Roasted grain drink


A roasted grain drink is a hot drink made from one or more cereal grains roasted and commercially processed into crystal or powder form to be reconstituted later in hot water. The product is often marketed as a caffeine-free alternative to coffee and tea, or in other cases where those drinks are scarce or expensive.
Several well-known roasted grain drinks are Nestlé Caro, Postum, and Inka. Other brands can be found at health food stores and at some grocery stores. Some common ingredients include toasted barley, malted barley, rye, chicory, molasses, and beet root.

Use

Asia

Roasted grain drinks are popular in East Asian cuisines—Korea, Japan, and China each having one or more versions.
Grain-like seeds and pseudocereals are used to make similar drinks.
Grain teas can also be blended with green tea or other tea drinks.
Some notable Polish brands which specialize in roasted grain coffee are Inka, Krakus and Anatol.
In Czech Republic, a popular brand has been roasting grain coffee since 1896.
Such roasted grain mixes are also used as a base to make podpiwek.

Safety

is found at high levels in dark-colored baked, roasted and fried high-carbohydrate foods, as well as in roasted coffee and barbecued meat. The dark-roasted grains used in roasted grain drinks would also, presumably, have high levels of acrylamide. The substance has raised health concerns but it is not clear whether acrylamide consumption affects people's risk of getting cancer.