Actually, I love coffee but Dandy Blend, an herbal coffee substitute, is a close second.
When I was pregnant I gave up coffee because the caffeine made me all jittery and crazy feeling. Decaffeinated coffee gave me headaches. [Cheeseslave recently wrote 30 Reasons to Quit Coffee - it's a good read. She also wrote How to Quit.]
Let me clarify, I wasn't hard core addicted. Mostly I like something warm to drink first thing the morning, especially when it is cold outside. So, when I decided to give up coffee in the spring, it wasn't that big of a deal.
But once the weather finally started getting cooler this fall, I found myself longing for my friend - Mr. Strong Coffee.
About this time I went to visit a like-minded Nourishing Traditions
friend in Phoenix. She has searched the globe, high and low, for a suitable coffee substitute. I've tasted some of her discoveries. Blech.I scoffed when she offered to make a cup of Dandy Blend.
"No thank you!"
But this one is different.
"Yeah, right…like all the rest."
Reluctantly I tried one sip of hers.
***Big mistake. Instantly hooked. Seriously good stuff.***
It tastes a bit like a latte with a subtle sweetness and mild chicory overtones. Definitely reminiscent of coffee. Extra bonus for being caffeine free and virtually calorie free. Ingredients: dandelion, chicory and beet roots, barley and rye grains.
Because I am nursing, I need to drink a lot. Drinking water all day long is boring. Juice has too many empty calories; carbonated mineral water makes my baby scream. Dandy Blend is perfect all hours of the day.
Many of my friends have tried it, too. If they remotely like coffee, they like Dandy Blend.
Because it is a powder, it can also be used interchangeably for instant coffee in other recipes - like tiramisu.
GIVEAWAY
You have three chances to win a 7oz bag (which is good for 100 cups) or single servings:
1. Leave a comment telling us if you're addicted to Joe or just curious 'bout Dandy.
2. Leave another comment after you've "liked" us on Facebook.
3. Subscribe to Real Food in Little Rock, either via email (see subscription box at upper right) or some other RSS feed. Leave a separate comment after doing so.
Where to buy: In Little Rock, Drug Emporium (corner of Reservoir and Rodney Parham) is now carrying it. Otherwise contact Dandy Blend, or look on Amazon.
- Julie
also linked to Real Food Wednesday , Monday Mania and Fight Back Friday.
Disclaimer: Dandy Blend sent a package for personal use along with the giveaway package. Even if they didn't donate the goods, I would still be raving about the product. Uh-may-zing.
Would love to try this as I have been looking for a coffee sub.
ReplyDeleteI already like you on facebook. Hope that counts.
ReplyDeleteYou have me very interested! I usually only drink 1 cup of coffee a day, but this sounds perfect for warming up in the evenings!
ReplyDeleteCoffee addicted here. But, willing to try something different. This sounds good. BTW, thanks for this blog, I have been enjoying it!
ReplyDeleteKamrin
Perfect timing! I LOOOVE coffee, but more so for the taste and warmth than the caffeine. I've been planning on picking up some Teeccino to test next time I went to Whole Foods, and I would love to try this one as well! Thanks for sharing the herbal coffee love :)
ReplyDeleteI subscribe via Google Reader.
ReplyDeleteI liked you back when I had was on Facebook but have since deleted the account. Does that still count ;)
ReplyDeleteSounds interesting... my husband and I like experimenting with different kinds of coffee, so I think we may have to give this a try to see if it's an acceptable substitute!
ReplyDeleteooooh, addicted to coffee i am! but pregnancy makes me feel so guilty about drinking it so i give it up (most days) and hope i'm helping myself and my baby. i'd like to give it up for good but can't ever seem to get into tea!!!
ReplyDeleteLove coffee from Starbucks but have never really loved just plain ol joe. This sound tempting and something I'd love better than tea. I love me something HOT in this cooler weather. No cals, no caff...I am your girl! PICK ME! PICK ME! :)
ReplyDeleteI liked you on FB! Never knew you were there! :)
ReplyDeleteI suscribe already!
ReplyDeleteI just started weak, half-caff coffee about a year ago, after getting tired of tea. I've been thinking of looking for a healthier substitute. I would love to give this a try!
ReplyDeleteI 'like' you on FB. :)
ReplyDeleteI follow you through Blogger.
ReplyDeleteHmmm... Sounds interesting. Could it be my coffee replacement? I haven't had a cuppa joe in 3.5 weeks and while it's getting easier, I'm not all that enamoured with herbal tea and need a hot cup of something in the am and pm.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is my one thing I can't give up. Oh and I'm nursing too :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm already subscribed via Email.
ReplyDeleteI am very curious about Dandy Blend. I quit coffee long ago but would love a substitute caffeine free alternative that doesn't give me headaches, like caffeine does. Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteI have already liked you on facebook.
ReplyDeleteI subscribe to Real Food in Little Rock via email updates. Thanks again!
ReplyDeleteI do all of the "likes" you mentioned. I have always liked the smell and taste of coffee, but my stomach never liked it, plus in trying to eat all natural, I didn't pursue coffee. Dandy Blend sounds like a perfect solution to all of my "issues"!
ReplyDeleteAlready subscribed via email. Not a coffee addict but love a cup every other day or so. Caffeine makes me jittery (all the way to the bathroom) so I tend to do decaf. I love the hot chocolate they sell at Boulevard Bread Co., and I often add instant decaf to it to give it more of a mocha flavor. I'm curious about the Dandy and would love to try it instead of the weird crystals.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this information about a good tasting product. We would love to try it since my daughter loves the taste of coffee but can't have caffeine and too much caffeine gives me the jitters. Plus with this product you don't have to make a pot of coffee in order to have just one cup:) Can't wait to try it!! (Post written by Kerry(Mom) not Brian!)
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, you are already in my Google Reader.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious! I drink coffee most mornings, but you make this sound like a delicious substitute.
ReplyDeleteAnd, I subscribe to your site through my google reader.
ReplyDeleteI'm addicted to coffee but have been cutting back gradually. Would like to try an alternative. Thanks for the tip.
ReplyDeleteGrew up in New Orleans and LOVE my morning cafe au lait. The blend we drink is a traditional mixture of dark roast coffee and chickory (a cousin of dandelion).
ReplyDeleteLike the Facebook page. Clean look and interesting.
ReplyDeleteSubscribed by XML feed
ReplyDeleteI already subscribe via email.
ReplyDeleteI "liked" the Facebook page.
ReplyDeleteI like coffee, but my husband LOVES coffee and we both would like to not drink it as much. I am pregnant and will be nursing soon so I would love a substitute to the caffeine!
ReplyDeleteI'm not addicted but I do enjoy a warm drink in the mornings. I definitely need to avoid the caffeine so this sounds great.
ReplyDeleteI love coffee and enjoy trying new things, so a perfect combination.
ReplyDelete