Ancient Roots: Chicory Drink

Your hearty, anytime, caffeine-free coffee alternative

The root of the blue-flowered chicory plant is beloved in French artisanal coffee culture, where it has been blended with coffee since the trade blockades of the Napoleonic Wars. It was through this influence that it became a staple ingredient in instant coffee preparations like SA's own Ricoffy.

Despite its ubiquity, few people are aware of how delicious chicory can be as a beverage on its own, and fewer still know of the abundant research on chicory's broad health benefits. In the scientific community, chicory is best known as the original prebiotic, and these impacts on gut health have been shown to survive the roasting process. More recent studies indicate that it can enhance sleep and reduce the impact of chronic sleep deprivation. Compounds in chicory root also cause the bacteria in your gut to produce more short-chain fatty acids, which in turn modulate gene expression in the brain, bringing about beneficial effects on cognition and motivation.

Consumed on its own, roasted chicory makes for a delicious caffeine-free stand-in for coffee. Its pleasantly bitter, slightly nutty flavour, while unique to the discerning palette, is similar enough to coffee that many can't tell the difference, so you can enjoy the ritual of coffee by day or night without worrying about the impact on your nervous system or your sleep cycle.