Chicory Root
BotanicalCichorium intybusAlso calledChicory, Kasni, Succory, Blue sailors
A roasted root with a dark, bittersweet, coffee-like flavor. Caffeine free and long brewed alongside or instead of coffee.
Chicory is the roadside plant with sky-blue flowers that open in the morning and close by afternoon. Its long taproot, roasted and ground, brews into a dark, toasty, slightly sweet and pleasantly bitter drink. In New Orleans it is stirred into coffee; in wartime Europe it often replaced coffee altogether. It has no caffeine.
In India and Pakistan chicory is known as kasni and is a familiar herb in Unani medicine. Modern Ayurvedic writers describe it as bitter, light and dry, settling kapha and pitta. Its bitterness is the key to how it has been used: a little bitter before or after a meal has long been taken to wake up a dull appetite and help digestion along.
Ayurvedic Properties
Not described in classical Ayurveda; modern Ayurvedic writers describe it as bitter, light and dry, with a heating potency and pungent post-digestive effect, settling kapha and pitta (Dr. J. V. Hebbar and Dr. B. K. Prashanth, Easy Ayurveda).
- RasaTastes
- ViryaHeating or cooling
- Heating
- VipakaPost-digestive effect
- Pungent
- AgniEffect on digestion
- Gently supports agni
Bitter and light, it has long been used to wake up a dull appetite without adding much heat.
- GunaQualities
- TridoshaEffect on Vata, Pitta and Kapha
- Vata: increases in excess
- Pitta: decreases, in moderation
- Kapha: decreases
- ↓decreases (calms that dosha)
- ↑increases (can aggravate it)
- =neutral or balancing
- ?not known
- V Vata · P Pitta · K Kapha
Chicory's bitter, light, dry qualities suit kapha well. Modern Ayurvedic sources also list it as settling pitta, though they disagree on whether it is heating or cooling. Vata types can enjoy it brewed with warm milk and a little sweetener to offset the dryness.
Traditional Uses
- Traditionally used to support a healthy appetite and comfortable digestion.
- Traditionally used to support the liver's natural role in digestion.
- Traditionally used to support a gentle, caffeine-free morning ritual in place of coffee.
How People Use It
- TeaSimmer 1 to 2 teaspoons of roasted chicory root in a cup of water for 5 minutes, or brew it in a French press for 5 minutes, then strain. Mix half and half with ground coffee to cut your caffeine.
- MilkSimmer 1 teaspoon of roasted root in warm milk for a few minutes and strain for a creamy, coffee-like drink without the caffeine.
Spiced Chicory Root Latte
A toasty, caffeine-free stand-in for a morning coffee.
- 1 cup water
- 2 teaspoons roasted chicory root
- 1 green cardamom pod, lightly crushed
- 1 thin slice fresh ginger
- 1/2 cup warm milk of your choice
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey (optional)
- Simmer the chicory, cardamom and ginger in the water for 5 minutes.
- Strain into a mug.
- Top with the warm milk.
- Sweeten to taste once it has cooled a little.
Pairs Well With
Cautions
- Avoid chicory as an herbal medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Older reports describe it as able to bring on menstruation and possibly cause miscarriage. Please talk with your doctor or midwife before using it.
- Chicory is in the daisy family. Skip it if you are allergic to ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds or daisies. Skin rashes, occupational allergy, asthma and anaphylaxis have been reported.
- Chicory may increase bile flow. Traditional texts advise caution if you have gallstones, so check with your doctor first.
- Chicory root is rich in inulin, a fiber that can cause gas, bloating and loose stools in larger amounts.
- Please consult a qualified practitioner or your doctor before using chicory regularly, especially if you take medication.
In Our Shop
Organic Chicory Root, from $4.75. Weighed and packed by hand at our Rockville Centre studio.
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This page shares how herbs are traditionally used in Ayurveda and other herbal traditions. It is for general education only and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and herbs are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please talk with your doctor or a qualified practitioner before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition.