Herbal Coffee (caffeine free)

This Herbal Coffee is a decadent and delicious coffee substitute that has many added health benefits. It's completely caffeine-free and can be enjoyed any time of day.

This Herbal Coffee is a great alternative to regular caffeinated beverage and has amazing nutritional benefits. It can be enjoyed black for a very bold taste or add cream and your favorite additions for a latte or butter coffee vibe.

What is Herbal Coffee?

Herbal coffee is a blend of herbs that has a similar texture, flavor and richness as traditional coffee. It's typically caffeine free and has several health benefits.

It's a great alternative to those wanting to cut back on caffeine or ditch it all together. Depending on the ingredients of the herbal coffee, it may reduce inflammation, decrease blood sugar and improve digestive health.

Though specific ingredients and amounts vary from recipe to recipe, they generally have the same key players.

Healthy Substitute for Coffee

If you wanted to ditch coffee, this herbal substitute is a great way to do that. Much like coffee, it is rich and bold thanks to the roasted chicory and dandelion roots but can be made entirely caffeine free.

Even though coffee may boast it's own nutritional benefits, it's always a good idea to switch to herbal coffee for a short while even if there's no caffeine sensitivity.

The ingredients in herbal coffee blend are nourishing and detoxifying giving your liver a break from coffee.

Helpful Tip: Herbal coffee is a great caffeine-free alternative and a healthy substitute for coffee. 

What are ingredients in Herbal Coffee blend?

Herbal coffee starts with an herbal coffee blend. A 4-ingredient concoction that consists of chicory root, dandelion root, dandelion leaves and Yerba Mate.

Chicory Root

Chicory is a relative of the dandelion plant. It's leaves are popular in salads and the roots are great in coffee substitutions.

In addition to being a great source of vitamins and minerals such as zinc, magnesium, and potassium, chicory root also contains inulin. Inulin is a soluble fiber that feeds digestive flora to the intestines, making chicory root a powerful probiotic. (source)

We love this organic roasted chicory root granules to add to herbal coffee.

Dandelion Root

Though technically considered a weed, dandelion actually has a long history of therapeutic use in countries including Korea and Mexico. Be sure to use roasted dandelion root.

Dandelion roots contain chemicals whose biological properties are being studied for their roles in human health. Specifically, evidence suggests that dandelion contains antioxidants and compounds that may support body's natural immune response. (source)

When looking for dandelion root, be sure to find one that is roasted and loose (not in tea bags). This organic dandelion root is a great option.

Dandelion Leaves

Often found in herbal medicine, dandelion leaves are a rich source of beta-carotene which then converts into vitamin A. Flowering plant and leaves are rich in vitamin C, fiber, potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc and phosphorus.

Dandelion leaves for consumption are best organic and sifted. My favorite is by Frontier Co-Op.

Yerba Mate

These are the leaves and stems of the mate plant and like most teas, are rich in vitamins and minerals. It has an herbal, grassy taste that resembles certain types of green tea.

There is anecdotal evidence suggesting Yerba Mate may contain caffeine, though in much smaller quantities than the regular coffee. (source)

This ingredient is optional in this herbal coffee substitute so feel free to omit for a guaranteed caffeine-free experience. When selecting Yerba Mate, make sure you're looking for loose leaf and not in tea bags. This is a great organic Yerba Mate option.

Herbal Butter Coffee Ingredients

If you remember a few years ago the concept of "butter coffee" was all the rage and super trendy on social media channels.

But the idea of butter coffee isn't really new. Since forever, we've been adding full-fat cream to our coffee and many cultures add cream to teas.

It's not until recently, that we redefined what a "coffee creamer" should be and stripped it of it's health benefits in fat and replaced it with stabilizers and other cheap fillers.

But now we're bringing back and calling it butter coffee. It's essentially coffee that is full of healthy fats and often has added collagen. In short, it's coffee on steroids that will keep your belly happy and blood sugars steady thanks to fat and protein in collagen.

Let's look at the ingredients that go into a butter coffee, in addition to the herbal coffee blend.

Butter

Butter adds essential nutrients your body needs to thrive. It keeps you fuller longer, reduces jitters and gives more sustained energy flow.

When looking for butter, make sure you get European butter as it has more fat solids and has a rich yellow hue.

Additionally, you may add coconut oil or MCT oil for further benefits.

Helpful Tip: Adding fat to herbal coffee will improve absorption of nutrients in the roots and herbs and keep the blood sugar stable. 

Collagen

I always like to add collagen to warm drinks because it blends so effortlessly. Collagen peptides are rich in protein and amino acids but if you don't have that on hand, just omit it.

We love Perfect Supplements brand as they are exclusively sourced from grass-fed cows and are the highest quality on the market. They feel very strongly about third-party testing and with recent discovery of lead in a big-brand collagen, I feel very confident using Perfect Supplements.

If you, like me, appreciate a quality collagen product, be sure to stock up on their hydrolyzed collagen and use the code PREPARE10 for an additional 10% off on their already great prices.

Milk or Cream

A "latte" isn't complete without the creaminess that comes from milk. If dairy-free, any nut milk will do as will coconut milk. My favorite is raw milk but that's a personal preference.

Half and half as well as heavy cream will work also but just remember it will give a more richer texture.

Sweeteners

If you prefer a sweet coffee drink, be sure to check out this post on healthy alternative natural sweeteners.

Some of the favorite ways to sweeten this drink is with maple sugar, maple syrup or coconut sugar. You may also use monkfruit to make this low carb.

Frequently Asked Questions & Tips

Make-Ahead Tips for Herbal Coffee

The best suggestion to make effortless herbal coffee is to have the herbal blend ready to go in a jar.

Even though the blend consists of only 4 ingredients but because it's non-perishable, you can easily combine those roots and herbs together in large batches and keep them stored in an airtight container.

This will make the process of making herbal coffee a lot smoother and quicker.

How to make Herbal Coffee

The complete printable recipe is below in the recipe card for your convenience.

This homemade herbal coffee has : chicory root, dandelion root, dandelion leaves, and Yerba Mate (if using), butter, milk or cream,collagen, and sweetener.

The best way to enjoy a warm cup of herbal coffee is to have the coffee blend ready ahead of time.

Step 1. Combine all ingredients for the herbal coffee blend: chicory root, dandelion root, dandelion leaf, and Yerba Mate, if using.

Toss well and store in an airtight container away from direct sun.

Step 2. Steep a few tablespoons of the herbal coffee blend in a French press coffee maker similar to this stainless steel option or in a classic glass look like this one. If you don't have a French press, you can use a quart mason jar instead and then just run the herbal coffee through a sieve.

For a single serving, add a tablespoon of the blend to a French Press or and pour boiling water over it. Set aside to steep for 5 minutes. If using coffee maker, use as you normally would with coffee.

Step 3: Pour into a mug with the rest of the desired ingredients like butter, collagen, cream or milk, and a sweetener if so desired. Using a milk frother will froth the milk and will blend everything well. You may also use a hand whisk.

Sprinkle with cinnamon if desired and enjoy warm.

Helpful Tools & Links

Below are some affiliate links that may be helpful to you as you make this recipe. Some ingredients can be bought cheaper at your local grocery store but sometimes it helps to have a link so you know what you're looking for.

• Herbs for the coffee blend: chicory root, dandelion root, dandelion leaves, Yerba Mate
• Other additions for the herbal coffee latte: grass-fed collagen, MCT oil, coconut oil
• French Press - This stainless steel doesn't have any plastic parts making it the safest French press with hot water.
• Handheld Frother - To create that foamy, rich texture. Buy one with removable whisk for easy washing.
• Glass Coffee Container - Store your Herbal Coffee blend in an airtight container. This one looks neat and comes with a measuring spoon.

Ways to enjoy herbal coffee

Of course this drink is good on it's own as an afternoon treat because it has the protein to compliment the fats. But if you wanted to pair it with something else, consider these options:

• Easy Coconut Flour Banana Muffins
• Healthy Chocolate Muffins
• Gluten-Free French Crepes
• Flourless Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bars

Hey there! If you make this recipe, I'd love for you to give me a quick review & star rating below. It's the best way to support food bloggers like myself. 

This post was originally published January 2016 but has since been updated to include helpful information.