CONFEDERATE COFFEE SUBSTITUTES Articles from Civil War Newspapers

[Wannabefree]

I always wondered why tea wouldn't be used as a coffee substitute It tastes very similar to me, when hot and black with nothing added. I hate them both I only like iced sweet tea

 

[mrscoyote]

I think you guys are right. Tea would probably be the best option for a sustainable beverage. Some of the ideas are very interesting though.

 

[Emerald]

Tea would be if it grew better in more areas. Camellia sinensis is a bit more tender than some other plants. Harder to come by too. it is almost as tropical as coffee. I'm gonna be going for Yaupon holly for my caffeine fix. fixing to do some trading come this spring. I'd like to try camellia sinensis as a house plant but you'd need quite a few to support a caffeine habit.. lol I'm sure that I read that it can only be grown zone 8, 9,10. I think some tea is grown here but not much-there was an article about Bigalow teas having a small plantation here in the US maybe in one of the Carolina's.
My land lady in Florida used to put chicory in her coffee to stretch it and mellow it and it was a good drink.

 

[Cindlady2]

A few times when we had a "coffee crises" (in that prices jumped) I was adding roasted, ground chicory. I wasn't bad. I like my coffee strong and black so for me it was a bit mild. If you like to add cream and/or sugar, you could probably get by with less.

 

[Denim Deb]

If you can't handle caffeine, the chicory and other substitutes would be fine.

 

[Corn Woman]

Interesting read and I do love coffee and chicory combo, actually I prefer it. My friends in NOLA wonder how I can drink that "mud", but it really is good. Another friend orders green coffee beans and roasts them himself in a hot air popcorn popper. Would the green beans store longer? Maybe.

 

[Emerald]

I always wondered why tea wouldn't be used as a coffee substitute It tastes very similar to me, when hot and black with nothing added. I hate them both I only like iced sweet tea

Back when this article was written they had a blockade on the harbors ( the war between the states)and tea was only grown at the time in Asia-India and China and was just as hard to come by as the coffee was. Is that what you wanted to know? The USA had the Boston tea party in response to the huge taxes levied on tea way back before this war. America was taxed without representation in England at that time. so it was dumped in response to that as a way to thumb their noses at the taxes.

 

[rhoda_bruce]

Well this year I bought coffee beans to plant. Supposed to be miniatures. I think I only have 8 of them. Origionally the plan with the barn was that the south side was to be a greenhouse, but DH gave it all to me for my poultry projects. I'm thinking I will keep one of the south stalls vacant for winter greenhouse use and have it covered all with some kind of clear protective covering. Hoping the coffee plants can survive our winters, which are pretty mild, but not as mild as they are normally accustomed to. I may fail royally, but what the heck.

 

[~gd]

Well this year I bought coffee beans to plant. Supposed to be miniatures. I think I only have 8 of them. Origionally the plan with the barn was that the south side was to be a greenhouse, but DH gave it all to me for my poultry projects. I'm thinking I will keep one of the south stalls vacant for winter greenhouse use and have it covered all with some kind of clear protective covering. Hoping the coffee plants can survive our winters, which are pretty mild, but not as mild as they are normally accustomed to. I may fail royally, but what the heck.

don't forget that chickens throw off a lot of body heat! The hen nouse was often the warmest place in the morning before we got the stoves fired up.

 

[Wannabefree]

I always wondered why tea wouldn't be used as a coffee substitute It tastes very similar to me, when hot and black with nothing added. I hate them both I only like iced sweet tea

Back when this article was written they had a blockade on the harbors ( the war between the states)and tea was only grown at the time in Asia-India and China and was just as hard to come by as the coffee was. Is that what you wanted to know? The USA had the Boston tea party in response to the huge taxes levied on tea way back before this war. America was taxed without representation in England at that time. so it was dumped in response to that as a way to thumb their noses at the taxes.

I already knew all that. I just meant flavor wise I don't see the big difference between the two when served black.