I am starting this year with a new cup of coffee from Cafe Du Monde.  It is coffee made with chicory root.

An odd combination you might think, but it actually makes very good coffee.  A coffee that is less bitter with a taste of  chocolate too.

This is my first coffee can of Cafe Du Monde.  And the price is good at $4.99 for 15 oz can.  It’s smell just like fresh coffee.

Requires opening with a can opener and the plastic lid is used to close it.  It’s not fresh coffee beans that you ground yourself, but it’s still very good to me.  I think this coffee is a keeper!

So how did people realize chicory root could make great coffee substitute?

Cafe Du Monde has this explanation for their company:

“The taste for coffee and chicory was developed by the French during their civil war.

Coffee was scarce during those times, and they found that chicory added body and flavor to the brew.

The Acadians from Nova Scotia brought this taste and many other french customs (heritage) to Louisiana. ”

The addition of chicory means it has less caffeine then a regular cup of coffee.  Which is fine with me, as I am usually a tea drinker.  What’s also neat about this coffee is the additional health benefits from the chicory root.  As chicory makes a good liver and blood cleanser.

It wasn’t until I saw a photo of the blue chicory flower did I realized these were common wild flowers.  They are usually seen growing along the side of country roads. Beautiful purple chicory flowers in bloom in July.  Image from Cormiston Farms.

I’ve known about this coffee for a while now, but never really had an interest in tasting it.  Then I saw a can of Cafe Du Monde at the Asian market and decided it was time to give it a try. It’s odd as I don’t see this can at the local American grocery store (ever).

Some of the coffee reviewers over at Amazon think it’s because Vietnamese coffee is made using Cafe Du Monde’s coffee.  Other think it’s because the French brought this over to Asia and it is the coffee many Asians prefer to drink.  I think that sounds reasonable.  But I am curious to know if anyone has their own personal story to why this coffee is found at the Asian market.

Perfect as Cafe au Lait made with warm milk and sugar.  Almost a very light cup of coffee, but very good stuff.