Rosehips and chamomile, waiting to be brewed into tea!
As I watch the snow fall outside my office window, I’m snuggling into another mug of steamy red rooibos herbal tea. It’s one of my favorite coffee alternatives.
Full-bodied. Fragrant. Satisfying.
Since I can’t have caffeinated coffees or teas (due to health reasons), I’m always on the hunt for new beverages to fill my morning mug. Today I’m sharing my six favorites.
If you’re wanting to reduce your caffeine intake, or just add something new to the rotation, check these out!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and advertisements. I earn a small commission if you shop through them, which helps fund this website so I can continue to bring you amazing content. Thank you! ~Angela
My Six Favorite Non-Coffee, Caffeine-free Hot Drinks
1. Red Rooibos Tea
When I first started looking for caffeine-free alternatives, this was my luckiest find. Red Rooibos tea is made from the fermented leaves of the Aspalathus linearis shrub, which is native to South Africa
The tea is earthy but dense and full-bodied. It’s the opposite of light, sweet chamomile tea.
Red Rooibos tea is loaded with antioxidants including quercetin and aspalathin, according to Medical News Today. It’s also low in tannins, an element that makes iron difficult for the body to absorb.
Today I’m sipping Tazo Scarlet Citrus Rooibos, a blend of rooibos, hibiscus, lemon verbena, orange peel, rosemary and lemon balm.
2. Chamomile Tea
Oh, chamomile, how I love thee brewed with rosehips, sweetened with lavender honey or steeped with candied ginger. Although chamomile has a delicate mild flavor, its comforting and good for our health.
Like Red Rooibos, Chamomile is also loaded with antioxidants which may help lower your risk for heart disease and cancer, according to Healthline.
Chamomile tea is also known for helping you sleep better (Truth! I love a mug at bedtime!), improve digestion, control blood sugar levels and soothe sore throats.
Chamomile tea is made from the dried buds of daisy-like flowers from the Asteraceae family.
3. Chicory Root Blends
Lately I’ve been reaching for tea-bags filled with dried chicory and dandelion root prepared by Teeccino. Several of their herbal coffee varieties (not all!) are gluten-free, giving me yet another coffee-like drink to enjoy in the mornings.
The Caramel Nut is sweet and reminds me of a fancy coffeehouse drink. The Dark Roast is my go-to for its simple, bold flavor. I love it mixed with some hot cocoa powder!
Teeccino offers a gluten-free sampler pack that lets you try out six flavors. This is what I started with to discover the flavors I like most.
4. Hot Chocolate
You can’t go wrong with a mug of cocoa.
Before I get too far, someone always asks me about the naturally occurring caffeine in chocolate. For some reason, that doesn’t bother me. It’s how coffee beans are processed (sometimes with added synthetic caffeine) that throws my immune system into a tailspin.
So, hot chocolate is on my menu. Serve it up with coconut milk whipped cream or marshmallows and I’m a happy girl!
Lately I’ve been indulging in Silly Cow Farms hot chocolate mix. The gluten-free mix comes in cute little pint-size glass milk jars and I can snag it at my local grocery store. You can check out the Chocolate Truffle flavor on Amazon here.
5. Hibiscus Tea
The prettiest of all the drinks on the list is hibiscus. My mug turns a rosy-purple hue each time I brew a tart hibiscus tea. Lately, I’ve been sipping Badia’s pure Hibiscus Tea/Sorrel, since it doesn’t have any fillers. It’s simply dried hibiscus.
The calyces, or stems that support the flowers of the hibiscus plant, are dried and used to make herbal tea. Historically, hibiscus has been used to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol and to decrease body temperature.
I also like hibiscus in blends. Since it’s naturally tart, it combines well with sweet rose hips and honey.
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6. Chicory Root Granules
Finally, sometimes you just want a straight-up, strong black coffee-like drink. In “Does Chicory Taste Like Coffee?” I chatted about brewing chicory granules using a French press. Sometimes I double the amount of granules and hope for the best. It’s strong, and I like it.
Lately, I’ve been using a tea ball to steep Frontier Co-op Chicory Root Roasted Granules. It’s an organic product cultivated and processed in Europe.
What’s in your mug today? Share in the comments below!
Until next time,
Choose healthy!
Angela
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