German history: substitute coffee

Today, Germany is one of the countries that import the most coffee in the world. More than 1/4 of Vietnam's annual coffee exports are sent to Germany. But when it comes to Germany, we only think of sausages and beer, not coffee.

This is because, in the 17th century, when coffee spread widely across Europe, Germany had few overseas colonies, unlike Britain and France, which could easily import coffee from its place of origin. In the 18th century, the German people's enthusiasm for coffee had a great impact on the local beer economy, so King Friedrich II of Prussia ordered a substantial increase in import tariffs on coffee. Under the "internal and external troubles", it is becoming more and more difficult for German people to drink coffee, let alone to develop their own coffee culture.

But the serious and tenacious Germans have found a solution after all. They invented a coffee substitute "Muckefuck", whose main raw material is an European chicory, commonly known today as "coffee grass". Its root is enlarged, shaped like a radish, and people call it "coffee radish". This kind of chicory contains inulin, chlorogenic acid and bitter agent, which is mixed with ordinary coffee powder after processing and extraction, which can strengthen the original flavor of coffee and is a good way to save coffee raw materials.

With the rapid development of German economy in the 19th century, people could soon afford really good coffee, and "substitute coffee" was gradually forgotten. However, in the later period of the two world wars, Germany, which was already in a disadvantageous position and was blocked by the British economy, implemented a limited food rationing system during the war. Imported coffee has once again become a difficult task, and "substitute coffee" has become popular again.

The example of people having to drink "substitute coffee" under the influence of the war also happened during the American Civil War. It was mentioned in the classic love novel gone with the Wind: Scarlett, a southern beauty, felt during the siege of Atlanta, "…" Even the mixed drink of roasted corn flour and potato flour as a substitute for coffee has never tasted as bad as it is today. Here is another recipe for "substitute coffee". I have never tried the combination of roasted corn flour and potato flour, and I don't know what it tastes like, but I used to add corn juice to my coffee, which is not very bad.

The "alternative coffee" that has been popular in history, as well as dandelion root, grape seed, lily root, barley flour and so on, is hard for people living in peaceful and affluent areas to imagine. Today, the only "alternative coffee" that is still popular may be "bean coffee", which is promoted in the market in the name of health and environmental protection.