Long before coffee became a morning ritual, mesquite was sustaining desert communities.

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Wild harvested in Piura, Peru

From the desert plains to your cup

Piura, in northern Peru, is home to over 67% of the country’s wild mesquite forests, and its geography gives Prosopis pallida a sweeter, bolder flavour.

The region

Wild mesquite forests across the ancient desert plains of Piura.

The harvest

Once a year, local communities gather the pods by hand, as their ancestors did. No machinery, no chemicals.

The roast

The pods are washed, roasted and milled in Lima into one honest ingredient.

To your door

Shipped to the UK and delivered free to your door.

What mesquite contributes

Nourishing, naturally

Every 100g of Imara contains 30g of fibre, 11.2g of plant protein, and meaningful amounts of iron, potassium and calcium.

Energy

Iron and potassium contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism.

Digestive health

Naturally high in fibre, with 30g per 100g.

Bone health

Calcium contributes to the maintenance of normal bones.

Immunity

Iron contributes to the normal function of the immune system.

Backed by research

What the science is exploring

Researchers have studied Prosopis pallida for decades. These findings come from published studies of the plant, not of Imara itself.

Antioxidant compounds

A 2023 study of Prosopis pallida from northern Peru identified phenolic compounds, including Vicenin II, with antioxidant activity.

Rich amino acid profile

Mesquite contains a wide range of amino acids, including lysine and tyrosine, alongside 11.2g of protein per 100g.

Low glycaemic index

A 2025 systematic review describes Prosopis pallida as a potential functional food with a low glycaemic index of around 25.

Polyphenols

Laboratory studies of Prosopis extracts have examined their polyphenol and flavonoid content.

Read the research

Caffeine free superfood drink

Imara Roasted Mesquite

Imara is 100% roasted mesquite pods, wild harvested in Piura, Peru. It’s naturally caffeine free, brews just like coffee, and is naturally energising.

Taste: smooth and naturally sweet, with notes of coffee, cacao, vanilla and cinnamon.

  • Caffeine free
  • High fibre
  • Nothing added
  • 28 servings

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  • Free UK delivery on every order