Someone recently brought up in conversation that she is trying to wean herself off coffee, and it made me think about coffee alternatives. I don’t think it is necessarily as simple as swapping out any tea or herbal tea for your morning joe. Especially since some want to cut caffeine completely, some just want to reduce their intake, and some have non-caffeine related issues with coffee instead like stomach problems.
I am personally still a coffee drinker, even though I am a home herbalist and spend so much time blending and drinking herbal and “true” tea blends! I definitely don’t overdo coffee and tend to only drink it in the mornings, and I love experimenting with herb/spice/botanical additions to my mug.
I am very much NOT caffeine sensitive, so my one or two cups a day don’t have much impact on me, and though I might feel a bit grumpy if I miss my morning java ritual, I honestly don’t feel any detrimental physical impact if I skip a day. I know I am very lucky in this, however! Coffee can affect people so differently, and some just need ways to cut back or cut it out completely.
There are many different herbal / botanical coffee alternatives that can suit different needs. I thought I would share a few of my favorites, which can help fill a specific void that coffee leaves behind:
Golden Milk (turmeric, sweet spices, black pepper, sugar / honey / etc., and milk) for a warming, very healthy, comforting, aromatic, immune-boosting & inflammation-modulating decaf sip (although to be honest—I personally still drink coffee myself, but often add about ¼ tsp of this to my mug and stir it in to enjoy the benefits & taste of both)
Roasted dandelion root for a cozy, earthy, hearty, grounding, detoxifying caffeine-free brew (my evening go-to; I often mix this with cacao nibs and cinnamon stick chips. You can also cut your ground coffee with dandelion root to reduce the caffeine and add health benefits!)
Lapsang souchong for some caffeine (but not as much as coffee) and a dark, bitter, smoky, complex, satisfying cuppa (an acquired taste, but I adore it)
Cacao nibs for a wee bit of caffeine, tons of antioxidants & beneficial minerals, mood-boosting endorphins, and rich & decadent taste
Chai or other spiced black tea for a bit of caffeine in a satisfying, aromatic, grounding, flavorful, cozy, warming brew (pictured here is a favorite of mine—hot apple spice)
Matcha for a complex, earthy, herbaceous, fresh, soothing cuppa with moderate caffeine that is offset by amazing health benefits (I’ll admit, I am not a huge matcha person when it’s by itself, but I do sometimes incorporate it into recipes and blends—but some people swear by it!)
Have you transitioned away from coffee with any of these, or perhaps a different alternative? Let us know in the comments — I have a feeling there are others who could benefit from some ideas to try!
The Herbology Faerie 