Customer Reviews

Dandy Blend, 7.05 oz Delicious Coffee Substitute! (Styles may vary)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I recently decided to give up coffee, including decaf, for health reasons. I drank coffee all day long, sometimes making a second pot in the early afternoon. I enjoy drinking a warm beverage throughout the day and wanted to find something to replace coffee. I buy a lot of things from Amazon.com and decided to start my search there. I found a number of products to choose from, and after reading the reviews, I decided on these three: Cafix, Caf-Lib, and Dandy Blend.

The first thing you must do when trying any coffee substitute is to set your expectations. The reviews I read said these products tasted like coffee. They do not taste like any coffee I have ever had. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but if you are expecting a coffee-like taste when you try one of these, you will be disappointed. That was my experience. I drank my coffee black, and so that is how I prepared these. Perhaps with sweetener and/or creamer these do taste more like coffee.

I ordered all three products from Amazon.com, and the first to arrive was Cafix. Thinking it was like coffee, I used a level teaspoon just like I would with instant coffee. It tasted like really weak coffee. I tried adding more to make it stronger, but it still did not taste like coffee, and I was disappointed. I finished the drink and put my cup in the
dishwasher.

After I thought about it for a while, I realized what I really wanted was a beverage I could drink throughout the day like I did coffee. Whether or not it tasted like coffee was not important. It's not that Cafix tasted bad, it wasn't what I was expecting. So I made myself another cup, and when I finished that one I made a third. By the end of the day I decided that Cafix wasn't so bad after all, I actually enjoyed it.

A couple days later I received Caf-Lib and eagerly fixed myself a cup. First impression was good. Caf-Lib tastes similar to Cafix to me, but has more flavor. Caf-Lib is also stronger, so I use less to achieve the same strength. After comparing Cafix and Caf-Lib I decided that I prefer Caf-Lib.

The next day Dandy Blend arrived, and I fixed myself a cup right away. The directions say to use a slightly rounded teaspoon for a strong coffee like drink, so that's what I did. Dandy Blend was a little slower to dissolve, requiring that I stir it longer. Not important really, just observation. Finally I took my first sip. To my amazement I found the taste
reminded me of Caf-Lib and Cafix. I think the reason is because none of them have the bitter taste of coffee. They are all very mild. Dandy Blend's has slightly more flavor Cafix, but not as much as Caf-Lib.

#1: Caf-Lib
The most flavorful of these three and my favorite. I used one rounded teaspoon per cup. Has somewhat of a nut flavor.

#2: Dandy Blend
I used a slightly rounded (almost level) teaspoon per cup. It has somewhat of a smokey smell while stirring. More flavor than Cafix, but not as much as Caf-Lib.

#3: Cafix
I used one heaping teaspoon of per coffee cup. The taste is very mild.

There are many factors to consider when choosing a beverage. I prefer to drink them black, while you may prefer to use creamer and/or sweetner. Only you can determine which one would you prefer with your favorite snack. The reviews are good as a starting point, but I suggest you try all three to discover which one you will enjoy the most.

I'm very picky when it comes to substituting coffee. You see, I love coffee so if it doesn't taste like coffee then I don't want it. I've tried about 4 other alternatives and didn't like any of them so I went back to real coffee, but when I tried Dandy Blend I fell in love instantly. I couldn't believe how much it tastes like the real thing! It's like drinking real coffee and the best part is that it's really healthy so I don't feel guilty of making myself more than one cup. Also with Dandy Blend you can actually fool people when you offer them coffee cuz they won't be able to tell the difference. They won't know unless you tell them. I know cuz I've done it. Then when they find out, they are shocked. My aunt doesn't drink coffee but likes alternatives. I had to repeat to her and insist many times that this wasn't real coffee. She now drinks it but I'm still not so sure she believes me.

Why I chose Dandy Blend.....like I had said earlier, I love coffee for it's wonderful taste and smell. I grew up with coffee. Being Guatemalan I was born a coffee lover. My culture drinks coffee since we are babies poured into the bottle. No joke! My family has its morning coffee then around 4 pm we need it again with some pan dulce or sweet bread especially fresh from the bakery. The concern...I'm studying Natural Health and have learned about coffee not being so healthy and it's best to avoid it. It does much harm to the body in different ways and can destroy the vitamins and nutrients it tries to intake from food.

Also, as a Seventh-Day Adventist, health and nutrition are very important. We strive to keep our bodies healthy eliminating anything that can do us harm. We encourage vegetarianism for the simple fact that it was the original diet God intended for us when he created Adam and Eve. We, Seventh-Day Adventists must be an example to others and I wasn't doing that with my coffee drinking. Coffee is a stimulant so it is a beverage we try to avoid. Caffeine is harmful to our health. So when I found out there were alternatives out there, I was excited but that excitement faded away when I tried these other alternatives. I didn't like them. They were either tasteless or didn't taste like coffee, but Dandy Blend was different. I had to read the ingredients many times to make sure it didn't contain coffee because I really thought I was drinking the real thing.

This is my first long review. I know reviews are really helpful to me so I wanted to share my experience with you, too. I really like Dandy Blend a lot and am about to purchase some more. I'll also be honest to tell you that I don't like Pero or Roma, other alternative coffees, because they're tasteless to me (in case you were debating between the three). I haven't tried Teeccino yet which has fruits and nuts and other things in it. Sounds good tho. Hope this helps! God bless!

But for those of us that did and are trying to give up caffeine, I find it's a pretty good substitute. Not bitter, seriously. Add cream/milk whatever your 'dairy' preference. Honey or another sweetener works well. I've been adding cream and some powdered cinnamon to it.

In this day and age, I find it necessary to read the bad reviews before I read the good reviews. Dandy Blend had the best overall rating. I went a step further to take a thorough look at the ingredients. Personally, I would advise anyone taking medication to consult their doctor first as I do not know of all of the side-effects that would occur with the interaction of the consumption of dandelion and various medicines. I totally enjoy the beverage. The only reaction I had was that I started sweating. I researched that reaction and learned that the beverage can be used to help detoxify the body. I have been enjoying the beverage and the sweating has stopped. It makes for an excellent transition from coffee and a great replacement for Postum. I have purchased two years worth since the first purchase and I look forward to every sip.

This product is good enough for me to drink in the morning in place of coffee. My grandma tasted it and spit it back out (really was not impressed). It doesn't taste exactly like coffee but really close. I just wanted something hot in the morning and Tea doesn't totally cut it for me. But this drink reminds me so much of coffee that I haven't even missed the real stuff (I should say I usually always drank decaf so I don't miss the caffeine). I still need to research if there are health benefits to this dandelion drink (I had heard that even decaf coffee was bad for you -acids or something?). I am excited to have found this product.

Great product. Was disappointed in the condition of the package it was shipped in when it arrived. I know it's only a soft sided package (thought it was supposed to be a can because that's what the picture showed)but the packing material it was wrapped in was a joke. Box it was shipped in was damaged and partially open.

I wavered on how many stars to give this product. It is a good substitute to coffee, but I think I probably drink coffee just for the caffeine. Not good! If you are serious about getting off of coffee, and don't mind a switch in flavor, Dandy Blend is for you. If you are hoping that it will taste like coffee and fill your coffee need, be mentally prepared for a difference.

I have quit drinking coffee after many many many years and found that Dandy Blend is the most like coffee and most pleasing tasting so far. I preferred my coffee with a little sweetener and creamer or milk.

Like a previous reviewer, I too was looking for that perfect coffee replacement and so far it's not there and maybe never will be, but for what it's worth, Dandy Blend is definitely the best.

I tried Pero and Teeccino. Teeccino is awful.

this product actually tastes like coffee... reminded me of instant maxwell house coffee that my grandparents used to drink. I've had coffee substitutes that were meant to replace your coffee but the taste was not that of coffee. The best part of this dandelion coffee is that it not only tastes like coffee, it is good for you too!

I don't want to duplicate what other reviewers have said. So let me first observe that this is a delicious beverage whether or not one is trying to conquer the coffee custom: giving up coffee is by no means a prerequisite for enjoying Dandy Blend! Although indeed it should help such a project. Second, I have given samples of this to people from Poland and Romania, and was surprised to learn that it tasted familiar to them! Apparently chicory/dandelion is a not-uncommon beverage in that part of the world, and was something they had grown up with. Consider that an added approbation!