Ricoré is a brand created by the Nestlé company in 1953. Its yellow packaging is hard to forget! This powder for preparing drinks that combines the taste of coffee and chicory has an interesting composition:
- 33.2% soluble coffee,
- 33% chicory fibers (oligofructose),
- 30% soluble chicory,
- and magnesium sulfate.
Chicory is an herbaceous plant that includes several species, some of which are salads like escarole or frisée.
But the one that captures our attention is the root of Cichorium Intybus, also known as coffee chicory, and it is found in Ricoré.
Originating from Asia, Europe, and North Africa, chicory has been used since antiquity for medicinal purposes. However, it was only when coffee became a rare commodity during the Napoleonic blockade or World War II that chicory expanded as a coffee substitute.
Unlike the latter, it does not contain caffeine, and its bitterness is more pronounced due to its richness in chlorogenic acid.
Does Ricoré present a danger?
Since Ricoré is a blend of coffee and chicory, it accumulates their undesirable effects to a lesser extent.
Chicory is a great source of inulin and oligofructose, dietary fibers that have a positive prebiotic effect on the intestines.
If you consume too much of it, or if you are particularly sensitive digestively, they can have the opposite effect on your intestines. And cause discomforts such as bloating, flatulence, diarrhea.
Moreover, even though its content is not high, Ricoré contains caffeine, at a level of 64 mg for a 4 g dose of Ricoré Original.
If you are a die-hard Ricoré fan, do not drink it throughout the day! Otherwise, you might suffer from headaches, stomachaches, nervousness, or difficulty falling asleep at a too high dose.
Nevertheless, normal consumption does not cause caffeine side effects, as the dose of this stimulant remains low.
There is no real danger in consuming Ricoré! However, there are contraindications if you have an allergy to inulin, or to the asteraceae plant family (dandelion, endive, etc.).
Ricoré, too sweet?
Ricoré is sometimes criticized for being too sweet a drink. But what is the reality?
According to the brand’s information – only the information on the product label is considered valid – Ricoré Original contains 9.1 g of sugar per 100 g.
However, a serving for a drink is 4 to 5 g. If you mix your Ricoré with water, you will have a sugar dose well below 1 g. The drink itself is not too sweet!
On the other hand, if you prepare your drink with milk, you could reach 10.3 g of sugar for a large cup, the majority of which comes from the milk.
Finally, the sugar content can be much higher in derivative products, such as the Ricoré Cappuccino. Therefore, pay attention to the sugar content when purchasing Ricoré.
What beneficial effects on the body?
Thanks to its chicory content, Ricoré has health benefits:
- Antioxidant properties (flavonoids and carotenoids);
- Improvement of digestion thanks to prebiotics (inulin, oligofructose);
- Choleretic action, which helps regain appetite.
It is therefore a healthy alternative to your morning or afternoon coffee… As long as you consume your Ricoré reasonably, without adding too much sugar or milk.
