WILD COFFEE ALTERNATIVES

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Chicory is also commonly added to regular coffee grounds as an extender. In fact, you can extend regular coffee with any of the alternatives mentioned here.

DANDELION

Dandelion ( Taraxacum officinale ) is second only to chicory as a coffee substitute. To prepare the dandelion root, follow the instructions for chicory. Though it is somewhat better to collect the dandelion roots before the plants flower, as a practical matter it is easier to locate the plants when you can see the yellow tops. Either way, the roots make a good coffee—with even more flavor, in our opinion, than the chicory blend.

GRAINS

Various grains have long been roasted and percolated like coffee or added to different coffee blends. Barley and wheat are popular and can be found in several commercial alternative coffees.

Most of the wild grass seeds will work as coffee alternatives as well. Experiment to discover which ones you prefer. Keep notes as you try the various wild grasses in your area, so you can repeat any recipes you find to your liking.

SOW THISTLE

Sow thistle ( Sonchus ) is a common plant with worldwide distribution. Its roots tend to be smaller and more tender than those of its cousin, dandelion. Nevertheless, treat these roots as you would dandelion, and either use them alone or mixed with other wild plants as a coffee substitute or extender.

These are by no means the only roots and seeds you can use to make your backwoods coffees. You can also of course buy coffee alternatives at the market. But by learning to collect our own foods, our own herbs, our own "coffees," we become more attuned to the wild bounty of the natural world, a necessary step on our journey toward self-reliance.

Send your ideas to "Country Lore,"c/o MOTHER EARTH NEWS P.O. Box 129, Arden, NC 28704 or-e-mailMEarthNews@aol.com.
Please be sure to include your telephone number and a photograph if available.

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