Wild chicory (Cichorium intybus L.)
The search for substitutes for natural coffee began long ago. I should say that in all respects a full replacement is not found until now. However, thanks to the search gradually learned how to prepare drinks that are available to all - and the sick, and healthy. After many failures in the XVIII century. found one of the substitutes - chicory. This discovery is credited with German gardener Timme.
Chicory - a plant family сompositae, it is well known and widely distributed in Europe. Light-blue flowers of chicory, shaped like a daisy, found in a field at the edges of roads. Ancient Egyptians used the chicory in food, use the same chicory root as a surrogate for coffee began in Germany and then spread to other countries, including Russia. Historical documents prove that in 1800 Chicory was cultivated in the Rostov district of Yaroslavl province. Peasant village Riverlands the same province peasant Zolotukhin the first time in Russia used chicory as a substitute for coffee. Yaroslavl region and still remains a major center for growing and processing chicory. Works there is the largest union in the country for the production of coffee from chicory.
Botanists distinguish nine types of chicory, but cultivated only two of them. In the food are the leaves and chicory root of the ordinary. Roots white, nearly odorous, they contain 75% water. Sixth of the dry residue accounted for inulin - high carbohydrate, which on hydrolysis yields fructose. In addition to inulin, a chicory contained other sugars, some protein and fat. Bitter taste of the roots of said glycoside intibin. Chicory does not have a tonic effect, because it contains no caffeine.
Dried chicory roots so that their moisture content decreased to about 8%. As such, they can be stored for a long time. Dried and diced roots are roasted at temperatures up to 180 ° C. This is accompanied by hydrolysis of inulin, fructose increases from 2 to 20%, glycoside intibin destroyed, and chicory loses excessive bitterness. When heated fructose caramelize like a regular sugar, chicory becomes brown. In a series of complex chemical reactions formed tsikoreol having much in common with kafeol. That tsikoreol defines the drink and tells him to its fragrance.
Have been marketed a variety of coffee blends often contain chicory. State standards can be added to the organic coffee to 20% chicory.
Trading-industrial company “STOKROS’, chicory produces a registered TM “RUSSIAN Chicory” since 2004.
In fact, to develop and explore chicory as a useful and tasty product, we started in 1997. Before anyone began to study the chicory, now we are the market leader in produce chicory. We regularly conduct extensive research in conjunction with a number of food industry research institutes, design and manufacture to market new products from chicory, which occupy a leading position in the market of chicory, as evidenced by the ever-increasing consumer demand for products of trade mark “RUSSIAN CHICORY”.
Our company produces a range of coffee drinks especially for those who are natural coffee is contraindicated or for those who have decided to give up coffee for any other reason. In particular, in our plant in the Yaroslavl region produced more than forty different mixtures in which there are no real coffee, and hence the caffeine.
Mixture, replacing the organic coffee, are chosen very carefully. Previously studied nutrients, flavor and aromatic qualities of individual components. Some of them give the drink taste more - flavor, strength, etc. Used for this variety of products of organic origin. Chicory roots contain inulin, berries, such as buckthorn, viburnum, cranberries, blueberries, rose hips are rich in vitamin C, B vitamins and beneficial trace elements, barley, oats, rye - starch, honey, sugar and beneficial trace elements. Rye, oats, barley extract made rich, berry and honey soften the taste.
Coffee drinks are designed for different tastes and needs. "Fit" or does not contain real coffee, it is replaced with chicory, so "Fit" includes chicory, barley and oats. Especially for children created a drink "Chicory with cocoa." Its members include cocoa beans. This coffee drink has the taste of chocolate.
From a rich assortment of coffee drinks you can choose the right, following doctor's instructions and in line with your own flavor. Make this drink is very simple: powder poured into hot water and give the drink stand, drink can in 3-5 minutes. The usual drink: one teaspoon per glass of water.
Currently, chicory has become more and more popular product among both you and me, ordinary inhabitants, and among the various production companies. For example, modern medicine finds a very chicory variety of applications due to the mass of its useful medicinal properties. Many giants of the pharmaceutical market is added to the medicine they produce chicory.
Because chicory is useful at inflammatory diseases of the gastric mucosa, small and large intestines, liver, gall bladder, kidneys. By the efficiencies of chicory can be attributed a calming effect on the nervous system, decrease blood sugar levels, improve metabolism, increase defenses and the withdrawal of his cholesterol, radioactive and other hazardous substances. Chicory contains inulin - a high-molecular polysaccharide, almost entirely composed of fructose. Inulin is a prebiotic and stimulate the development of beneficial intestinal microflora, which is an important factor for enhancing the human immune system.
