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Tea and Coffee Alternatives

May 4, 2015 | Uncategorized | 12 comments

I started drinking coffee a few years ago, building up from a mocha, to a latte in a desperate bid to like it, and now I’m hooked.  A really great coffee after a workout if the perfect start to my day. I’m lucky that where I live and work there are small artisan coffee shops and stands that serve the good stuff.

After 3 o clock I switch to tea. English Breakfast/Builders tea or earl grey with plenty of milk. I have to have a cuppa around 4-4.30 otherwise I get grumpy -something I have inherited from my Mum. (Ask Tom and he’ll tell you that my Mum’s day revolves around tea!)

The truth is, I drink too much tea and coffee. Probably on average 6 cups a day between them, and I’m trying to cut down. Swapping them for other delicious hot and cold drinks seems to be the way forward for me, so I thought I’d share my favourite tea and coffee alternatives with you!

Chicory coffee

  • Flavoured Green Tea– my personal favourite is Gingerbread Green tea from Twinings, it is lovely and sweet and the perfect afternoon pick-me-up. Sadly I think it might be a seasonal flavour, but I recently found it in Waitrose (and bought out their entire stock!) Ashley also said their Cherry Bakewell flavour is delicious.
  • Peppermint tea– a brilliant after dinner tea that cleanses the palette and helps aid digestion. Fresh mint also works really well.
  • Chicory Coffee– sounds weird, tastes wonderful, especially when you stir in a teaspoon of coconut oil. Use ground roasted chicory and then make it up in the same way you’d make instant coffee. The coconut oil adds a luxurious smooth texture, and makes the drink feel really nourishing.
  • Vita Coco Cafe– Coconut water and coffee. This obviously has real coffee in, but it’s delicious and hydrating. Plus there’s magnesium in the coconut water, a key but often overlooked mineral crucial in the human body.
  • Lemon and hot water– this refreshing drink is a really perfect way to start the day, it helps balance your pH, aids digestion and is a great source of vitamin C.
  • Water– I often think I want a cuppa but really I’m just thirsty. I keep a bottle of water on my desk and try to drink at least 2 litres while I’m at work.

How much tea/coffee do you drink a day? Any alternatives you can suggest?

12 Comments

  1. anacanhoto

    I drink way too much coffee (espresso or Americano), and really want to cut down. In addition to the energy boost, I really like wrapping my hands around a warm cup of coffee. Oh, and the smell… I love the smell of coffee.

    But it dies have its downsides (including serious headaches when I go without it), so I have been cutting it down, and I am now on one coffee with breakfast, one mid-morning and one after lunch. At other times of the day, I drink green tea (chai is my favourite), or ginger and lemon tea. Oh, and water of course. You are right that sometimes we are just thirsty.

    I have to say that the chicory coffee suggestion does sound weird… I think I will give that one a pass 😉

    Reply
    • charlotte

      That’s what I thought but I honestly really like it! Going to have to get some chai tea to try I think!

      Reply
  2. Stuart

    I like Jasmin Green Tea and Gunpowder – both have less of the rather strong aftertaste that straight green tea has. Worth a try.
    But you can’t beat a good espresso! But I “limit” myself to (mainly!) two per day. That way I don’t have more than 3 or 4! 🙂

    Reply
    • charlotte

      Haha i hear you. Ooh what is Gunpowder?

      Reply
      • Genevois

        Gunpowder tea (珠茶; pinyin: zhū chá) is a form of green Chinese tea produced in Zhejiang Province of China in which each leaf has been rolled into a small round pellet. Twinings do it in a nice tin.

        Reply
        • Stuart

          Ah – you should know that Genevois is my alter ego – I’m blaming WordPress for the confusion! 🙂

          Reply
  3. misswheezy

    I’m a big fan of Clipper’s Sleepy Tea or Camomile tea in the evenings before bed 🙂

    Reply
    • charlotte

      Ooh I haven’t tried sleepy tea- what flavour is it?

      Reply
  4. Ashley @ A Lady Goes West

    Hi Charlie! Coming over to say hi after learning about your from your guest post on Anne’s blog. First of all — YES for tea! I’m drinking my second mug of green tea as I type this right now. I have a couple mugs of green tea each day, as well as coconut water and sometimes the CoCo Cafe you mention. I like to buy those when I know I’m going to have a long day. I also like matcha lattes, but haven’t made any at home in a long time since I ran out of matcha powder. Afternoon tea is totally a thing, so rock that ritual! 🙂 Have a great Monday!

    Reply
    • charlotte

      Thanks so much Ashley, I love an afternoon tea too. It helps to break up the afternoon on a long work day!

      Reply
  5. Lauren (@PoweredbyPB)

    I’ve never drunk tea or coffee, in fact I’ve never even tasted them 😛 I am a big fan of herbal teas, I love all of Pukka’s range, I think they are the best tasting ones out there. Also a big fan of matcha too.

    Reply
    • charlotte

      WOW, growing up 4 o clock tea was a must!

      Reply

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