Instant Adaptogenic Coffee with Chicory

Taste & Crema

The base for our Instant Adaptogenic Coffee with Chicory is instant Mexican arabica with a pleasantly full coffee flavor and hint of bitterness. Chicory and roasted dandelion root mellow it out with a slight, caramel-like sweetness and give the coffee a rounded body. Ground cinnamon adds a warm, spicy aroma that fits into the blend perfectly. And the adaptogens – shatavari, maca, ashwagandha, chaga, and reishi – are mixed in so as not to disturb the flavor. The result is a balanced drink with subtle, earthy notes, a pleasant aroma, and a lasting aftertaste. Enjoy the coffee as is, or add dairy or plant-based milk.

Origin

This blend combines coffee with plants and mushrooms that people in various parts of the world have been relying on for centuries. It offers both its own unique flavor profile and an interesting story.

The base is an instant Mexican coffee, complemented by chicory and roasted dandelion root (Taraxacum officinale). The latter is one of the best-known European herbs characterized by bright yellow flowers and a deep taproot that, when roasted, offers a pleasant coffee-like aroma. It contains tannins, flavonoids, and minerals, and supports normal digestion, stomach and liver function, and the body’s natural detoxification processes.

The blend also includes chicory root (Cichorium intybus), an unassuming herb with characteristic light blue flowers. You’ll find it throughout most of Europe in meadows, along field borders, and by the roadside. This root is rich in inulin, a natural soluble fiber that acts as a prebiotic and supports the gut microbiome.

Cinnamon, the bark of tropical trees of the genus Cinnamomum, adds a pleasant warmth. The highest-quality varieties come primarily from Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. Cinnamon contains an essential oil with a high concentration of cinnamaldehyde, which gives it its characteristic aroma, as well as polyphenols and other antioxidants. It supports normal blood sugar levels and proper digestive function.

But what’s most interesting about this coffee are undoubtedly the adaptogens – plants and mushrooms popular primarily in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine. Let’s take a look at each one individually. Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) is a plant related to garden asparagus. It's found in India, Nepal, and the foothills of the Himalayas. It produces delicate climbing shoots with tiny needle-like leaves, but its most valuable part is its fleshy roots. These contain mainly saponins known as shatavarins, flavonoids, and other plant compounds. Shatavari supports vitality, mental well-being, normal digestion, and normal reproductive system function.

Maca (Lepidium meyenii) originates from the Peruvian Andes, where it's cultivated at altitudes exceeding 3,500 meters above sea level. This low-growing plant forms a basal rosette of leaves and, underground, a spherical tuber resembling a small radish. It's this tuber that's most often dried and ground into a fine powder. Maca contains amino acids, minerals, glucosinolates, macamides, and macaenes. Traditionally, maca is associated with supporting vitality, fertility, sexuality, and hormonal balance.

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), often referred to as Indian ginseng, is a low-growing shrub found in the arid regions of India, the Middle East, and North Africa. It can be recognized by its small green flowers and orange-red berries hidden within a papery calyx. The most used – and popular – part of the plant is its root, rich in active compounds called withanolides. Ashwagandha is one of the best-known adaptogens; it supports mental health, promotes relaxation, and acts as an antioxidant.

The blend also includes two wood-decaying fungi. One is chaga (Inonotus obliquus), which forms irregular black growths on birch trunks that resemble pieces of charred wood. It grows primarily in the cold regions of Northern Europe, Asia, and North America. It's valued for its high content of polysaccharides, particularly beta-glucans, as well as polyphenols and melanin, which give it its characteristic dark color.

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), the second fungus on the list, is notable for its glossy reddish-brown cap. It can be found growing on the trunks of deciduous trees in Asia, but nowadays it's also cultivated in Europe. It contains beta-glucans, triterpenes, and other bioactive compounds. Reishi supports the body’s natural defenses, normal immune system function, the circulatory system, and normal blood cholesterol levels.

Coffee packaging preview

Our quality aluminum packaging lacks any bold graphics, as we’d rather focus on the taste of our coffee. It always comes fresh thanks to degassing valve, which releases the gases that occur after roasting. Thanks to the hermetic seal, this container helps the contents further keep their freshness and protect them against humidity, light or foreign odors.