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A hipster trend from times of crisis

13.2.2020

Translation: machine translated

Root coffee? Sounds awful at first - and time-consuming. Natalie and I are on the verge of losing our nerve when we manage to make a cup of brown brew from the dirty beetroot after all. Was it worth it?

Chicory is currently on every vegetable shelf. A local winter vegetable that can be prepared both hot and cold. However, the end consumer hardly ever gets to see the roots. Yet they are said to harbour healthy substances. Inulin, for example, helps to build up healthy intestinal flora. The root is also said to have pain-relieving properties and prevent thrombosis and high blood pressure. So it's no wonder that health influencers have discovered chicory for themselves and brew tea and coffee with it. Caffeine-free, of course.

This is what the root looks like fresh from the farmer.

My colleague Natalie and I are still sceptical. Can a tasty broth be made from the dirty roots of a vegetable farmer in eastern Switzerland? As a rule, I don't have much sympathy for such trends. The stuff may be healthy, but it often tastes pretty rubbish. Yes, that's you Kale. Unlike me, Natalie only likes coffee in a ratio of 1:100 with milk. Maybe she'll find an alternative in chicory coffee after all? Or maybe I'll throw all my prejudices overboard and become a health disciple? Find out in the video.

And this is what it looks like chopped up and roasted.

Back to the roots

By the way, the "trend" is not new. Whenever original coffee became scarce, people had to switch to plant-based substitutes. Due to the Napoleonic Continental Blockade - an economic blockade against Great Britain and its colonies - the supply of "Arabic coffee" was restricted. As a result, entire chicory factories were established in Germany. Even during and shortly after the end of the Third Reich, coffee beans were hardly available, which is why "German coffee", a euphemism for coffee substitute, suddenly made a name for itself on various drinks menus. Caro-Kaffee came onto the market in 1954. The instant coffee substitute made from barley, rye, chicory and malt established itself and is still commercially available today. I also used to drink Muckefuck with cake at Grandma's while the adults sipped caffeinated coffee.

If you fancy jumping on the health bandwagon and making your own chicory coffee, you can find the recipe here.

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Carolin Teufelberger

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carolin.teufelberger@digitecgalaxus.ch

My life in a nutshell? On a quest to broaden my horizon. I love discovering and learning new skills and I see a chance to experience something new in everything – be it travelling, reading, cooking, movies or DIY.

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