Ricoré is a brand created by Nestlé in 1953. Its yellow packaging is hard to forget! This powder for preparing beverages combining the taste of coffee and chicory has an interesting composition:
- 33.2% of instant coffee,
- 33% of chicory fibers (oligofructose),
- 30% of soluble chicory,
- and magnesium sulfate.
Chicory is a herbaceous plant that includes several species, some of which are lettuces such as escarole or frisée.
But the one that draws our attention is the root of Cichorium Intybus, also called coffee chicory, which is found in Ricoré.
Native to Asia, Europe, and North Africa, chicory has been used since antiquity for medicinal purposes. But it was only when coffee became a scarce commodity, during the blockade imposed by Napoleon or during World War II, that chicory expanded as a substitute for coffee.
Unlike coffee, it does not contain caffeine, and its bitterness is more pronounced because it is rich in chlorogenic acid.
Is Ricoré dangerous?
Since Ricoré is a blend of coffee and chicory, it combines their adverse effects to a lesser extent.
Chicory is a major source of inulin and oligofructose, dietary fibers that notably have a positive prebiotic effect on the intestines.
If you consume too much, or if you are particularly sensitive digestively, they can have the opposite effect on your intestines and cause discomfort such as bloating, flatulence, diarrhea.
Furthermore, even though its amount is low, Ricoré contains caffeine, at 64 mg per 4 g serving of Ricoré Original.
If you are a die-hard Ricoré fan, don’t drink it all day long! Otherwise you risk suffering from headaches, stomachaches, nervousness, or difficulty falling asleep at too high a dose.
However, normal consumption does not cause the side effects of caffeine, as the dose of this stimulant remains low.
There is no real danger in consuming Ricoré! However, there are contraindications if you have a allergy to inulin, or to the plant family Asteraceae (dandelion, endive, etc.).
Ricoré, too sweet?
Ricoré is sometimes criticized for being a drink that’s too sweet. But what is it really like?
According to the brand’s information – only the information on the product label is authoritative – Ricoré Original provides 9.1 g of sugar per 100 g.
A serving for a drink is 4 to 5 g. If you mix your Ricoré with water, you’ll then have a sugar content well below 1 g. So the drink itself is not too sweet!
However, if you prepare your drink with milk, you could then 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 Ricoré Cappuccino. So pay attention to the amount of sugar when purchasing Ricoré.
What beneficial effects does it have on the body?
Thanks to the presence of chicory, Ricoré has health benefits:
- antioxidant properties (flavonoids and carotenoids);
- improved digestion thanks to prebiotics (inulin, oligofructose);
- choleretic action, which helps restore appetite.
It is therefore a healthy alternative to your morning or afternoon coffee… As long as you consume your Ricoré in moderation and without adding too much sugar or milk.
