Dandelion Coffee with Chicory

Brew & Taste

This pseudo-coffee has a beautiful golden brown color with an aroma reminiscent of roasted grains. A mild, creamy foam forms on the surface, just asking you to take a sip. The taste is earthy and sweet, with a bitter undertone and nutty accents, making the impression warm yet refreshing. It’s balanced and full from the first sip all the way to the last.

Origins

Everyone knows the dandelion, mostly because it grows everywhere, even where no one wants it. Gardeners hate it, but herbalists love it, and they have a good reason to. Dandelion coffee has been used as a coffee substitute since the 19th century, when people were looking for cheaper and more accessible alternatives to traditional coffee. It experienced a real boom during both world wars, when coffee was scarce and expensive.

People discovered that roasted dandelion root can be used to make a drink that is surprisingly similar to classic coffee. And unlike coffee, it doesn’t contain caffeine, so it can be drunk at any time of the day. But getting high-quality dandelion roots that are suitable for coffee isn’t easy. First, the roots of dandelions specifically cultivated for this purpose need to be uncovered before they’re carefully cleaned of dirt and debris, dried, and finally roasted to reach the perfect color and flavor.

Chicory, with its blue flowers, can be found throughout Europe, where it originates. For centuries, people knew it mainly as a vegetable or added it to herbal teas. It was only when someone roasted its root that they discovered it tasted almost the same as coffee.

The turning point came during the American Civil War, when New Orleans had the second largest coffee port in the world. However, when the war closed the ports, coffee disappeared and people began to look for a substitute. They then discovered chicory, which the French had brought to their North American colonies 150 years earlier.

After the war, the coffee ships returned, but the people of New Orleans stuck with chicory. They still drink it today and consider it part of their history. Chicory coffee was also very popular in Germany, especially in the 1980s.

Chicory root contributes to the normal functioning of the liver, gallbladder, intestines, heart, and blood vessels, supports blood sugar balance, and promotes healthy bones and joints. Each sip will warm you up and give your body a little boost of energy.

Herb packaging preview

We pack our herbs in a strong, zip-lock aluminum packet which allows you to easily re-seal its contents. Thanks to the hermetic seal, the herbs are protected against humidity, light and foreign odors, all of which could noticeably affect the quality of the brew and the herb itself.