It's not coffee, it's not tea

It's something else entirely.

My mother belongs to a coupon site where you have to watch the item closely, as it's only available at certain stores. Thus, you can't pick the item up at one Big Box retailer (let's say Walmart) and tell the site you got it at different location (another Walmart). It has to be picked up at the store you said you'd buy it at. All because you're needing to submit a receipt as proof of purchase.

Why? Because you either get your money back 100 per cent or you receive a percentage back (25-50 % back). However, it's not "cash back" in either form. It's the money back in a gift card form. In my mother's version, she chooses Amazon. 

All she has to do is look at the weekly offers for what's being provided and select what she'd want to try (for free or for a per cent off). Once selected, she chooses her store, providing they have it, and off she goes during the week to get it. She then submits a receipt and waits a day to see if the coupon site accepts the receipt. Then she gets her Amazon code and puts that money in her gift card balance. 

What's the catch? She has to then review the item. The site asks for a star rating (1-5) and several lined comments describing said item. What was good, what was bad, etc. 

This last round of samples (the site calls what you get a "sample", even if it's a full sized item), allowed my mother a "half off" coupon from Teeccino to try their "coffee alternative". 

We picked up the 11 oz bag (normal size?) of Almond Amaretto because she felt that would be a great afternoon or evening alternative to a glass of decaf coffee. 

As we got it at Sprouts, the retail price is $14.99, so my mother's total was $7.99 or something like that, since she was getting some money back. It wasn't a full 100% back, which is fine, as the other flavors were a few dollars more and she thought this one would be more interesting of a try.

Just a quick cost comparison (and disclaimer):

• Amazon sells the brand for around the same price point as Sprouts, depending on what flavor you're looking for. There is also "tea" for sale too. Prime members get free shipping as this storefront qualifies as a small business. There is a small discount on subscribe and save options on most of the flavors. This link earns me commission on every sale.
• The Teeccino website lists samplers, teas, coffees, variety packs and gifts for the same amount ($14.99+), so you can choose whatever site might be easier. I do have a referral link for Teeccino, so if you go that route, you can get $5 off your first order. Shipping is free at $59 and over (plus a free gift at the $25 mark). There is a subscribe and save option for a smaller price point. With every complete order (referral), I receive $5 off my next order. 

Back to the "coffee".

We had a bit of a struggle opening the bag, as I didn't want to completely go cutting crazy and lose the nutrition facts or instructions on brewing this. There is no sealing option, as the only thing you can use is a sticker that is on the back of bag. So no zipping line or anything else to make it easy to tear open. 

Once open, whew! The whiff of the amaretto is over powering. I got a little dizzy from it, considering I've not had any alcohol in quite a while. There's a reason why the brand website says it is "[a] sensory indulgence of roasted chicory over golden roasted almonds with hints of cherry and apricot. Subtly sweetened with dates and figs."! I don't know what chicory is or what it would smell like, so I can't comment on that aspect. I know the aroma was more on the "liqueur" side, while I even made the comment to my friend Shawn (who also tries not to imbibe in alcohol) about how much punch this gave. He said his partner uses a specific "floor cleaner that is almond scented" and when the floors are being clean, he is "so tempted to drink it," as "it's that convincing". He went on to say "it's even brown like Disaronno. This is coming from a guy who knows his stuff; he worked at a liquor store for over a decade) 

It begs the question: If products are being made to conjure up certain feelings, emotions or memories, the ones that shouldn't be ingested aren't doing anyone any favors. Especially if the scent makes you want to eat or drink it, when you fully know it is toxic to consume. How many warnings do we have on solvents that say "wash hands immediately" or "do not get near face or eyes". "Contact Poison Control if...". 

The products that are body safe.. well... can people who abstain from certain things really trust themselves in eating or drinking something with "natural flavors of [...]" without worrying it's going to damage to any type of sobriety (enter type of recovery here - alcoholism, drugs, eating disorders)? 

I know people have their levels of "it doesn't affect my overall sobriety" while others say "once I think it, I can't stop it". You have to find that happy medium where you know an amaretto scented floor cleaner is toxic to drink, but you also won't go to the bar or stop at a store and pick up a bottle of whiskey. Same goes with coffee; you can handle the smell and know it's a natural flavor added to the mix, but you won't go nuts (hehe. No pun intended) and restart your issues. 

Which is why I had said to Shawn I think I don't want to tempt the fates. I wish my mom had gotten one of the other flavors, but this was her choice - her coupon, her coffee. 

Especially since she said "it really does taste like an amaretto cookie" once she brewed a cup of it. Adding basic creamer, she was off to the races and texted all her friends about it. There is one friend who can't drink coffee due to its acid profile, and my mother thought this alternative would be great due to it's lack of caffeinated beans. 

According to the Teeccino website, the ingredients are:

Roasted organic carob, organic barley, organic chicory, dates, almonds, natural amaretto flavor*, organic figs. Contains: Almonds.

*All Teeccino flavors are extracted from plants and comply with organic standards.

The health benefits are:

• Naturally caffeine free - no processing or chemical residues
• Acid free - helps restore alkaline balance
• Natural energy boost - from nutrients not stimulants
• Antioxidants from carob, barley, dates, figs and almonds
• Contains heart-healthy potassium and soluble fiber
• Prebiotic - inulin from chicory root feeds your probiotics, the beneficial microflora that improve digestive health, regularity and supports your immune system. Inulin extracts naturally into your cup from chicory roots during brewing.

Again, I don't know what chicory root does or is, so I can't give any information about it. Anything you read on this website is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, and those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read it on my blog. 

I am providing this information due to this Teeccino product being used in my household. It was purchased and tried and is something new to try and enjoy as we drink a lot of coffee and tea in my house and we also drink decaf. This is a new and novel idea, and if it's something that can be had at night and not give us the jitters or keep us awake, we'd love to use it. 

Which my mother did. She was so enthralled of the taste and texture, she can't wait to make it daily. She also can't wait to see if her friends like it (she gave some away for a few people for them to try). If I can get her to purchase this again, maybe we can try another flavor. I'd love to try the Chaga Ashwagandha

Butterscotch Cream Mushroom Herbal Coffee (which is $15.29) or the Java

Chicory Herbal Coffee ($14.99), but we have to finish the coffees we have, first. 

Chaga is something that Tay always talks about, and warns me "you have to be careful when buying it". There's a specific type he buys for him and his step father and if I can remember what that is, I'd mention it here. Sadly, I haven't talked to Tay in a while, as he's on another ghosting expedition.

The synopsis that Teeccino has for their Chaga Coffee states:

Chaga, Siberia’s heal-all wild mushroom, compliments roasted ramón seeds and chicory softened by creamy butterscotch from India’s restorative ashwagandha root.

Medium Roast - Gluten Free - USDA Organic

I don't know what ramón seeds are, but according to the website, the ingredients list is:

Organic carob pods, organic chicory root, organic ramón seed, organic ashwagandha root (Withania somnifera 1000mg), organic dates, organic Indian sarsaparilla root, organic chaga extract (wild harvested Inonotus obliquus conk and mycelium blend: 500mg) organic butterscotch flavor. 

Produced on machinery that also processes almonds. 

*All Teeccino flavors are extracted from plants and comply with organic standards.

I already see and use Chaga in the OM mushroom blend in my smoothies, so I have no problem in trying this coffee alternative. Considering Tay would remark on brewing Chaga as a coffee all the time, and would say how his step father loved it, since he couldn't drink regular coffee anymore. Chaga was an amazing way for the step father to have a morning brew and feel human in the mornings. 

The Java version is:

Deep balanced body with a stronger coffee bite from roasted chicory and barley softened by the sweetness of dates & figs. 

Medium Roast - 75% Organic

With ingredients of:

• Roasted organic carob, organic barley, organic chicory, dates, almonds, natural coffee flavor*, organic figs. 
• Contains: Almonds. 

*All Teeccino flavors are extracted from plants and comply with organic standards.

So it contains natural coffee flavor, whatever that is, although chicory is prevalent in all the products. Must be some sort of enhancer or substitute. The Java can't be 100% caffeine or coffee free if it's using a coffee flavor? What is that? Just like the amaretto version - a natural flavor means the alcohol wasn't cooked off completely in processing this brew. 

I'm not judging by any means; I'm just trying to figure it out as I do want to try some of the versions. 

Oof. I found an answer in the FAQ section of the Teeccino website:

Is there caffeine in the natural coffee flavor in Teeccino?

There is no caffeine in the natural coffee flavor in Teeccino. All Teeccino flavors are derived from compounds extracted from plants using steam distillation or alcohol extraction in order to create natural flavors. In the case of natural coffee flavor, the components of coffee flavor are extracted from a number of ingredients that include chicory root and other roasted herbs.

So they get the natural flavoring through science - steam distillation or alcohol extraction. I'm sure there are every day products we eat and drink that use the same processes and we don't think about it. I never looked too deep into when a company says "natural flavor" or "scent" because what is "natural" anyway? If you watch the documentary Stink!, we really don't know what is "natural" anymore, because companies don't have to provide that information. Which is nice when and if they do.

Since I went down a rabbit hole, I searched for chicory. 

According to the internet, chicory is a "woody herbaceous plant" that's "primarily found in Europe and Asia", even though you can find some traces of it in the United States. It has a "distinct earthy flavor" and can help dilute some of the bitterness in normal coffee. However, in abundance of caution, as it's a diuretic and can cause bathroom challenges. 

Again, I'm not a medical professional. Please seek out more information on your own, as I am sure the things I've culled together aren't an entire list. I know they're not, so please do your own research and ask questions to your own medical team. 

So much to look in to, so little time. I kind of want a regular cup of coffee now, even though I should get some water instead. I haven't stayed hydrated enough today. Maybe I'll go do that... find some liquid libation and figure out how I can get some new food in my house.

Until next time..

Cheers;