Alternatives to Coffee and Tea?

[NashySlashy]

Hi everyone.

 

So I have a terrible stomach. I've made a post about it before, so I won't go into too much detail about how much my stomach sucks lol.

 

I will go on about how I can't really drink coffee or tea. Every time I do, I get violently ill. But, as I work early in the morning, going without caffeine is no bueno. Soda doesn't really do it for me, either. I've considered energy drinks, but too many of those are unhealthy. I found one, though. It's essentially caffeinated sparkling water called Celsius. Works like a charm, but I'd like to know if there's any other options I can look into just in case.

 

Does anyone else have any other alternatives I can look into?

[Vidanjali]

Hey @NashySlashy . Two suggestions. Note, they're both pricier than tea and coffee, though. 

 

Have you tried matcha tea? It is the least processed form of green tea, and is considered a superfood. It's a prebiotic, very nutritious, and the high levels of chlorophyll make it alkaline, so prone to reduce acid. Regular tea, including green tea, makes me sick too. But, matcha does not, and sometimes I crave it. Matcha requires some tools (a small sifter & something that can froth) and prep time, but I find it quite satisfying. 

 

Another product I've tried is called Crio Bru. It's a high quality cacao which you brew in a French press. It is 99% caffeine free, but rich in antioxidants and theobromine which gives it stimulating, but more gentle properties. If you try this, you need to brew according to instructions because it's different than brewing coffee - you use a lot more grind per amount of water, you have to stir a couple times during the brewing process, and brew for longer than coffee. 

 

Note, whatever you decide to try, to reduce the incidence of discomfort, do not drink any such beverages on an empty stomach. 

[NashySlashy]

2 minutes ago, Vidanjali said:

Hey @NashySlashy . Two suggestions. Note, they're both pricier than tea and coffee, though. 

 

Have you tried matcha tea? It is the least processed form of green tea, and is considered a superfood. It's a prebiotic, very nutritious, and the high levels of chlorophyll make it alkaline, so prone to reduce acid. Regular tea, including green tea, makes me sick too. But, matcha does not, and sometimes I crave it. Matcha requires some tools (a small sifter & something that can froth) and prep time, but I find it quite satisfying. 

 

Another product I've tried is called Crio Bru. It's a high quality cacao which you brew in a French press. It is 99% caffeine free, but rich in antioxidants and theobromine which gives it stimulating, but more gentle properties. If you try this, you need to brew according to instructions because it's different than brewing coffee - you use a lot more grind per amount of water, you have to stir a couple times during the brewing process, and brew for longer than coffee. 

 

Note, whatever you decide to try, to reduce the incidence of discomfort, do not drink any such beverages on an empty stomach. 

I've never tried matcha tea! I need to, though. Anything that isn't too acidic will be my best friend lol.

 

As for Crio Bru, this is my first time hearing about it. Looks like I need to invest in a french press lol.

 

Thank you!

[Vidanjali]

My pleasure 🤗

[Heather Nicole]

2 hours ago, NashySlashy said:

I've never tried matcha tea! I need to, though. Anything that isn't too acidic will be my best friend lol.

 

I love matcha. Some people can find it a little overly bitter, but a common Japanese trick for dealing with that is to eat a sweet (like a gummy or even a hard candy or something) right before drinking the matcha.

[awkward-yet-sweet]

Tea is not all the same stuff.  Some settles better than others, but as @Heather Nicole mentioned, you might eat something before drinking tea.  My husband and my GF drink different types of tea.  My husband prefers jasmine green tea.  My GF drinks really strong Russian black tea with a hint of cinnamon.  I've noticed that is really hard on an empty stomach.  You might try different types and see what works best for you, or consult someone knowledgeable.  I'm fortunate to have an Asian grocery store in the city near me, and the owner has all kinds of different products and helpful advice. 

 

Even if you aren't a breakfast person, sometimes a single slice of cheese or a spoonful of honey can be very helpful. 

[Lydia_R]

I went without coffee for 9 months last year.  And I was completely caffeine free for 6 months of that time.  For the last 2 years, I've been drinking ginger tea, which has no tea in it.  I boil a pot of water.  I peal and cut a couple inches of ginger.  And then I add a cinnamon stick, about 10 cardamom pods and a teaspoon of cloves.  I boil that for 20 minutes, stain it and put it in the fridge.  Then when I would normally be drinking coffee, I heat up a cup of that and add some agave syrup or honey and sometimes add 2 teaspoons of lemon juice.

 

I found that I really am more hydrated when I'm caffeine free.  The mucus in the back of my throat bothers me a bit when I'm drinking coffee.  I always though that was dairy products, but I was wrong about that.  It is the coffee.  But I came to the conclusion that I just like coffee too much to go without it.  I wound up buying an espresso machine a few weeks ago.  I'm trying to keep the coffee to the weekends and just do the ginger tea on the weekends, but I'm pretty much failing at that.  But I am back to drinking the ginger tea during the week and I am loving that. 

[Russ Fenrisson]

@Lydia_R Ginger tea is the best kind of tea out there, especially for its health properties. Ginger, paired with honey, lemon, and sometimes cinnamon, are good for any cold or stomach ailment. Aside from that, it tastes really good! Can't go wrong with a little ginger in tea! 😁

[Delcina B]

@NashySlashyHere in the NW Florida Panhandle there's a Yaupon Holly tree. The leaves are used to make a caffeinated tea.

 

https://homegrownhandgathered.com/yaupon-holly-tea-a-native-coffee-alternative/