While I wouldn’t say I was coffee addict per se, it’s definitely something I used to have quite a lot of. I would enjoy 2-3 cups a day at my peak coffee drinking times, which I know isn’t much compared to some people (I used to know a guy who had 11 cups by lunchtime!). But caffeine does have quite an effect on me, so three cups was still more than I really needed each day. I’m not sure that I actually ever really enjoyed the taste of coffee, I just always usually ended up having one as something to fill a void. When I needed a pep, I’d have a coffee. Bored? I’d have a coffee. Cold? I’d have a coffee. I was drinking it for no real reason most of the time. When I made the change to being fully dairy free, I decided it was as good of a time as any to drop some other unhealthy eating habits I was also partaking in, and coffee was one of these.
For the first couple of weeks, I didn’t even have a coffee and before long I forgot about it. Instead I replaced it with other delicious (but much more healthy) drinks such as matcha lattes (which truth be told, I like the taste of wayyyy more). Today I thought I’d share with you, my current favourite three alternatives to coffee.
I was browsing on the web for matcha powder, when I stumbled across Nutmylk and their Latte Lab blends. With blends like Carrot Cake and Gingerbread, I was sold, and it wasn’t long before three of these blends were winging their way to my doorstep.
The first Latte Lab blend I tried was Gingerbread Latte, a blend of Ginger, Mixed Spice, Cinnamon and Vanilla Bean…. and I have to admit my first cup of this was awful. I followed the instructions and put a (rather generous) teaspoon of powder into my cup, and added the milk. One sip nearly blew my socks off, it was so gingery and spicy that I ended up having to throw my milky creation out. Next time I made it, I only used 1/2 a teaspoon of the blend, with a cup of almond milk and 1/2 a teaspoon of honey. The result was a delicious spicy drink that made you feel all warm and fuzzy from the inside. It reminded me a lot of the Gingerbread Lattes that Starbucks do at Christmas time, but without all the sugary syrup and cream. I feel like this one is the perfect drink for when you feel like snuggling up on the couch and watching silly TV shows.
Next up, I tried out the Matcha Blend. While most matcha powders just contain green tea, this one is blended with Matcha, Lucuma, Cinnamon, and Vanilla Powder for a delicious drink with just the tiniest hint of spice. Again, I find you need a little less at only 3/4 of a teaspoon of matcha to one cup of almond or coconut milk. I am seriously obsessed with this blend, and I had used up the whole sachet in just a couple of weeks. Matcha really is an anytime drink – I often drink it in the morning where I might have normally had a coffee, or in the afternoon (again, where I normally would have reached for a coffee).
Finally, I tried the Turmeric Blend. If matcha was the 2016 drink of choice, 2017 is all about the Turmeric Latte. I wasn’t sure if I’d like this one as I had never really tasted Turmeric before, but like the others, I’m sold. Like the Gingerbread Latte, this is another spicy, warming drink. This blend combines Turmeric, Cinnamon, Ginger, Cardamom, and Black Pepper to create a pale orange drink. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits of Turmeric are huge, and when taken in conjunction with Black Pepper, the absorption and benefits are even higher. Healthy and delicious!
Overall, I’m super impressed with all three of these Latte Lab blends, and I’ll definitely be repurchasing. The Gingerbread and Turmeric blends are both 50 grams and offer 20 servings (so at 1/2 teaspoon, you’ll actually get a whopping 40 serves!). The Matcha Blend is 35 grams and 15 servings, but I find I probably get around 25. For $11.95 each, these drinks are super cost effective and are so much healthier than most takeaway coffees or sugar-laden frappachinos.
There’s also two other blends I’m wanting to try at somestage – Carrot Cake (yummm) and Red Velvet which sounds like a beetroot latte. Both sound delish and will no doubt be in my cupboard in no time.
Now that I’ve weaned myself off my three a day coffee habit, I do partake in the occasional coffee every now and then, and I actually find myself enjoying it more. I make a point of having one of the three aforementioned drinks everyday with a 1/2 teaspoon of honey and a teaspoon of coconut oil. Not only are these ingredients great for everyday health, they are good for your skin too!
I know all three of these drinks are from the same brand, and you might be thinking…. did I get sent these or paid to talk about them? Nope and nope, I ordered them online and have just been rather obsessed ever since they arrived
Looks good! I’ve been trying to get off my one-a-day habit myself. I know that’s a tiny amount, but the fact that I HAVE to have it makes me wanna try going without… 🙂
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That’s how I felt too! It’s not a nice feeling knowing you rely on something, and it’s a great test to see if you can go without. Let me know if you end up trying any of these alternatives!
Loved this! I used to drink a cup of coffee every morning and then an Americano in the afternoon. I still need caffeine, but now I get it through green tea, which I have three 10 oz mugs a day of. I also have herbal tea from Celestial. Their seasonal flavors are quite lovely. Will have to try Latte Lab sometime..
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Green tea is so good for giving an energy boost! I will have to look into those Celestial Herbal Teas. I love herbal tea and the seasonal flavours sound like they would be delicious! x