Chicory

[maria40]

Does anyone have any experience of taking chicory?

I've been told to give up caffeine because of SVT, and, as apparently even decaff coffee can contain up to 7% caffeine, I was looking for a coffee substitute and bought chicory powder. It's not coffee but drinkable. I've been drinking it for the past week and for the last couple of days have felt much better - less knee and back pain and no heart wobbles. Maybe coincidence. Thought I'd look up chicory for side effects and was pleased to learn that it was thought to be good for inflammation and palpitations and alright for everyone unless pregnant.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

healthline.com/nutrition/ch...

Remember Camp coffee?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_...

[Dovelady in reply to PMRpro]

My OH loves Camp Coffee, cheapest way to buy is Amazon 12 at a time.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Dovelady]

It was wonderful for cooking - coffee sponges!

[maria40 in reply to PMRpro]

I remember it well. My mother also had ground chicory which I think she prepared in a coffee percolator. I'm using an instant pure chicory extract from H&B which is nicely bitter.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to maria40]

There are a few coffee replacements here - barley is used I think too.

[Chihuahua1 in reply to PMRpro]

My grandparents used to use Camp and I loved it. That was my first introduction to coffee

[Suffererc in reply to PMRpro]

Urghhhhhh disgusting stuff

[Suffererc in reply to PMRpro]

Disgusting stuff ... Looks like the bio you put on plants

[Jackoh in reply to PMRpro]

Yes - hated it !!

[SheffieldJane]

I just saw PMRPro’s post as I was remembering my mum’s exotic looking bottle of Camp Coffee, which I longed to try. Maybe now is the time. Although I am a tea Jenny really. Roibus is ok and there is no caffeine in it.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SheffieldJane]

It was disgusting!!! SOOOOOO sweet!

[maria40 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Yes, I did try herbal teas including redbush, but I am a coffee drinker and they didn't do it for me.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to maria40]

I'm a (real) tea drinker (Tetleys works in all water all over the world), I do drink herbal teas here - but rooibus is disgusting ...

[Marijo1951 in reply to PMRpro]

It depends very much on the brand - not sure if advertising is allowed on the forum but Tick Tock, especially the organic version, is much nicer than others (despite the very silly brand name!)

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Marijo1951]

Sure it isn't dandelion????

[Marijo1951 in reply to PMRpro]

Good joke,but no - I think it's meant to be a reference to teatime...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Marijo1951]

Like the "5 o'clock tea" here that they are so sure we drink?

[Louisepenygraig in reply to PMRpro]

I really like rooibus tea! I drink it most of the time instead of tea, my daughter can't stand it.

[HeronNS in reply to Louisepenygraig]

I like rooibos also. Believe it's the "bush tea" Mma Ramotswe drinks in the Ladies #1 Detective Agency. It's the only herbal tea which satisfies me almost as much as regular tea, probably because it's nice with milk, unlike any other herbal tea.

[Louisepenygraig in reply to HeronNS]

Yes, that's what I like about it. As far as I'm concerned it's like real tea but nicer because it doesn't have the tannin. I always assume that's what Mma Ramotswe drinks too.

[Soraya_PMR in reply to SheffieldJane]

Had to google rooibus. Ugh it’s that disgusting red bush tea 🤮

PG decaf for me.

My mum used to drink camp coffee, don’t think I liked it. Never tried chicory powder, don’t feel inclined to either. They don’t call me Tea Boat Lil for nothing!

[SheffieldJane in reply to Soraya_PMR]

You get used to it, like everything else in this fun illness. ☕️

[Soraya_PMR in reply to SheffieldJane]

I know what you mean. I have grown quite fond of ginger tea now. There’s several herbal teas I like, fennel smells divine but tastes weak (needs 2 tea bags). Peppermint might aid your sinuses Jane? Make it hot and breathe in the steam. But can’t do fruit teas.

[SheffieldJane in reply to Soraya_PMR]

That’s a good idea. It might help the slight heartburn I get these days too. I like ginger a lot and Chamomile tea ( although not tasty) does really help in getting to sleep at bedtime ( any other time, I need no help at all)!

[Chihuahua1 in reply to Soraya_PMR]

I agree with you regarding rooibos tea. I tried my first and last cup roughly 5 years ago. It was awful..

[Suffererc in reply to Chihuahua1]

Just the smell urghhhhhhh disgusting stuff

[Marijo1951 in reply to Chihuahua1]

See my reply to PMRPro - I used to hate roobuis but really like the Tick Tock organic.

[Chihuahua1 in reply to Marijo1951]

It was the Tick Tock brand I tried Ee Toe each his own but definitely not for me. Sorry.

[Marijo1951 in reply to Chihuahua1]

Maybe my taste buds changed, and it just happened when I tried that particular brand. I've found that a lot of things taste different since I started taking pred.

[Chihuahua1 in reply to Marijo1951]

Now that I can relate to and they haven't changed back since coming off preds either

[Marijo1951 in reply to Chihuahua1]

Interesting... If I still don't like chocolate and mince pies when I'm off pred, it will be a little bonus for having had to take it.

[gtate1914]

I drink roasted chicory root tea. Love the stuff, especially since I gave up coffee over a year ago. I buy the organic off Amazon.

[maria40 in reply to gtate1914]

Have you noticed any health benefits?

[gtate1914 in reply to gtate1914]

I just know it's supposed to be good for you in so many different ways according to "Dr Google"... your liver, anti inflammatory, prebiotic, and besides I just like the taste.

[maria40 in reply to gtate1914]

Yes, I agree. I like the taste but the health benefits are a bonus.

[HeronNS]

Just remembered something hubby and I used to drink years ago. Inka, a Polish cereal-based coffee substitute, which I quite liked then, but at the time my experience of coffee was mostly instant, so I think as my tastes evolved I lost interest in Inka. But it was quite nice, we did use it for a long time.

[maria40 in reply to HeronNS]

What I'm really interested in is whether anyone knows anything about chicory's health benefits from experience.

[HeronNS in reply to maria40]

Only what Dr Google says. It contains inulin which is a prebiotic.

[Marijo1951 in reply to HeronNS]

Just looked it up. It contains a lot of sugar beet so probably best avoided. Some of the chicory drinks are sugar-free.

[HeronNS in reply to Marijo1951]

It's sugar beet, not the refined sugar, but I know what you mean. I don't recall that it was particularly sweet. I don't like sweetened coffee so probably wouldn't have liked Inka if it had tasted sweet. Only way to know really is to see the nutrient listing. Now you've got me curious, I wonder if I can still buy it around here?

[Marijo1951 in reply to HeronNS]

Over here it's apparently available at Tesco and I imagine a lot of the independent Polish shops stock it. Otherwise it's available online.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I noticed this morning that Aldi here has a 100% barley coffee substitute in the capsule things for coffee machines. Not chicory of course - but an interesting alternative for caffeine-free "coffee".

What do these things tate like?