Herbal Coffee Substitute - Chicory

Herbal Coffee Substitute - Chicory

Chicory is a useful plant - the green leaves are used in salads or as sauteed greens and the root is used as a caffeine-free coffee substitute.  Chicory was actually mixed in with real coffee during WWII - to help extend coffee supplies.

I have seen Chicory growing wild on the side of many highways and back roads in North America.  Although - I do NOT reccommend wild cultivation - if you want Chicory coffee then buy a packet of Chicory seeds - just to be safe. 

THE TASTE:  I have to be totally honest - Chicory will never replace Tim Horton's.......but I did like it.  It smells and looks exactly like coffee but the taste is different - it's the aftertaste that was a little bitter.  It was that same aftertaste that I get from "Stevia" (a natural herbal sweetener) - it was sweet and bitter at the same time with a very slight anise taste also.

Dig the entire plant in the fall and use the top greens in salads or a stir-fry.  Snap off all of the roots from the greens and wash them thoroughly.  Cut off the ends.  Dry the roots on a cookie sheet in a 325 degree oven for 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours (see picture above).  Allow the dried roots to cool completely and then chop/pulse in a food processor until they look like the picture below (it will look like dirt).

Now brew in a coffee maker - I used 1 tablespoon per cup of water but that was a little strong so you can use less.

Add cream and sugar and ENJOY!!

HEALTH BENEFITS OF CHICORY:

(I am NOT a doctor but this information is from some of my online research)

- a blood and liver cleanser

- anti-parasitic

-contains "inulin" which helps regulate blood sugar levels

- high in Vitamin A, calcium and other vitamins and minerals

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