Ginseng coffee, how to make and benefits

The Chinese call it “the man root”: ginseng is used to make natural foods and drinks, including a special coffee which combines caffeine revitalizing properties with ginseng anti-stress values.

What is coffee with ginseng?

Ginseng is an herbaceous plant from East Asia, known since time immemorial for its many virtues. Very similar in appearance and colour to milky coffee, ginseng coffee is a crossroad between East and West: it merges the western very popular coffee with a root that has been used since ancient times in Asia for health purposes.

Ginseng coffee benefits

For centuries the Chinese have considered this “miraculous” root an energetic and anti-ageing elixir, as well as a powerful aphrodisiac. In some rural areas it is still chewed to this day in its pure state. It has always been cooked in soups and dissolved in hot tea, giving life to infusions that combine the active substances of theine and ginseng.

What are the health benefits of ginseng? It reduces stress and fatigue and improves memory, concentration and mood. Thanks to its sweet and decisive taste, ginseng coffee is considered an enjoyable alternative to traditional espresso.

Ginseng coffee recipe

How to make ginseng coffee at home? It’s much simpler and faster than you might think. Herbalists and many supermarkets sell ginseng coffee powder.

If you have a coffee machine, you can buy compatible ginseng coffee capsules and prepare it like a classic coffee. Otherwise, you can buy ginseng sachets. There are a number of different brands to choose from. There are sachets containing lactose-free milk cream, for the benefit of people with allergies; some preparations are sweetened, others less so.

Does ginseng coffee have caffeine? The quantity of caffeine contained in the solution may also vary. In the traditional eastern recipe, the drink is low in sugar and caffeine is practically absent.

What about the preparation? Just pour the water – hot or cold, according to taste and season – in a cup with the preparation contained in the sachet and mix well, until a soft foam forms on the surface. Add the amount of water to your liking, you can choose between a short or more diluted ginseng coffee. For a more extravagant drink, you can add a sprinkling of cinnamon or bitter cocoa, or just simply a teaspoon of honey. And… there you have it, your coffee is ready!

How to “decorate” ginseng coffee

For breakfast, a ginseng coffee can be finished off with coffee beans or small chocolate flakes for energy and goodness in its pure state. After lunch, however, you can create an impressive decoration with a mint leaf which is also a good way to enhance the digestive properties of this drink. In the summertime, it is often served with cold milk and cream.

So, as you have seen, there are numerous ways in which to personalise ginseng coffee. You may decide, depending on your tastes and your guests, to surprise them with a cup of never-tried before coffee, or experiment from time to time, until you find the tastiest and most satisfying “recipe”!

Why is ginseng coffee good for you?

For many people, ginseng coffee has become a pleasant ritual, to be sipped at home or in the office, alone or in company. Ideal for savouring over a work break, both for its goodness and energising properties. After all, any excuse will do for a tasty and “energising” coffee.

What about ginseng coffee side effects? If consumed in the correct doses – two or three cups a day is the amount recommended by experts – it has no contraindications, but only benefits, especially for those who, for health reasons, cannot overindulge in caffeine.

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