Enjoying a deliciously brewed cup of coffee (or several) is a daily pleasure for many people, but some simply can’t tolerate coffee. If you find yourself jittery after consuming it, coffee upsets your stomach, or you simply want to cut back on your coffee intake, there are plenty of caffeine-free (and low-caffeine) alternatives, points out Dr. Jeffrey Bland, a biochemist and nutritional medicine specialist based in Seattle. He suggests looking for an alternative that’s lower in caffeine but still contains theobromine. “It’s milder and provides a sustained boost in metabolism,” Bland says. You can find theobromine in most teas and green coffee beans. Ahead, some delicious coffee alternatives to consider for your morning wake-up routine.
Yerba Mate
Yerba Mate is a South American tea that’s made by steeping the leaves and twigs of an indigenous plant. It has a distinctive taste that is “strong, bitter, and vegetal.”
Cacao
Speaking of theobromine, it also happens to be in brewed cacao. While it won’t taste like a cup of hot chocolate, brewed cacao is packed with antioxidants, magnesium, and phenylethylamine. Unlike caffeine, theobromine expands your blood vessels rather than constricting them and the energy boost it provides lasts longer.
Herbal “Coffee”
Zoey Gong—a Traditional Chinese Medicine food therapist, registered dietitian, and co-founder of Five Seasons TCM—gets her energy from Better Than Coffee Tonic, a drink she developed using an assortment of Traditional Chinese Medicine herbs.
“These herbs tonify Qi and blood and have a refreshing, aromatic flavor to wake you up while giving you energy in a gentle yet long lasting way,” she says. Ingredients include American ginseng, goji berries, mint, and du zhong (eucommia ulmoides). To make it, steep a bag with two to three cups of water for 10 minutes and drink it hot or iced.
RASA is another adaptogenic coffee alternative that gets its boost from herbs. Some of their bestselling drinks include Bold, a blend of nine adaptogenic herbs, and Original, a rich, roasty blend. If you want to try a few flavors before committing to a full bag, they sell sample packs of their entire collection as well as bestsellers.
Chicory Root
When roasted, chicory root takes on a coffee-like aroma and has a strong taste that’s toasty and nutty. It’s like a smoother, less acidic version of coffee that for many is easier on the taste buds and tummy. It’s a key ingredient in Teeccino as it adds body and a deep, rich color to their herbal tea blends and is featured in their herbal coffee blends in flavors like Caramel Nut and Coconut.
Mushrooms
If you’re not ready to give up caffeine completely, there are companies making mushroom coffee blends for a more balanced drink that won’t give you the jitters.
Four Sigmatic’s Ground Mushroom Coffee With Lion’s Mane, for example, combines coffee, lion’s mane, and chaga to create a smooth, dark brew that is meant to prevent mid-morning crashing.
MUDWTR, another mushroom blend that’s made with masala chai, cacao, turmeric, cinnamon, sea salt, and mushrooms (lion’s mane, chaga, reishi, cordyceps), has one-seventh the amount of caffeine as a traditional cup of coffee (about 100 milligrams of caffeine), and is meant to energize those who consume it without the jitters, crash, or dependency. Their Morning Ritual Starter Kit contains a 30-serving tin of product, a frother, guidebook, creamer sample, and sweetener sample.
Article by Abigail Abesamis Demarest for Martha Stewart Living©
Source: 5 Caffeine-Free Coffee Alternatives That Actually Taste Good (msn.com)
