Time to change up your daily coffee fix!
Does your day start with the words, ‘but first coffee!’? That’s me everyday! We know coffee is an integral part of your daily routine and is the kickstarter to your day. With the caffeine fix of coffee comes the jitters and the feeling of absolute dependency. You scrambling for the last drop of coffee left in the pot is concerning, to say the least. What if we told you, we can help you quit your coffee addiction while providing you with the daily dose of caffeine you crave? Unbelievable? Well, turns out there are plenty of coffee alternatives that can provide you with the energy boost you need with all the health benefits you were lacking with your daily cuppa! Can we say that it will taste as good, maybe not, but hey there’s no harm in trying something new, right??
There is the traditional green tea that everyone is consuming and preaching about for fat loss, and then there is Matcha. On the days that you need that extra boost of energy, turn to this drink. It contains more caffeine than your regular green tea, but less than that of your favourite poison. Matcha is so much more nutrient-dense, containing twice the amount of antioxidants you would get from your traditional green tea. With entire leaves instead of just the extract, you have a versatile powder that can be used in smoothies, baking, cooking, lattes and so much more. Healthy, but also make it fun and tasty!
This popular South American drink comes from evergreen tree leaves, which explains its tea-like flavour, and contains naturally occurring caffeine, slightly less than what coffee would have though. This isn’t from the tea family and hence cannot be considered a part of the traditional caffeine family alternatives. Containing three main compounds—caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline—along with a host of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, polyphenols, saponins, and more—this healthy concoction of stimulants makes it a decent coffee alternative to have in your pantry.
The quintessential drink in every Indian household! Long before coffee was even served to guests, chai was the only beverage ever offered. With its base of black tea, masala chai contains a good amount of caffeine making it a potent drink. Spiced with condiments and served with milk, this beverage is a great alternative to coffee with the same effects of waking you up for a fabulous day!
Does your favourite coffee order have java in it? If yes and you aren’t having coffee anymore, and we have an alternative for you. Imagine chocolate being brewed in your home every day, minus all the health problems and only added benefits? Brewed cacao (not cocoa) contains theobromine—a naturally occurring stimulant in cacao that expands your blood vessels (as opposed to coffee, which constricts them)—it doesn’t activate your central nervous system and lasts longer than caffeine. Cannot think of a better coffee alternative!
Did you know that mushrooms were used as coffee alternatives in Finland during World War II? That makes mushroom coffee a fairly tried and tested concept. With medicinal extracts and added health benefits, mushroom coffee is a healthier alternative to coffee. A blend of medicinal mushrooms and very little coffee grounds, this coffee is smooth and nutty giving you a dark brew. It doesn’t taste too different from regular coffee making it something you should buy today!
Love the taste of coffee, but don’t want the jitters? Got for brewed chicory. With a woody, nutty aroma, this root of the flowering plant belonging to the dandelion family—is roasted and then ground to brew you your drink. Chicory root is a good source of inulin, a type of prebiotic fibre that may support weight loss and improve gut health, which we know coffee doesn’t do!
Now that we know, we don’t always need coffee to get us up and running, incorporating these coffee alternatives seem like a good bet! Your favourite cup of Joe now has a new meaning!
[All Image Credits: Shutterstock]
Shraddha Shetty