Have You Tried Herbal Coffee?

I am a non-coffee drinking coffee lover. My husband makes coffee every morning, and sometimes I grab his mug just so I can sit and smell it for a moment. The aroma alone makes me happy.

I didn’t quit coffee willingly. Quite the opposite in fact. I used to look so forward to my grande Americano from Starbucks every morning. But, about 10 years ago I started experiencing digestion issues every.single.day. Coffee, the one thing I was having daily without fail, was the first culprit I begrudgingly removed.

Despite what a relief it was to start to feel a bit better, I can tell you honestly that I was crestfallen to discover that coffee was a contributing factor. What was I going to do when my coworkers went out to get coffee? How was I going to break up the morning sitting at my desk?

I tried drinking black tea for a couple of years, but for this coffee ritual lover, it just wasn’t the same. And after my first elimination diet, I realized that I didn’t need the caffeine. Now, knowing that caffeine activates the Sympathetic Nervous System (i.e., Fight or Flight) and all of the negative physiological responses that come with it (including inflammation, weight gain and an increase in blood pressure to name just a few), I am happy to keep my caffeine intake as low as I can.

Years later, I stumbled across herbal coffee at Jane, one of my favorite breakfast spots in San Francisco, and it was one of those life-changing moments. After being without my beloved coffee for years, this was the closest I had come to recreating the smell, taste and ritual that I loved so much. Since that fateful day, I have found Teeccino, an herbal coffee that I love to make at home. Made out of carob, barley, chicory, dates, almonds and figs, it has a wonderfully rich, nutty flavor. It comes in grounds and can be made like coffee, as well as tea bags. I love it with a dash of my homemade cashew milk (get the recipe here!).

Another one of my favorite coffee alternatives is Dandy Blend.

If you are a coffee-loving non-coffee drinker like me, or if you love your coffee but would like to reduce your caffeine intake, I recommend trying one of these. You can start by mixing ¼ coffee alternative with ¾ coffee and gradually adjust the ratio to avoid (or at least minimize) any caffeine withdrawal symptoms.

Pour a cup, sit back, relax, and let your Parasympathetic Nervous System (i.e., Rest & Digest) kick in. Your whole body will thank you.