Monday, February 23, 2015

Coffee Alternatives

People often ask me, do I drink coffee? As a matter of fact, I don't. 

It's not that I think it is wrong to drink coffee (there are some people who make that argument because caffeine is a stimulant, such as the 7th Day Adventists and the Mormons). It's not because I think coffee is terribly unhealthy or addictive. It is because if I started to rely on coffee to get me going in the morning and through the day, I would quickly become so dependent on it, that I would no longer be able to cope without it. In other words, in the quantities in which I would need to have coffee if I were to start down that road, it would not be healthy or advisable for me. 

Still, I like to have a steaming hot cup of creamy and - yes - slightly sweet goodness in the morning as much as the next person. Especially, because that is often my first breakfast, holding me over until I have more time to make myself something later in the morning.

So, here are my favorite beverages that make great stand-ins for coffee.

1) Vanilla rooibos (redbush) tea



Rooibos has been my favorite tree ever since I discovered it many years ago. You can find it in all sorts of flavors, but even just plain, it tastes very rich and earthy. My favorite kind is the vanilla flavored one, and since I drink a lot of it, I typically buy it in bulk. My favorite brand is Davidson's Organic Red Vanilla tea. You can also buy smaller packages with individual tea bags. This tea is great hot as well as iced, with or without sweetener, and with or without cream added. 


2) Caro/Pero Instant Beverage



This hails back to my childhood, when we would drink what we called "kids' coffee." It is made from barley, barley malt, chicory, and rye. It has a slightly bitter taste like coffee, so I like mine with some coconut sugar or honey added, and about half milk.


3) Teeccino herbal coffee


This right here is my current favorite, and a breakfast staple. There are many flavor choices available on their website as well as on Amazon. The one I drink is "Vanilla Nut," which I buy in bulk from Azure Standard. I typically sweeten it with 1 tsp of coconut sugar per pint, and add about 3 or 4 tablespoons of cream. So good! 


If you are looking for a caffeine-free beverage to add to your repertoire, I hope this blog post gave you some new ideas. Please feel free to add your own recommendations in the comments below.