Chicory Root Tea, My Coffee Substitute

         As I have written in my previous post here about my 21 Day Hormone Reset, the hardest part of the detox had been giving up my yummy, warm, caffeinated morning coffee.There is just something so comforting and intoxicating about coffee (probably the caffeine addiction). After researching more about coffee, I really see the need to stop drinking it daily. An occasional sweet delicious cappuccino from the espresso maker never hurts, but I do not want to get my energy only from my caffeine kick. And now that I am sugar-free,why not kick my minor addiction too! After I had been in my reset for two weeks which was caffeine free, my sleepy headaches went away and I had some natural energy back. Now being off it for over a month again, I miss the taste, but I am glad I can let my body produce its own natural energy. Detoxing from caffeine is never a pretty sight, just like my sugar withdrawals haven't been fun. I just have to see the big picture and know that after a few weeks, the withdrawals lessen and things only get better. With it finally being decently cold in these California early mornings, I still want a comforting warm beverage in the morning. I always start off with a hot tea of lemon, coconut oil, and a little stevia (for taste) to cleanse my system first off, but that isn't comforting nor really delicious.

Chicory Root (left) and Dandelion Root (right)

       So I discovered the chicory root. Everywhere I read about chicory told me it was the closest taste to coffee (even looks like ground coffee), but of course was naturally caffeine-free. So I decided to order a bulk of loose chicory root from the online site called iherb.com, which has great prices, definitely on bulk items. If you want to check it out I have a $5 off handy promo code you just enter at checkout: HKS957. As I brewed the chicory root, it sure looked dark and inviting like coffee. Smelled a little more nutty though. When I tasted it, it had a good strong, nutty earthy taste with quite the peppery, bitter aftertaste. I was mildly disappointed. So I did more searching, and found that many people mix it with dandelion root to help balance the bitterness. Weird, since if you have ever had dandelion greens, you would know they are extremely bitter. But I think the two bitters must counteract, because what I made with them tasted really good. BUT STILL needed some tweaking, it was just a little strong and dark, like a dark roast coffee, so if you prefer your coffee black, you're set on just that combination. So I made it into a mocha and it turned out AMAZING!
Here is my recipe for a mug size:

Chicory and Dandelion Mocha
1/2 tablespoon chicory root
1/2 tablespoon dandelion root
1/2 cup boiling water
1/2 warmed almond milk
1 tsp cocoa powder
dash of vanilla
2 packets of stevia powder
dash of organic half n half *
I put the chicory and dandelion root in a french press with the boiling water and steep for 7-10 minutes. If you don't have a french press, you could use a tea steeper. While that is steeping, on the stove top add the rest of the ingredients in a small pot to warm and mix. Once the roots are steeped, pour both mixtures into a mug. 
Sip and enjoy!
 *You can of course leave out the half n half for a dairy free version, but I found the dash of cream helped with the bitter taste.

Besides the amazing taste result of this mixture, there are many benefits of drinking 

chicory and dandelion root.

The chicory plant dates back 5000 years to the Egyptians who used it for medicinal purposes. Also the Romans and Greeks would call chicory the 'Friend of the Liver' since it's supposed to help stimulate that organ. Throughout the years it has been used as a liver tonic, to relieve upset stomachs, calm the nerves, detoxify, and treat diabetes.

Chicory Root

Today people have done more research and still see all the good properties of chicory. The chicory root, which is what I use for the tea, contains a lot of inulin, which is a fiber that helps feed the digestive flora in the intestines. With high amount of inulin in the intestines it enhances digestion, helps regulate blood sugar levels, and helps push out stool which helps release and get rid of toxins.

Dandelion Root

Alongside that, chicory is special with having a small amount of almost every essential vitamin. Two main ones are selenium and manganese. Selenium helps regulate your thyroid hormones and the immune system and manganese helps with healthy bones, tissues, and maintenance of blood sugar levels and nerves. There is also a nice amount of potassium which is essential for kidney function, and phosphorus which metabolizes protein, sugar, and calcium.
The addition of dandelion helps even more with the chicory benefits. It is a digestive aid, aids in kidney function, improves liver function, it is high in antioxidants, regulates blood sugar (which is really good for diabetics), and can boost the immune system.
With drinking these two "superfoods" instead of coffee daily, there are only positive outcomes awaiting you. It is amazing how many nutrients can be packed in two little weed-like plants!

Have you heard or tried chicory root before? Would you consider cutting back on coffee for a scrumptious, beneficial alternative?