6 Coffee Substitutes

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By Natural Health+

While coffee is enjoyed the world over, it does come with its own side effects. But coffee aficionados can take heart: there are several coffee substitutes commercially available that can sate their need for a hot beverage without succumbing to side effects.

Here are some of the best coffee substitutes:

• Ayurvedic Roast. Grain coffee mixed with herbs such as Ashwagandha and Brahmi, which develop the immune system, improve mental sharpness and provide antioxidants. Ayurvedic roast has all the dark roast texture and pleasant fragrance of real coffee plus a lot of healthy ingredients, as well.

• Grain coffee. A blend of roasted grain and nuts that can be processed by using a regular coffee blender. Barley, asparagus and figs are some of the ingredients that are blended in to make grain coffee.

• Ersatz coffee. Rice, peas and chicory that are roasted together and placed in a teabag to be soaked in hot water prior to drinking. Ersatz coffee was a common substitute during World War II when coffee was in short supply, and while it is currently out of favor, some specialty companies continue to supply it.

• Soyfee. Made from soybeans that are roasted slowly to bring out the full-bodied flavor that resembles coffee while supplying a host of nutrients. While Soyfee contains no gluten and carbohydrates that are frequently present in other coffee alternatives, it may possess a large amount of uric acid that can have a negative effect to some people.

• Tea. Whether it’s regular tea or the herbal variety, tea has a strong following in many countries and comes in different flavors. Herbal tea may contain antioxidants that are especially beneficial to your health.

• Pero. An instant all-natural drink made from malted barley and chicory. Unlike other coffee substitutes that need to be brewed and filtered, Pero can be prepared by stirring a teaspoonful in hot water. It gives off a sweet, roasted fragrance and tastes slightly bitter.

To ease your transition to a coffee substitute, mix coffee with the substitute of your choice then gradually reduce the coffee during the coming weeks. This will reduce the withdrawal symptoms experienced by your body as you take away the caffeine from your system.