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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Hot bloody buggering drink options ..... or lack thereof

90 replies

ScottOfTheArseAntics · 27/10/2011 13:59

For various tedious and irritating health reasons this year I have slowly had to wave goodbye to caffeine (sob), dairy (blub) and alcohol (gibber).

After several months I am slowly getting used to not having a morning caffeine hit and instead I am drinking caffeine free herbal teas which are all watery and insipid and boring and the liquid equivalent of eating a polystyrene ceiling tile.

Currently in my cupboard I have redbush, chammomile, fennel, nettle, jasmine, green, decaf Early Grey, a dozen different fruity Twinings teas which all taste the shagging same and peppermint, which I kind of like but can't tolerate on my stomach - oh the irony.

Anyway. AIBU for thinking there are no hot drinks which can hold a candle to a delicious bubbling hot, creamy, sugary cup of propert coffee Sad?

Can anybody recommend and alternative hot beverage. Has anybody actually tasted a herbal or fruit tea that really hit the spot?. Please, please let me know. I am desperate.

OP posts:
plainwhitet · 27/10/2011 14:38

Hot water with a piece of lemon
or, Hot water with some fresh mint leaves
both good in my opinion ....
also keep eye out for those Christmas fruit cordials they sell as an alternative to mulled wine (non alcoholic) - could be useful if not sugared? expensive brands like luscombe I think.

Moodykat · 27/10/2011 14:38

My DM used to drink that organic veg stock powder stuff. Think it's called Marigold!

Winetimeisfinetime · 27/10/2011 14:40

I am not usually a lover of herbal tea as I find them very insipid but I really like this as it actually tastes of something. If you don't dislike liquorice then I think it is definitely worth trying. Round here it is available at the local Sainsburys so you don't need to buy it in the amounts sold on Amazon.

Original poster
ScottOfTheArseAntics · 27/10/2011 14:41

chicletteeth - you did ask so I have to say. The sugar I don't have because of weight issues. I follow a low GL diet which rules out refined sugar. I do feel a lot better and lighter for it.

Alcohol and caffeine I have quit because at the beginning of the year I was diagnosed hyperthyroid and I found that after drinking alcohol and caffeine my hyper symptoms (palpitations, anxiety, panic attacks) were made worse. The dairy thing, may also be connected to my hyperthyroid symptoms which affect the digestive system and erm so on (avoiding TMI). All I know is that whenever I have dairy, it mangles up my innards starting at the top, acid reflux and ending inevitably at the bottom. I'll say no more.

I will be having surgery soon to remove the thyroid nodules that are making me hyper and I am keeping my fingers crossed that afterward things will improve all round and I might be able to have a glass of wine or a cappucino now and then.

OP posts:
chicletteeth · 27/10/2011 14:44

Well I wish you well OP.
I lost the taste for caffeinated beverages whilst pregnant and never really got it back. Am lactose intolerant so dairy out for me too, but not having red wine I think would be a step too far.
You must have a will of iron.

Good luck with it and I hope you find that perfect hot drink

Wiifitmama · 27/10/2011 14:44

I generally hate herbal tea but love Pukka teas, in particular te licorice and cinnamon one. I drink coffee with milk and sugar but this tea needs nothing added. If you can afford it, Tea Pigs brand licorice and peppermint tea is the sweetest nicest drink I have ever had. Seriously. But it is £4 a box.

PeggyCarter · 27/10/2011 14:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Catsycat · 27/10/2011 14:46

I used to love Dandelion Coffee and Barley Cup, not so easy to get them since we moved house though :( will have to see if I can get some. Dandelion Coffee reminds me a bit of Camp Coffee, but less sharp / syrupy IYSWIM! I did add milk to it, maybe it would be nice with soya milk?

buggerlugs, I think the aspartame thing is that it has been linked to stomach cancer, though I'm not sure how concrete the link is. I'm sure someone who knows will be along soon...

Confuseddd · 27/10/2011 14:47

I like Yogi teas - the cinnamon one is the best.

Good on you btw - wish I had the self control to keep away from certain things for sake of my health

Moulesfrites · 27/10/2011 14:50

Licorice tea is nice.

PastGrace · 27/10/2011 14:51

I second the tea pigs range. It is expensive, but actually if you aren't going to be out buying yourself a cappucino or a latte then it's only about the same price as a generic branded coffee chain drink or two. You mentioned Holland and Barrett - have a look for Skin Purify. I find some of this range a bit blah, but I love skin purify. Don't believe for a second it really does purify though... I think it tastes quite like Pukka Love tea.

OP, look away now, but for everyone who mentioned hot ribena, this made up with a splash of gin and some hot water is the best thing ever if you have a cold and are having trouble sleeping.

MonstrouslyNarkyPuffin · 27/10/2011 14:52

Refined sugar? So honey and lemon would be ok?

Theoretically grating some ginger into a cafetiere, adding hot water, letting it stand and then pouring it out and adding honey and a squeeze of lemon could be nice. I'd try playing around with fresh herbs and spices. Lemongrass could be good.

ChippingInToThePumpkinLantern · 27/10/2011 14:52

YANBU - there is nothing that hits the spot in the same way a latte or cappucino do :(

My cousin had hyperthyroid & had nodules removed, she feels a lot better now, so I hope you do too.

Some of these things you may need to compromise on to get a drink you enjoy or just accept it doesn't exisit without those compromises.

I haven't had dandylion coffee, but I did try dandylion tea (when my diet had to be much like yours!) and it was vile..... There was so much I couldn't drink (or eat) that I just quit trying and drank hot water. I still prefer that to most herbal teas etc

TOWISalford · 27/10/2011 14:52

Instead of OXO bisto, why not try making your own broth with chicken bones/beef marrow bones and freeze and use as required. Super good for you. Add sea salt to taste.

Try getting hold of natural miso (not processed or dried, full of msg) and dilute with hot water or if you're adventurous, make you own.

Drink raw milk? I hear its processed milk/dairy that people can't tolerate. Hook & Son do chilled courier deliveries.

I recommend Wild fermentation by Sandor Ellix Katz for some interesting drink ideas!

I'm trying to give up caffiene myself, its hard. I like ginger, honey and lemon herbal tea.

MonstrouslyNarkyPuffin · 27/10/2011 14:53

Peppermint tea would be bad for acid reflux.

PastGrace · 27/10/2011 14:55

Ooh, OP - this doesn't seem to list ingredients but looks like it might be a sugar free version of the stuff I linked to before that did have sugar in: here

Pakdooik · 27/10/2011 14:56

Hot chocolate?

TheScaryJessie · 27/10/2011 14:57

Hot grape juice?

DoMeDon · 27/10/2011 14:57

Have you tried the lacto free milk and some tetley decaf tea?

ouryve · 27/10/2011 14:58

ThousandDenier - horlicks has dairy in it.

Original poster
ScottOfTheArseAntics · 27/10/2011 14:58

Haven't tried fresh mint tea so it might be easier on the stomach than pepperment teabags.

Love liquorice - had no idea you could get the tea so will try that.

Stock cubes - not sure but in for a penny etc.

Thanks for all suggestions.

buggerlugs82. I won't have a very satisfactory answer for you I am afraid. My parents were wholefood fanatics and aspartame was strictly verboten. Although I haven't always stuck to my parents foodie rules, that one has stuck for some reason. It's a controversial topic but I am afraid I don't know the ins and outs of it. I'm strictly in the 'monkey see, monkey do' camp.

OP posts:
pootlebug · 27/10/2011 15:01

Rooibos tea. The only not-normal-tea tea I can stand. With soy milk (or whatever milk substitute you usually use)

I second the fact that peppermint tea made by pouring water on fresh mint leaves, or ginger tea made by pouring boiling water on shredded ginger, are infinitely better than anything you get in a herbal tea bag.

PtCatalyst · 27/10/2011 15:02

I really like the Liquorice Yogi Tea (available in Sainsbury's) - it doesn't taste much of liquorice, but tastes warming (if that makes sense) due to all the other spices in it, and more substantial than most, rather insipid IMO, herbal teas - it sort of coats your throat with a layer of yummy cinnamon-y goodness after you swallow so you get the first flavour hit followed by a lovely warmth. I'm not sure that entirely makes sense...

I think it's a bit of an acquired taste though - my sister hates it - but worth a go if you're after a more substantial herbal tea.

Hmm... might go and have a cup now after that... yum yum!

DoesNotGiveAFig · 27/10/2011 15:04

I love a good peppermint tea.

Doesn't aspartamene give you cancer like everything else?

QueenVictoria42 · 27/10/2011 15:07

How about a chai latte? I think chai has trace amounts of caffeine, so that may still be unsuitable, but I find it's the only drink that even comes close to a coffee based latte/cappucino. You can substitute milk for soy milk or maybe almond milk? And to sweeten, use honey. I make it at home by warming milk in a saucepan (you could do half milk/half water if you don't want it too rich) and whilst it is warming I place an individual tea bauble full of chai leaves in there too. You can even chuck in a cinnamon stick if you fancy it.

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