5 Adaptogenic and Herb-Infused Coffee Alternatives to Combat Anxiety

There’s nothing like the robust, malty aroma of coffee. I’ve had a love affair with coffee since I tasted my first café crème in Paris. I fell even deeper in love when my job took me to Rome for two years—nothing beats washing down my morning cornetto with a frothy cappuccino or jolting myself back to life after a carb-laden lunch with a perfectly coiffed macchiato.

While coffee smells divine and gives us a much-needed energy boost, the well-known downside is that too much coffee can cause anxiety, restlessness, and irritability. As a depleted mom and Ayurvedic practitioner, I recently realized that coffee no longer gave me the buzz I needed to get through a day of parenting littles. In fact, I was experiencing the infamous “caffeine crash” from it, which, combined with less-than-optimal sleep, doesn’t make for a pretty picture.

To that end, I decided to explore a handful of coffee alternatives and adaptogen-enhanced beverages out there on the market to see how they measured up.

Mushroom Coffee

Quitting coffee cold turkey works for some folks, but others prefer a more gradual approach to leaving coffee behind. One option that’s gained popularity among the health-conscious crowd in recent years is mushroom coffee. While mushroom coffee blends have about half the amount of caffeine as regular coffee, the allure of mushroom coffee is that it contains medicinal mushrooms as well as java.

The mushroom coffee you can find at a local health food store is usually a combination of ground coffee and some variety of dried medicinal mushroom. Many medicinal mushrooms are adaptogens, an umbrella term for herbs and fungi thought to help the body better adapt to stress. Other medicinal mushrooms help boost the immune system and support gut health. These mushrooms, usually reishi, lion’s mane, and turkey tail, have a mild taste and can add to the earthiness of your favorite brew.

I tried Think Organic Coffee by Four Sigmatic, one of the more popular brands of mushroom coffee, and it tasted just like regular coffee to me (a decaf version is also available). Ryze and Everyday Dose are other well-known mushroom coffee go-tos. They are brewed the same way as regular coffee, so you still get that coveted sensory experience of your kitchen filling with a toasty, earthy fragrance while brewing.

Mushroom coffee is a great option for people who want a mildly caffeinated pick-me-up with the added perk of mushroom superpowers (which supposedly counter the jittery element of caffeine).

Chicory Root Herbal “Coffee”

Some people love the taste of coffee but don’t care for the caffeine. Chicory herbal “coffee” or chicory root tea is the perfect option for them. I was amazed at the beautiful, deep-roasted flavor of the Vanilla Nut variety I tried by Teeccino, which is 100 percent caffeine-free, has none of the acidity of traditional coffee, and offers the health benefits of chicory (which include prebiotics for gut health).

It is believed that chicory root has been cultivated since the time of ancient Egypt and has been used on its own in tea or in medicinal remedies for centuries. Starting in 19th century France, chicory was roasted, ground, and mixed with coffee. It can be roasted the same way as coffee beans, and when using it as a coffee substitute as opposed to part of a blend, ground roasted chicory has no caffeine. In fact, it may even help with blood sugar regulation.

A mushroom-chicory root combination might appeal to the most health-conscious among us. This version by Handmade by Bumble also has roasted dandelion root, which has detoxifying properties, and cacao nibs, which are chockful of antioxidants.

Caffè d’Orzo

When I was pregnant and avoiding caffeine, I turned to the famous Italian drink of caffè d’orzo (also referred to simply as orzo), a hot drink made from ground roasted barley. It mimics the flavor and sensory profiles of coffee, as it can be made in an espresso machine or a moka pot, but doesn’t contain any caffeine. This is why orzo is a popular drink among children in Italy.

Orzo was a popular substitute for coffee in Italy during and after World War II as coffee was expensive and hard to come by (and imported coffee was banned for a period).

While caffè d’orzo provides a delicious energy boost due to it being high in carbohydrates and starch, it’s probably not the best choice for those prone to energy crashes.

Tea

Black tea, my breakfast beverage of choice, is full of antioxidants. Darjeeling, Earl Grey, and English Breakfast are among the best known, and the caffeine level can vary. Green teas, such as jasmine, sencha, and matcha, also contain plentiful antioxidants and have long been popular among the health-conscious.

One of the most appealing things about both black and green teas is that they contain an amino acid called L-theanine, which produces a stable level of energy (as opposed to a jittery one like that from coffee). So, while these teas have caffeine, they don’t make you feel like you’re overdoing it.

Another popular choice as of late is ginseng tea. Different varieties of ginseng root have been used as medicinal treatments in Asia and North America for centuries for energy and immune support.

While these teas have caffeine, they have less caffeine than a cup of coffee, with black tea having more caffeine than green tea but less caffeine than coffee. If anxiety is a concern for you, stick with green tea or caffeine-free options.

Adrenal Cocktails

Adrenal cocktails have made an appearance on social media in recent months, with recipe creators claiming these drinks help with sleep, aid in stress reduction, or counter “adrenal fatigue.” These alcohol-free beverages are usually composed of a mix of ingredients like coconut water (or another electrolyte-based drink), orange juice (or another citrus juice), and a pinch of sea salt.

While adrenal cocktails may be tasty because of what’s in them, there’s no concrete data as to whether they actually work, and recipes across social media accounts and platforms vary widely. In my experience, what helps most when you’re feeling tired is hydration.

When we feel fatigued, it’s often because we are dehydrated, so it’s best to start with a tall glass of cold water, or even a good quality coconut water. You can add some chia seeds to your drink to boost hydration (and add fiber). Another option is adding an electrolyte powder to your water. I have these electrolyte sticks by Just Ingredients on hand to help me keep up with the marathon days of early motherhood.

Other options worth considering for your own custom adrenal cocktails include adaptogen-infused teas or kombucha. Or you can add your own adaptogens or mushroom powder blends to your regular coffee, tea, or hot cocoa. Ashwagandha, which is commonly used for stress and anxiety, is a popular adaptogen that can be added to drinks for energy and to treat an overactive nervous system.

Discover the secret benefits of anxiety.