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Looking to cut back on your coffee and caffeine intake? Or, perhaps you’d just like to switch things up when it comes to your beverage routine. You can find lots of delicious (and nutritious) substitutes for coffee made with surprising ingredients. From mushrooms to matcha, try out these herb-infused coffee alternatives to start your day.
Chicory Coffee
Looking to cut down on caffeine but still get that java-like flavor? Try chicory coffee! It comes from the roasted and ground root of the chicory plant. According to MedicalNewsToday, it has a coffee-like taste but contains no caffeine. Chicory also has health benefits including helping to control blood sugar.
Matcha Tea
Stroll the streets of Tokyo, and you’ll stumble upon quite a few people sipping a frothy green beverage called matcha. Bright, sweet, and slightly bitter, matcha makes a great coffee alternative, according to Healthline. Matcha is made from ground tea leaves and comes packed with health benefits. Plus, it may improve your mood. Matcha does contain caffeine (about 70 milligrams per cup). Compare that to coffee, which contains 100 to 120 milligrams per cup. So you’ll still get that energy boost but with less jitters.
Golden Milk
Golden milk gets its name from its dark yellow hue thanks to its star ingredient, turmeric. This immensely healthy spice, gets brewed with warm milk and other spices, such as cinnamon and ginger. You can make it by warming all the ingredients together in a pot on your stovetop. It also has health properties and could help reduce inflammation, improve memory, and boost your mood. So drink up!
Mushroom Coffee
You may not think of mushrooms when it comes to coffee, but you’d be surprised how similar this recipe can taste to java. According to Harvard Health Publishing, fungi like chaga, lion's mane, reishi, cordyceps, king trumpet, and turkey tail get harvested, dried, and brewed creating an earthy nutty taste. You can find lots of powder blends available at health food stores to mix with hot water at home. Drinking mushroom coffee could provide medicinal benefits like better immunity and sleep.
Chai
Popular throughout India and the Middle East, chai consists of a blend of herbs and spices often brewed with milk and sugar, according to WebMD. Chai is also called masala chai or spiced tea. Although you can find many recipes, chai commonly gets made with black tea, cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper. It contains about half the caffeine compared to a cup of coffee, making it ideal to avoid the jitters.
Lemon Water
Start the day on a bright note with this simple tea made from lemon slices and hot water. Traditional Indian medicine, known as Ayurveda, recommends drinking lemon water after you wake up, to rehydrate in the morning. Lemons have strong antibacterial, antiviral, and immune-boosting properties, explained Healthline. When brewed with water, you can enjoy that sweet tartness, without that puckering intensity. Mix in some ginger and honey for an even tastier treat.
Yerba Mate
Yerba mate is a type of tea made from the leaves of an evergreen tree that is common in South America. People in the region enjoy sipping this coffee alternative for its health benefits. It contains many vitamins and minerals but it should be used in moderation. Yerba mate contains 80 mg of caffeine so it’ll give you a nice energy boost.
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