|
|
Frequently Asked Questions About Teeccino
| |
"Is Teeccino all natural and healthy for me?"
Yes!!! Teeccino is created from all natural ingredients that are nutritional and have been consumed by humans for thousands of years. Teeccino is low in calories, has only 3 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, and no fat. Please read more about Teeccino’s health benefits under Nutritional Benefits.
Return to top
|
| |
"Is there any coffee or caffeine in Teeccino?
No! Nor is there any black tea. Teeccino is naturally coffee-free and caffeine-free. Teeccino is a blend of herbs, grains, fruits and nuts that are roasted and ground to brew and taste just like coffee.
Return to top
|
| |
"What do you mean by herbal coffee?"
Herbal coffee is brewed from herbs that have been roasted and ground to brew and taste like coffee. Most people are aware that there is no “milk" in soy milk, and there is no “burger" in a veggie burger. However, many people don’t remember that there is no “tea" in herbal tea. Tea always used to refer to Camelia sinensis, the plant that has been grown for centuries to produce black tea. But now we have green tea, red tea, white tea, and herbal tea. The term “tea" has become a generic term for leaves, bark, flowers, roots and spices that are brewed in hot water like true tea. We hope that one day people will also understand “herbal coffee" as easily as they now understand soy milk!
Return to top
|
| |
"How do I quit coffee?"
Over a two week period, start blending Teeccino with your coffee. Begin with 3/4 coffee, and 1/4 Teeccino and gradually increase the amount of Teeccino until you are drinking 100% Teeccino. Herbal tonics and nutritional supplements can also aid you in restoring your own natural energy supply. Check the Quitting Painlessly section for more information.
Return to top
|
| |
"Why not just drink decaf?"
Even decaf coffee has at least 7 – 10 mg of caffeine per 6 oz cup. Decaf coffee brewed at coffee bars can contain twice as much caffeine because they typically brew coffee stronger than standard brewing directions. So if you are drinking a 16 oz cup of decaf, you may be getting as much as 20-30 mg of caffeine. In addition, studies show that decaf raises the LDL fraction of cholesterol (commonly referred to as "bad" cholesterol) by 8 – 10% in only 3 months, leading to an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Studies have also shown that there is a higher incidence of people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis among decaf drinkers. Additionally, most decaf has been extracted with methylene chloride, a carcinogen, which leaves behind small but significant residues. Decaf is even harder than regular coffee on the gastrointestinal tract because it is made from a variety of coffee beans called robusta that have stronger acids. If you have gastrointestinal problems or suffer from acid indigestion, you'll find that eliminating coffee from your diet, whether it is decaf or regular, will help your recovery process.
Return to top
|
| |
"Will Teeccino give me an energy boost?"
Many people experience an energy lift from drinking Teeccino. The nutrients in Teeccino are in liquid form, making them very bio-available and quickly absorbed. Teeccino replenishes potassium, an electrolyte mineral that stimulates nerve impulses, helps oxygenate the brain, and enhances athletic performance. The potassium in Teeccino is completely natural, coming from the ingredients themselves. Sports drinks rely on added potassium to achieve the same effect, but Teeccino’s natural potassium is at an even higher per serving quantity than sports drinks. Thus many people find Teeccino makes a re-energizing drink after workouts.
Another factor that may explain why people experience an energy lift from Teeccino is the pinitol that is naturally present in carob pods. Pinitol has been shown to act like insulin by making cells receptive to taking in glycogen, the energy component in the blood. The natural pinitol in carob may help people who are insulin resistant by increasing the ability of their muscles to use glycogen.
Return to top
|
| |
"Why is the 8.5 oz can only 'half' full?"
Our cans do have a lot of headspace especially after sitting in transit and on the shelf. When we began marketing Teeccino, we had to achieve a low enough shelf price to encourage trial purchase. A high shelf price simply discourages first time buyers. This can was the only one available to us from our co-packer and thus, we couldn’t fill it all the way up. Although the can could actually hold 12 oz, we continue to pack it with 8.5 oz for that lower shelf price. I advise people who are offended by the head space to ask their store to carry our 1 lb cans or to buy the 1 lb refill bag on our website. That way the 8.5 oz can is reused. By the way, 80% of the materials used to manufacture our cans are from recycled materials!
Return to top
|
| |
"What makes Teeccino's flavors natural?"
Natural flavors are made from flavoring constituents that are extracted from natural ingredients like fruits, spices, herbs and even coffee. Teeccino flavors do not contain any constituents from meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, or edible yeast. Teeccino does not allow any monosodium glutamate, propylene glycol, or preservatives in its flavors.
Return to top
|
| |
"Is there caffeine in the natural coffee flavor in Teeccino?"
Flavor houses extract the flavor components from all natural ingredients in order to create natural flavors. In the case of Hazelnut flavor, the flavor is extracted from a hazelnut paste and other nut pastes. In the case of coffee flavor, the components of coffee flavor are extracted from a number of ingredients that include both coffee, chicory and even, believe it not, garlic! Who would imagine that coffee and garlic share the same flavor component? The expertise of flavor chemists allows them to use natural ingredients to derive flavors without getting all the components of each source. Thus it is possible to produce coffee flavor without caffeine, which in any case doesn’t contribute to the flavor of coffee. Watch out though for coffee flavored ice cream, yogurt, etc. because these foods usually contain a coffee concentrate or even ground coffee beans that do have caffeine. I make sure that the flavors we use are completely natural and don't contain harmful ingredients like propylene glycol, a petroleum product that is added to many food and skin care products, or MSG, preservatives, etc.
Return to top
|
| |
"What is Inulin?"
Inulin is a natural soluble fiber that is part of the chicory root. Not to be confused with the hormone, insulin, which is excreted by the pancreas to control blood sugar levels, inulin passes through the digestive tract unabsorbed. In the colon, it becomes food for the beneficial microflora such as lactobacillus and bifidus. The consumption of inulin helps establish and keeps thriving a healthy population of beneficial microflora that are responsible for creating B vitamins, boosting the immune system, and promoting the absorption of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium.
Return to top
|
| |
"Is there caffeine in the cocoa powder in Mocha and Chocolate Mint?"
Return to top
Cocoa contains a small amount of caffeine. However, since cocoa is used as a flavoring in Teeccino in very small quantities, no detectable level of caffeine has been found in a cup of Teeccino Mocha or Chocolate Mint when tested by independent laboratories.
|
| |
"Does Teeccino contain any gluten?"
Although Teeccino contains barley, an independent laboratory at the University of Nebraska that specializes in gluten testing found no detectable levels of gluten in Teeccino. Although gluten is present in barley, it most likely does not extract out of the barley using conventional coffee brewing techniques. Gluten is not extracted by boiling water although it can be extracted using ethanol alcohol, which of course is not present in Teeccino.
Click Here to see Gluten testing results. (Results will open in new window)
Return to top
|
| |
"Where can I get more information about caffeine?"
For information about the effects of coffee and caffeine on a variety of health conditions including heart disease, stress, acid reflux, weight loss, women's health, aging, and others, please read the scientific papers and their summaries which can be found by clicking here. We also highly recommend reading Caffeine Blues by Stephen Cherniske, M.S., published by Warner Books. This is the first comprehensive review of caffeine that is well documented with over 700 studies. It's easy to read and the author gives excellent nutritional advice based on his own clinical practice that will help you recover your own abundant energy supply. To order your copy of Caffeine Blues, Click Here.
Return to top
|
| |
"Why do you recommend a permanent filter rather than paper filters?"
First, Teeccino’s composite grind flows better through a permanent filter also known as “gold" filters. Paper filters have a tendency to drip Teeccino more slowly due to the paper being less porous than permanent filters. With both Mocha and Chocolate Mint, the cocoa powder can inhibit the flow through paper filters. Secondly, paper filters capture some of the flavor of Teeccino. Permanent filters allow all of Teeccino’s flavor to flow into the cup. Finally, we believe the less trees we use to create paper products, the healthier our environment. Click here for permanent basket filters or click here for permanent cone filters.
Return to top
|
| |
"How Can I Drink Teeccino While Eating Out?"
There’s nothing like finishing a meal with a perfectly brewed cup of Teeccino. It gives you that satisfying sense of completion without the calories of a dessert. This year we’ve made it our goal to get Teeccino served nationally in natural food restaurants and health-oriented coffee bars. If Teeccino isn’t served in your favorite establishment yet, don’t let that stop you from asking for it! You can ensure your success by bringing along a foil trial-size packet of your favorite flavor. Simply ask your waiter if they have an espresso machine or French press. One packet makes two perfect cappuccinos or two individual size French presses. To guarantee you’ll get a cup of Teeccino, you can also take the One-Cup Brewer or the Tea Infuser since both will brew Teeccino with only hot water. Again, the foil packet will make 2 or 3 steaming mugs, depending on how strong you like to drink Teeccino. Help us build a network of establishments that serve Teeccino by sending us the name of your favorite ones, their address and phone number, and the person who makes the decisions about their menus. If we are successful in getting Teeccino served there, we’ll send you a complimentary pound of your favorite Teeccino flavor!
Return to top
|
| |
"Is Teeccino safe for pregnant women and nursing mothers?"
YES! All the herbs in Teeccino have been in the human diet for thousands of years. There are no stimulants or drugs like caffeine that could cause uterine contractions or hyperactivity by the infant. Teeccino is nutritious for both Mom and baby.
Return to top
|
| |
"Is Teeccino an instant product?"
NO! The secret to getting the full-bodied, deep roasted flavor of Teeccino lies in brewing Teeccino like coffee. Instant teas, coffee or coffee substitutes can't give you the satisfaction of brewed flavor. If you are traveling and want to brew Teeccino away from home, we recommend two brewing methods. The Swiss Gold One-Cup Brewer (available here ) is easy to travel with and you can brew one cup at a time with only boiling water. The paper filters, Mini Minit One Cup Filters (available here ), allow you to brew a single cup and throw away the paper filter afterwards. Also, many restaurants with espresso machines or French presses will brew a cup of Teeccino for you. The Teeccino trial size packet makes 2 cappuccinos/lattes or 2 individual serving French presses. The packets are easy to travel with and you can refold the foil if you only brew one cup. Click here for a special offer on a package of five of the trial size packets.
Return to top
|
| |
"Does Teeccino's grind work in all the different brewing methods?"
YES! Teeccino contains a variety of ingredients which are each ground to different specifications. This composite grind allows Teeccino to be brewed in a variety of ways; from a drip coffee maker to a French press pot or an espresso machine.
Return to top
|
| |
"Does Teeccino need to be refrigerated like coffee?"
NO! Teeccino won't go stale like coffee because it doesn't have coffee oils which go rancid if unrefrigerated. Just replace the plastic cap on your can of Teeccino and it will last for at least two years. Brewed Teeccino can last up to five days in your refrigerator making it easy to drink iced Teeccino in the summer.
Return to top
|
| |
"Is Teeccino GMO Free?"
Teeccino is completely GMO free. Fortunately, Monsanto and others haven’t seen fit to tinker with the genetic composition of most of the ingredients that are used in Teeccino. We are vigilant however with all our suppliers requesting a guarantee that the ingredients they supply do not contain GMOs. There is some GMO experimentation with barley to make it resistant to a fungus called barley scab, but fortunately it is still restricted to the laboratory and has not been successful so far!
Return to top
|
| |
"Are the ingredients in Teeccino organic?"
Teeccino now offers 3 certified organic flavors in the Maya Herbal Coffee line. Due to limited supply of certified organic ingredients, the Classic Herbal Coffees line is still not certified. However, ingredients like carob, harvested from indigenous Mediterranean trees that are not sprayed, fertilized, or in anyway treated, are termed “organic by default”. They may not be certified, but they are organically grown. We are working to develop more sources for ingredients that have been certified organic on the National Organic Program (NOP). Our hope is that in 2007, we will be able to buy certified organic ingredients for Teeccino’s primary ingredients, carob, barley and chicory. Click Here to read more about our Maya Herbal Coffee line.
Return to top
|
| |
"Does Teeccino have an acidic or alkaline effect in the body?"
Teeccino has an alkaline effect on the system due to several reasons. First, its high content of potassium, an alkaline mineral, helps neutralize acidity and restore an alkaline balance. Second, most of the ingredients in Teeccino like the chicory, almonds, dates and figs are all alkaline. Third, by roasting the ingredients in Teeccino, especially the barley that is an acidic grain, the carbohydrates become more easily digestible and thus less acidifying.
Drinking Teeccino helps you reduce acidity in your body in two ways. First, it provides the alkaline mineral, potassium, which your body uses to balance the acidity in your diet. Second, the inulin from the chicory in Teeccino supports a population of beneficial microflora that enhances your digestion and increases the bio-availability of minerals. Thus Teeccino gives you a better ability to absorb your alkaline minerals like calcium, potassium, magnesium, cobalt, and copper that a healthy person needs to maintain the body’s natural alkaline balance.
Return to top
|
| |
"What makes coffee and tea so acidic in the body?"
Coffee is highly acidic to the body due to its content of over 208 acids. The acids in coffee, not all of which have even been identified, are highly irritating to the stomach and intestinal lining. Coffee stimulates an increased production of gastric acid leading to a variety of digestive ailments. Decaf has the same or even stronger effect because the beans used to produce decaf coffee are usually more highly acidic than regular coffee beans.
Caffeine is also a contributing factor to the reason why both coffee and tea have an acidic effect in the body. Caffeine belongs to a group of chemicals called xanthines. Caffeine has to be detoxified in the liver and its metabolites, methylxanthine, methyluric acid and uric acid, are excreted by the kidneys in the urine. If the diet is over-acidic and the kidneys are not able to keep up with processing acids, these acids can contribute to a build up of acidity in the body.
Studies have shown that coffee can reduce the pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter, which normally prevents the reflux of the acid contents of the stomach from going back up into the esophagus. Since this effect is produced by both coffee and decaf coffee, it is not just the caffeine in coffee that contributes to heartburn, acid reflux, and GERDS.
Return to top
|
| |
"What is Ramon Nut?"
Ramon nuts are the seed of the fruit of the ramon tree, a 120 ft tall tree that grows throughout Central America. Known as "Yaxox" in Mayan, the ramon tree (Brosimum Alicastrum) is a member of the fig family, which also includes mulberry trees, and forms the upper canopy of the rainforest. Referred to as "corn tree" by the Maya civilization, its nut was a nutrient-rich, staple food crop, capable of being stored for lengthy periods of time. Fresh ramon nuts can be boiled like potatoes. The dry nut is roasted, ground into a flour and combined with corn for baking. Dark roasted ramon nuts taste very similar to coffee!
Like soy, roasted ramon nuts are high in protein, containing all the essential amino acids, and rich in nutrients including high levels of calcium, iron, the amino acid tryptophan and vitamins C and B. Ramon nuts are both fat free and gluten free. Ramon nuts were used medicinally by the Maya to detoxify the liver and promote lactation in nursing women. Other common names for ramon nuts are ojoche, mojo, breadnut and mayanut.
Return to top
|
| |
"Does Teeccino buy fair trade ingredients?"
Most of Teeccino's ingredients are grown in Europe & the USA by first world farmers. We source organic chicory in India and wild-crafted ramon nuts in Guatemala, which allows us to work in developing countries with small family farmers and rainforest villages. These ingredients create new trade that provides more economic opportunities in regions where sources of income are scarce. Fair trade is very important for commodity-driven products where exploitation is common. Creating new trade provides more ways to raise the quality of life for rural communities. By drinking Teeccino, you join us in supporting families devoted to organic values in both first world and developing countries.
Return to top
|
| |
"Does Teeccino buy fair trade ingredients?"
Occasionally, a new Teeccino drinker may experience excess gas. The excess gas is most likely caused by unfavorable resistant bacteria in the gut. Inulin, from the chicory root in Teeccino, is a prebiotic. Prebiotics are known to feed the "good" digestive bacteria like lactobacillus and bifidus flora, but occasionally there may be some unfavorable resistant bacteria that cause some gas. We have found that the excess gas some people have experienced goes away once probiotics with lactobacillus and bifidus bacteria are added to the diet. This type of probiotic can be found in the refrigerated section of your local health food store. Drinking Teeccino (a prebiotic) along with taking a probiotic, over a two week period, should help rebalance your colon with the right mix of healthy bacteria it needs for optimal digestive health. From then on, Teeccino will continue to support a healthy population of beneficial bacteria that is necessary for good health.
Return to top
|
|
|