FUELED Wellness + Nutrition | Chicory: Bold flavor, zero caffeine

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Chicory is a New Orleans classic – and with National Coffee Day coming up, we wanted to spotlight chicory as a natural decaf (and budget-friendly) option to try, along with a few fun facts, and tips for best brewing.

For a deeper dive on all things chicory, tune into Molly’s

podcast with Felton Jones, Roast Master of PJ’s Coffee.

What is chicory?

• A roasted taproot (blue-flowered plant) brewed solo or blended with coffee
• Typical NOLA coffee + chicory blends are about 20% chicory (some historic blends were higher)
• Flavor profile: smooth, cocoa-like, almost silky – with lower perceived acidity than straight coffee

Key Notes

• Bold flavor doesn’t mean caffeine → chicory has ZERO caffeine
• Root, not bean → different plant part; explains the silky mouthfeel and unique aroma
• Fiber fun fact → “chicory root extract – also referred to as “inulin” in foods, is the same exact plant
• It’s processed at low heat when it’s being used for fiber; the chicory used for brewing is roasted at higher heat, and doesn’t retain the fiber in the finished product

History — Why New Orleans Loves it

• Ancient use as a digestive herb → adopted in Europe when coffee was scarce
• Brought to NOLA via French Creole influence; Civil War blockades cemented the café-au-lait tradition

How to Make Chicory Coffee at Home

• Sip it straight at least once to be familiar with the flavor baseline
• How much: about 1 tablespoon per 6 ounces water (roughly half your usual coffee grounds)
• Works in drip, French press, pour-over, moka pot, even espresso baskets
• Blending: start 4:1 coffee:chicory for everyday; increase chicory for a lower-caffeine cup

WHERE TO FIND IT | There’s a variety of brands available, though we love PJ’s Coffee 100% French chicory—available in stores locally and online at pjscoffee.com and neworleansroast.com

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Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD is a registered dietitian and nutrition journalist in New Orleans, and founder of the Eat Fit nonprofit restaurant initiative. Tune in to her podcast, FUELED | Wellness + Nutrition, and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @MollyKimballRD. See more of Molly’s articles and TV segments at mollykimball.com, and download the Eat Fit mobile app to stay in the know about Eat Fit partners, new dishes, festivals, and more. To schedule a nutrition consult with Molly’s Lifestyle Nutrition team, email nutrition@ochsner.org.

The views, opinions, and recommendations expressed by Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD, are her own, provided for general educational purposes and not a substitute for personalized medical advice.

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