Are you looking for an herbal coffee alternative? While coffee consumed in moderate amounts can have benefits, too much caffeine can cause problems, and some people don’t do well with coffee at all. Side effects of caffeine include restlessness and irritability, trouble sleeping, heartburn and stomach problems, and increased heart rate and blood pressure.

This recipe came about because I wanted to create a drink that would make people feel like they were getting a treat without all of the caffeine. In my clinical herbal practice, I witnessed hundreds of people wean themselves off their coffee addiction with the help of roasted dandelion drinks.

Dandelion Root Benefits

Roasted dandelion root (Taraxacum officinale) gives this drink a smoky, slightly chocolate-y, coffee-like flavor. You can purchase roasted dandelion root from Mountain Rose Herbs.

The thing about dandelion root it’s a little bit bitter. One of the reasons people are so into coffee is because of the bitterness. We drink coffee in the morning and the bitter flavor wakes up our gut. Actually, many people use coffee to “evacuate” or have a bowel movement, and this drink will do that for you. The bitterness will get you going.

This herbal coffee alternative is such a nice little treat. It’s good for your gut and a great liver tonic.

A Healthier Coffee Substitute

The other thing is that this herbal coffee alternative is so much better for you than what you’ll get at a coffee shop. There are so many designer coffee drinks now that are just full of sugar. Plus, their milk is not organic, which means you’re drinking dairy that’s full of growth hormones, chemicals, and fertilizers. You don’t know how the cows were treated. If you’re going to eat dairy, you want to know where it’s sourced.

You can make this recipe with whatever kind of milk you want, whether it’s organic dairy milk, almond milk, or another milk substitute.

Print Recipe

Dandelion Mocha

Author: Kami McBride

Ingredients

3 cups water
3 tbsp roasted dandelion root
1 tbsp raw cocoa nibs
1/2 cup raw milk or almond milk
1/2 tsp powdered cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla extract/essence
2 tbsp barley malt syrup/essence
1 tbsp maple syrup (if desired, for more sweetness)
Dash of powdered clove
Dash of powdered nutmeg

Instructions

Make tea from the water, dandelion root, and cocoa nibs. Let steep for 30 minutes.
Strain the tea, add the remaining ingredients, and reheat.

More Recipes

Honey Chai Tea
Morning Mint Medley Tea
Turmeric Milk Elixir

If you enjoyed this herbal coffee alternative, there’s more where that came from. The Herbal Kitchen is filled with easy ways to bring herbs into your drinks and meals.

And if you’re a visual learner, check out my online course My Herbal Kitchen. It’s all about adding herbs to your meals to make each one healthier; perfect for kids or anyone with a busy schedule. I walk you through a variety of my recipes, show you how to make them, and provide tips for using what you already have on hand. 

I would love to hear from you! Have you tried any herbal coffee alternatives? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.