Who Needs Caffeine?

Coffee and I have always had a rocky relationship. It feels like a dirty secret to admit this: I love to drink, like, four cups (preferably with lots of cream and sugar) and revel in that filthy buzz.

But the abrupt, stomach-lurching drop at the end of the caffeine-fueled ride was misery. And the havoc the caffeine wreaked on my sleeping patterns, my energy levels, and my attitude was really not worth it.

Over the years, I've been totally caffeine-free, indulged with abandon, and allowed a caffeinated beverage sporadically. Since I cleaned up my diet, I've been drinking it black and really learned to enjoy the flavor... so when we went to Prague, I started drinking coffee again. At work, my "one cup, once in a while" turned into two cups almost every day. My sleep quality and duration sucked. I was edgy. It had to stop.

So about three weeks ago, I switched to decaf tea and coffee. And a few days ago, I decided to go 100% caffeine-free (after a sleepless night brought on, I suspect, by six cups of decaf tea – even decaf contains trace amounts of caffeine).

I've discovered two herbal teas that are really tasty and get close to replicating that aaaahhhh... feeling of a fresh cuppa joe.

Bengal Spice is Celestial Seasonings caffeine-free version of chai tea. It's super spicy with a touch of sweetness, and the bags are potent enough to withstand several brewings, so I can just keep topping off my mug with hot water. Gluten-free and kosher, it's a combo of  cinnamon, roasted chicory, roasted carob, natural spice,vanilla, ginger, cardamom, black pepper, cloves, and nutmeg.

The box recommends the addition of milk and sugar for a "true Chai experience." Um, no.

But I was curious so I heated 2 tablespoons of coconut milk and added that to my cup. It was creamy-good... so now I have two ways to enjoy it. I suspect the coconut milk version will be my companion on weekend mornings when I'm shuffling around the house, and unadorned, Bengal Spice will help me navigate the corporate overlords' conference rooms.

About a year ago, I tried to trade caffeine for chamomile, and it worked for a while. But there was a big stumbling block: I don't particularly enjoy chamomile tea... or berry or apple or orange or lemon and most especially not mint. They all just taste like variations of hot grass to me.

But I took a chance on Sleepytime Vanilla, and it's really, really good. I can't believe it! It has flavor and depth, and it's soothing, too... brewed from chamomile, spearmint, west indian lemongrass, vanilla, tilia flowers, blackberry leaves, hawthorn, orange blossoms, and rosebuds. I was worried about the inclusion of spearmint, but it's very subtle.

So, take that caffeine! From now on, I'll be the best version of me... sleeping the sleep of the righteous, keeping my blood sugar stable, minimizing cortisol, and running on fuel from clean Good Food. Neener!