What is chicory and how is it useful? Many people consider it a cheap alternative to coffee

What is chicory and how is it useful? Many people consider it a cheap alternative to coffee

The drink is especially interesting for those who want to give up caffeine.

founder of the brand of products for healthy nutrition Bionova

What is chicory? Let’s break it down.

At the word “chicory” many people have not the most pleasant associations: supposedly it is a budget drink, remotely resembling a coffee drink. In Soviet times, it really was quite mediocre in taste and quality, they often tried to compensate for the lack of good coffee in stores. But times have changed, and I suggest taking a fresh look at chicory.

Also in chicory are:

• B vitamins (antioxidants involved in the nervous and cardiovascular systems);
• tannins (have antibacterial properties, have an anti-inflammatory effect, prevent the reproduction of harmful bacteria);
• many macro- and microelements.

We often encounter the stereotype that chicory is a “grandmotherly” drink, which is used mainly by the elderly. In reality, because of its high inulin content, it is useful for people of all ages and is suitable even for children’s nutrition. It also has no contraindications for those with high blood pressure (hypertension), because chicory does not contain caffeine.

It is a common opinion that this is an unpalatable analog of coffee. Such a comparison went from the Soviet times, when coffee disappeared from the shelves. The country began to import cheap Indian chicory of very low quality and sell it as a substitute for coffee. Yes, the methods of preparation of these drinks are identical. Soluble chicory is poured into a cup and poured with hot water. And there are as many options for preparing a drink from the ground plant as there are for ground coffee: in a turbo, in a coffee maker, in a French press and even in a coffee machine. But the similarities in flavor are ultimately minimal.

High-quality instant chicory is superior in flavor characteristics to most varieties of cheap instant coffee and at the same time does not contain caffeine.

How to choose chicory?

In order not to subsequently spoil the impression of the drink, when buying chicory, be sure to pay attention to:

• The price of the drink. High-quality chicory can not be cheap now – the best manufacturers are in Europe. Therefore, its price is comparable to the price of coffee.
• The color of the powder. Too light color may indicate the presence of additives, such as maltodextrin. This is also evidenced by the lack of foam when brewing, because it is the protein contained in the powder of the plant itself that gives the foam to the drink.
• Inulin content. This is one of the main indicators of quality. In good chicory it is not less than 30%. And manufacturers of quality products usually do not hide this figure.