Multigrain Coffee Substitute with Dandelion

Taste & Crema

Multigrain non-coffee has a dark brown color with a light foam. Its taste can be described as sweet at first, then slightly bitter.

Origins

Instant natural drinks are in right now – not only for the convenience but also the much-needed dose of nutrients. A multigrain coffee substitute with dandelion is suitable for a morning snack or a second dinner. It is naturally caffeine-free so it can be enjoyed by new mothers or people suffering from insomnia.

Let us briefly recall the benefits of the 5 ingredients in this non-coffee.

One of the first crops that man deliberately cultivated was barley (Hordeum). From ancient civilizations to the present day, this grain has remained an indispensable part of our diet. Young barley, renowned for its taste and excellent properties, was consumed by humans around 5,000 years ago. Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and other ancient cultures, for instance, served it to athletes and warriors. They were supposed to gain superhuman strength and endurance. Barley was brought to the Americas by Columbus. Today, the crop is grown in temperate climates all over the world. It is popular for its energy value – it contains up to 80% carbohydrates. Barley is also a source of vitamins E and B, while vitamins C, K and H are also found in young barley.

Another globally important crop is rye (Secale). It's rich in carbohydrates and fiber but also offers modest amounts of protein, potassium and B vitamins.

This non-coffee also includes chicory (Cichorium intybus), a blue flowering plant native to Europe that has gained popularity beyond the continent. Introduced to the United States in the late 19th century, it is now grown by farmers in countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany. Chicory leaves and roots are used as a delicious vegetable. In addition, chicory root can be used to make a coffee substitute, which was widely used during the so-called coffee crisis (in the 1980s), when the roasted root was mixed with sugar beet and rye. The resulting drink was called Mischkaffee and was particularly popular in eastern Germany.

And now we come to the dandelion (Taraxacum). It is a perennial plant that's often considered a weed with strong roots and bright yellow flowers. They're are found in meadows, gardens and even fields. Dandelions like nitrogen-rich soils and temperate zones of the northern hemisphere, adapting to different environments. Dandelions are important honey-producing plants. People collect their leaves, flowers and roots, and use them to make salads, syrups and even flour.

We must not forget the sugar beet (Beta vulgaris), which is cultivated as a main source of sugar. Sugar beet juice contains high levels of sucrose and is the second most important source of sugar in the world, after sugarcane. Sugar beet processing has an intriguing history. The first experimental production of sugar from beet was carried out in Germany in 1747 by the chemist Marggraf. However, the first sugar refinery specializing in beet sugar was not established until 1802 in Silesia (now Poland). Sugar beet is a root vegetable, and its root contains sucrose, a white crystalline substance used as the most common sweetener.

Multigrain Coffee Substitute with Dandelion contains gluten. People with allergy to gluten should completely avoid it.