I am a coffee addict.
There, I said it. I live for my daily cup. Or three.
While coffee may have gotten a “bad for your health” rap a few years ago, growing research is showing that moderate coffee consumption is actually GOOD for you. Which makes me a happy homesteader. Like I said, I am a coffee addict.
It’s the caffeine that poses a problem for some.
Overconsumption of caffeine can lead to adrenal fatigue. Quitting coffee, even short term, may help reduce some of those effects. Sounds great, right? A healthier body and life is always worthwhile!
Alas, coffee is addictive.
Very addictive. And not just for the caffeine. It’s the flavor, the aroma, the feel of the warm beverage in your mouth. Add a bit of honey and raw cream, and I am in heaven. Coffee is not only my way to “get going” in the morning, it’s my quiet time. Coffee with my hubby is how we start our day. When we don’t have that time in the morning, nothing else seems quite right.
Giving up coffee may be good for the health, but the habit and the things it represents are not easy to let go of. I wasn’t willing to give up the aroma, the feel of the warm mug in my hand each morning. I wasn’t going to give up the quiet ritual I have with my hubby every day.
I love herbal tea, but herbal tea blends just weren’t the same. They were flavorful, but lacked the feel of coffee that I longed for each day. Ironic, really. If you asked my best friend how I felt about textures, she would have laughed. I never noticed textures of food before. Maybe I’m just getting older. Or more of a connoisseur when it comes to food and beverages. Whatever the reason, I had to figure out how to make a flavorful beverage that would taste, smell and feel like my beloved coffee.
This herbal coffee substitute does just that.
It has the flavor, aroma and feel of coffee, without the caffeine. It’s easy to make, and winding down with a cup of this in the evenings is so relaxing! I can have a cup or two of this without worrying about being awake all night!
Chicory Cichorium intybus, (get it here) is a woody, herbaceous plant that is actually a member of the dandelion family. It’s a great source of Vitamins A, B6, C, E and K and is loaded with zinc, magnesium, manganese, calcium, iron,folic acid, and potassium.
Dandelion Taraxacum officinale (get it here) is a nutritive plant that is rich in Vitamin A, C, iron and calcium.
Barley is a nutty grain, similar to wheat. (get it here) It adds a body to this herbal coffee substitute. You want to use the whole barley, not the pearled. It’s not gluten free, so if you need to stay away from gluten entirely, you can leave this out. It won’t have the feel of coffee, but it’ll still have the flavor and aroma.
Grinding it together is necessary to keep the chicory from falling to the bottom. Otherwise, you’ll get lots of barley and dandelion at the beginning of the batch, and only chicory at the end.
Do you drink coffee? Would you like to try this herbal coffee substitute?
Herbal Coffee Substitute
- CourseDrinks
Ingredients
- 1/2cup dried chicory
- 1/2cup dried dandelion root
- 1/2 cup barley
Instructions
- Measure ingredients into a bowl.
- A 1/4 cup at a time, coarsely grind with a coffee grinder.
- Place ground herbal coffee substitute a quart sized mason jar with a tight fitting lid.
- To enjoy, add 1 Tablespoon in 8 ounces boiling water. Allow to steep for 10 minutes.
- Strain, sweeten to taste and enjoy!
the post first appeared on thehomesteadinghippy.com See it here
