Herbal coffee? My quest for a zero-caffeine coffee is over. Shortly after I sent you the e-Alert "Free, and Then Some" (10/15/07) about the true caffeine content of various decaf coffee brands, I spotted an herbal no-caf coffee at the grocery store. Herbal coffee? Sure, I was skeptical too, but I decided to give it a try because I miss my occasional morning cup of decaf. Unlike most coffee drinkers, I don't drink out of habit or in search of a morning wakeup buzz. I drink a cup now and then just for the comfort of a quiet moment with a warm beverage before I launch myself into another crazy busy day. But really, could an "herbal" coffee come even close the satisfying flavor of a good cuppa joe? As I say, I was skeptical, and even more skeptical after I brewed a pot. Frankly, the aroma was disappointing - not even close to that rich and tempting fragrance of a freshly brewed pot of coffee. But I'd already come this far, so I tried it - and it was surprisingly good! According to the Teeccino web site (teeccino.com), the vanilla nut blend I sampled contains, "roasted carob, barley, chicory root, figs, almonds, dates, extract of Mexican vanilla & natural flavor." No coffee. No caffeine. And yet it's a very appealing stand-in for the caffeine-packed decaf I used to drink. The Teeccino web site also contains helpful information about the drawbacks of daily caffeine consumption and tips on how to kick caffeine addiction.
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