You may have heard of chicory coffee; used it in cooking as a spice or eating its raw or boiled leaves. But what is chicory? If you aren’t familiar with it, then think of dandelion. They both belong to the same family of plants and have similar appearances and tastes. Chicory roots, leaves, leaf buds, root extracts, seeds, and flowers have various uses in cooking, coffee making, and medicinal purposes.
This article elaborates on chicory meaning, uses, taste profile, health benefits, and chicory substitutes to use in a pinch.
What Is Chicory?
Chicory, or Cichorium intybus, is a woody, herbaceous plant in the dandelion family. Their bright blue flowers are truly admirable, but some varieties of them are adorned with pink or white flowers.
Native to Eurasia, chicory is grown in several regions across the world, often you’ll also find them growing wild along countryside roads and bushes. Many farmers use this forage crop for feeding livestock.
Today, chicory is commercially cultivated for its roots and leaves. The root powder is commonly used as a caffeine-free alternative to regular coffee.
You can buy chicory coffee from a beverage section of a supermarket or online vendors. If it isn’t available in your area, check out the chicory substitutes we have listed in this article.
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Chicory Health Benefits
A study report published in the Journal of Functional Foods confirms that chicory root extracts, a type of prebiotic fiber, are rich in insulin. The root fiber may help in managing high blood sugar, promoting weight loss, and improving gut health.
Some of the key benefits include:
- Rich source of prebiotic fiber insulin
- May improve the blood sugar level
- May help in weight loss
- Eases bowel movements
- May promote cardiovascular conditions
- Useful of reducing arthritis inflammation
- Contains antioxidants beneficial for inflammatory diseases
- Improves immunity and relieves anxiety
Note that regular chicory consumption can trigger a plethora of allergic reactions in some people. Also, chicory is not recommended for pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children.
What Does Chicory Taste Like?
Chicory root powder tastes similar to ground coffee beans. Many feel that it has an intense taste that includes nutty, warm, earthy, and woody flavors. Raw chicory leaves taste bitter thus sparingly used in cooking. However, blanching or cooking reduces the bitterness of the leaves.
On the whole, it has a flavor and texture that very well complements other salad greens.
Uses Of Chicory
In cooking, chicory leaves are eaten like celery, and leaf buds and roots are boiled and eaten. It is also used as a cooking spice to flavor beverages and foods. As a vegetable, chicory leaves nicely jell with other ingredients; especially, a nice addition to harm, salmon, and cheese.
Some of the ground-roasted coffee blends you buy from stores contain ground chicory roots. It helps to enhance the aroma, and flavor and makes the coffee mellow with a reduction in caffeine. Also, chicory is cheaper than coffee but delivers all the flavor features of real coffee.
Chicory seeds aren’t usually used in cooking but are utilized in alternative medicines. Similarly, chicory flowers, leaves, seeds, and root extracts are used in various medicines.
Chicory leaves get ready for plucking in fall and winter, other times you may have to use a substitute if you desire to have the same flavor.
Chicory Root Substitute
Chicory roots and leaves have different culinary uses. The root is mostly used to flavor coffee and other beverages. First, let us look at the best alternatives to chicory roots.
Kola nut
Kola nut is the No.1 chicory root substitute, an equally useful and good coffee additive. This nut is sourced from the kola trees that widely grow in the African rainforest. Kola nut is endowed with a natural coffee flavor with a mild bitterness, a more enjoyable taste for those who dislike the strong flavors of roasted ground chicory roots. Like chicory, kola nuts also do not contain caffeine and can be used in the same way in your coffee.
Yerba mate
Yerba mate is an herbal tea made from the leaves and twigs of the Ilex paraguariensis plant. It contains tannins, the same chemical compound that defines the taste of coffee, tea, chocolate, and chicory. If you don’t have chicory, use yerba mate instead. However, it contains caffeine, which is a major distinguishable difference from chicory.
Chocolate
In place of chicory root powder, chocolate is another excellent additive for coffee. In fact, most people enjoy the complimentary flavors of coffee and chocolate blend more than chicory. Also, chocolate is a viable substitute for ground chicory roots for its easy availability and cost-effectiveness.
Best Substitute For Chicory Leaves
Raw and boiled chicory leaves are regular ingredients in a couple of Mediterranean dishes. Chicory leaves are frequently used in green salad recipes. Here is the list of best replacements for chicory leaves:
Escarole
We would recommend escarole as the best ingredient to replace chicory leaves. Escarole is a flat-leafed endive that belongs to the chicory family and can be used like chicory in several dishes. This green leafy vegetable can be eaten raw or cooked. It has all the features of chicory except bitterness. For this reason, for those who are not fond of bitter taste, there is no better substitute for chicory than escarole.
Frisee
Frisee, also known as curly endive, is salad green of the chicory family-like endive, escarole, and radicchio. The second best stand-in vegetable for chicory leaves is frisee as both of them have identical flavor features. They taste mildly bitter and have a good bit of peppery taste. Frisee goes well with most other ingredients in green salads, besides adding crispy texture and bite to the salads.
Arugula
Like frisee, arugula also has a gentle bitterness with a mild peppery taste. Most people prefer the taste of arugula over chicory for its mild pleasant bitterness. Just like chicory, it is a perfect addition to green salads.
Kale
Lastly, kale is an effective substitute for chicory greens. Kale has a strong and earthy taste with a mild bitterness. The tough and crunchy leaves of kale have a strong taste equivalent to chicory leaves. In fact, most of us would love to have kale in our salad than chicory, a great substitute indeed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is chicory syrup?
Chicory syrup, extracted from chicory root, is a natural sweetener. It's low in sugar impact and rich in prebiotic fiber, aiding digestion. It's great as a sugar alternative in drinks like coffee and tea, and works well in baking and cooking.
Can you buy chicory at the grocery store?
Yes, chicory is available at most grocery stores. It's a leafy vegetable similar to endive and radicchio, commonly used in salads, soups, and stir-fries.
Can you frost seed chicory?
Yes, chicory can be frost seeded. This method involves planting seeds in late fall or early winter when the ground alternates between freezing and thawing. This natural cycle helps bury the seeds in the soil effectively.
Does chicory root have gluten?
No, chicory root doesn't contain gluten. Gluten is a protein in grains like wheat, barley, and rye, but chicory root is a gluten-free plant as it doesn't have these grains.
Is chicory acidic?
Chicory is a bit acidic, with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5, but it's less acidic than coffee, which ranges from 4.8 to 5.1 in pH. So, chicory is less likely to cause heartburn or digestive issues compared to coffee.
Is chicory root low FODMAP?
No, chicory root isn't low in FODMAPs; it's actually high in them. Chicory root has inulin, a FODMAP that can lead to gas, bloating, and diarrhea in IBS patients.
Where can you buy chicory root?
Chicory root is available in several places. You can find it in grocery stores in the produce section, sold in bunches or heads. Health food stores offer more options like dried, powdered, or liquid chicory root. Also, various online retailers sell chicory root.
Is chicory safe during pregnancy?
There's limited research on chicory's safety during pregnancy. Some believe it might be unsafe, others think it's likely safe. Caution is advised. Risks include potential miscarriage due to uterine contractions, premature birth, and allergies, especially if allergic to plants like ragweed and marigolds.
Final Thoughts
Generally, chicory means the roasted and ground root of a plant in the species Chicorium Intybus, subspecies Sativum. It’s a caffeine-free additive ingredient used for flavoring coffee. Chicory leaves are eaten raw or cooked and they are often used in green salads. According to our findings, the best substitutes for chicory roots are kola nut, chocolate, and yerba mate. In palace chicory leaves, you may use alternatives like escarole, frisee, arugula, and kale.
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