Vidya Reddy is the host of The Tea on Wellness Podcast and co-founder of Tea & Turmeric in Laguna Beach.
A few weeks ago, a customer named Andy walked into Tea & Turmeric after his doctor told him to stop drinking coffee completely. Not cut back. Completely. And coffee wasn't just a drink for him, it was his whole morning ritual.
Andy isn't alone. More people are coming into the shop because their doctor flagged their anxiety, their sleep, or their gut, and coffee keeps coming up as part of the problem. Others are just done with the jitters, the crash, and the afternoon fog, and they're ready for something else.
In this episode, Vidya breaks down what coffee is actually doing in your body, why so many people are hitting this wall right now, and what Tea and Turmeric created specifically for coffee lovers who need something else: Beyond Coffee Herbal.
FEATURED BLEND
Beyond Coffee Herbal is made with roasted chicory, Ceylon cinnamon, five functional mushrooms including Lion's Mane and Reishi, and warming spices like cardamom, clove, ginger, and nutmeg. Steep 1/2 teaspoon, covered, for 2 to 3 minutes, or stir it into your regular coffee to soften the acidity and ease the caffeine spike.
Shop Beyond Coffee Herbal
VIDYA LINK HERE Read the full breakdown: [Beyond Coffee Herbal blog post](your-blog-post-link)
CHAPTERS
0:00 — Show Intro
1:00 — Welcome to The Tea on Wellness
2:00 — What Coffee Really Does to Your Cortisol and Gut
4:00 — The Best Coffee Alternative for Coffee Lovers: Why Chicory Works
6:00 — Inside Beyond Coffee Herbal: Ceylon Cinnamon, Lion's Mane, and Reishi
9:00 — What Switching From Coffee to Herbal Tea Actually Feels Like
10:30 — How to Quit Coffee Without Going Cold Turkey
12:00 — Thank You for Listening
13:00 — Show Outro
TRANSCRIPT
Podcast: The Tea on Wellness
Episode 32: Could Coffee Be Making You Anxious? A Better Morning Ritual
Host: Vidya, co-founder of Tea & Turmeric
Location: Laguna Beach
Beyond Coffee: The Herbal Alternative That Actually Tastes Like Coffee
[1:00] Welcome to The Tea on Wellness
[VIDYA]: A few weeks ago, Andy walked into Tea and Turmeric with a very specific problem. His doctor had just told him no more coffee. Not cut back on coffee. Just no more.
And Andy just stood there for a second and said, "I don't even know where to start," because coffee wasn't just a drink for him. It was his morning. It was how he woke up, how he started his day, how he got going. And taking that away felt like, now what?
Andy is not alone. We are seeing this more and more in the shop right now. People coming in because their doctor flagged their anxiety, their sleep, their gut, and coffee keeps coming up as part of the problem. Others are coming in on their own because something just isn't working anymore. The jitters, the crash, the afternoon fog.
They're ready for a change. They just don't know what that actually looks like.
Hi, I'm Vidya, and welcome back to The Tea on Wellness. Today we are talking about how to make that switch from coffee to tea in a way that actually works, why so many people are at this point right now, and what we created at Tea and Turmeric for people exactly like Andy.
[2:00] What Coffee Really Does to Your Cortisol and Gut
[VIDYA]: Let's start with what coffee is actually doing in your body, because this is not about shaming your morning cup. Coffee is one of the most beloved rituals on the planet and there is a reason for that. It works. It smells incredible. For so many people it is the first moment of warmth and comfort in their entire day.
But here is what is happening underneath that.
Coffee spikes your cortisol first thing in the morning. Cortisol is your stress hormone. That wired, slightly anxious feeling before you have even opened your email? That is cortisol. And when it spikes right at the start of your day, your body is essentially beginning from a place of stress before your morning has even started. Over time, that adds up.
Then there is the acidity. Coffee sits at around a pH of 5, which is significantly acidic. For a lot of people that means digestive discomfort, reflux, or just feeling unsettled in the gut throughout the day. And when the gut is irritated, your mood and your clarity follow. We see this constantly in the shop.
And then there is the dependency. Over time your brain adapts to caffeine in a way where you are not even getting a boost anymore. You are just getting back to baseline. And when you miss that cup, the withdrawal is real. Headaches, fatigue, irritability. Sound familiar?
When Andy's doctor said no more coffee, Andy didn't just lose a beverage. He lost his whole morning ritual. And that is what I wanted to give back to him.
[4:00] The Best Coffee Alternative for Coffee Lovers: Why Chicory Works
[VIDYA]: So what does the other side actually look like for a coffee lover?
This is the question we kept coming back to when we were developing Beyond Coffee Herbal at Tea and Turmeric. Because telling someone like Andy to just switch to green tea was not going to work. Green tea is wonderful, but it does not scratch that itch. It does not have the depth, the richness, that bold roasted quality that coffee lovers are reaching for at six in the morning.
The blend needed to feel like a ritual. Not a substitute. Not a consolation prize. Something you actually look forward to.
And the foundation of that is roasted chicory.
Here is something a lot of people don't know. If you have ever had South Indian filter coffee, you have already tasted chicory. In South India, chicory is traditionally blended into the coffee itself, sometimes up to 30 or 40 percent of the blend. It deepens the flavor, adds that rich body, creates a complexity that is deeply satisfying. It is one of my favorite things about being in South India. That cup is something else.
So when people try Beyond Coffee Herbal for the first time and say "wait, this actually tastes like coffee," that is chicory doing exactly what it has done in South Indian kitchens for generations.
But chicory brings something your regular coffee doesn't. It is a prebiotic fiber. It feeds the good bacteria in your gut. So instead of irritating your digestive system, you are actively supporting it with every single sip.
[6:00] Ceylon Cinnamon, Lion's Mane & Reishi: What's in Beyond Coffee Herbal?
[VIDYA]: Now let me walk you through what else is in this blend, because this is where it really starts to come together. We experimented a lot with a coffee alternative and are so excited to share our formulation.
We pair the chicory with Ceylon cinnamon, and I want to be specific here because it matters. Ceylon is true cinnamon. It is gentler than the cassia cinnamon most people have at home, and it helps keep your blood sugar steady. So instead of that spike and crash, your energy just feels even.
Then we added a blend of functional mushrooms. It's all the big five mushrooms. And instead of breaking down all five, here is what people actually come back and tell us. They feel clearer. More focused. And they don't crash halfway through the morning.
But two of them are worth calling out.
Lion's Mane is the one people notice first. It is that clean mental clarity. Not jittery, not forced. Just feeling like your brain is online in a steady way.
And Reishi works differently. It is not something you feel right away, but over time it helps your body handle stress better. So instead of your system getting pushed up first thing in the morning, it feels more balanced. In Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine it is called the mushroom of immortality, and that adaptogen quality is exactly why we put it in this blend.
Then the warming spices. Cardamom, black pepper, clove, ginger, nutmeg. This is what makes it feel like a ritual, not just a functional drink. It is layered, it is warm, it actually feels like something you want to sit with.
And the black pepper is doing something important in the background. It contains piperine, which helps your body absorb everything else in the blend more effectively. So it is not just there for flavor. It is there to make the whole thing work better.
[9:00] What Switching to a Coffee Alternative Actually Feels Like
[VIDYA]: So what does this actually feel like to drink?
It is rich. Roasted. Warm. Earthy. There is a little sweetness from the cinnamon, a little heat from the ginger and pepper, and a depth that actually satisfies that coffee craving instead of feeling like you are missing something.
But the bigger shift is in how your morning feels.
There is no urgency to it. You are not chasing that first hit of caffeine. You are just there. Drinking something warm, easing into your day.
Your stomach feels fine. Better than fine.
And after a little while, you start to notice you are focused. Not wired. Not overstimulated. Just clear and present.
And then the part people don't expect. There is no crash waiting for you later. No dip you have to plan around.
It is a very different kind of morning. And once you feel it, most people don't want to go back.
[10:30] How to Quit Coffee Without Going Cold Turkey
[VIDYA]: If you are ready to try this, here is what I told Andy, and what I tell most people who come in.
Do not go cold turkey.
Start by replacing your second cup of coffee with Beyond Coffee Herbal. Keep your morning the same for now. Let yourself experience this without forcing it.
Andy started that way. Just one small shift.
And what usually happens is within a week or two, you start reaching for it earlier. Not because you are trying to be disciplined, but because your body starts to prefer how it feels.
And if you want to make it a little more indulgent, try it with a splash of oat milk or coconut milk. It brings out the richness of the chicory in a whole new way.
[12:00] Thank You for Listening
[VIDYA]: Your morning ritual sets the tone for everything that follows. Your energy, your mood, your patience, how you show up for your day.
Andy came back into the shop a few weeks after that first conversation. And he didn't say "I found a substitute."
He said, "I actually like my mornings now."
That is the whole point. That is what you are really changing.
If you are in Laguna Beach, come find us at Tea and Turmeric. I love these conversations. And if you are listening from somewhere else, you can explore Beyond Coffee Herbal and all of our blends at teaandturmeric.com.
Thank you for spending this time with me today on The Tea on Wellness. If this episode resonated with you, please rate, review and subscribe. It helps us reach more people who are ready for something different.
Until next time, steep well and live well.
ABOUT THE HOST
Vidya is the host of The Tea on Wellness Podcast, ranked in the top 25% of new podcasts globally. She is co-founder and owner of Tea & Turmeric, a tea and spice shop in Laguna Beach, Orange County, California. Raised in Eastern Canada in an Indian family rooted in Ayurveda, she grew up drinking masala chai daily in her Amma Amma's kitchen long before sourcing loose-leaf herbs for her own shop. Today, Vidya formulates functional herbal teas and spice blends and speaks with customers every day about stress, sleep, digestion, and nervous system support. She shares Ayurvedic tea traditions, adaptogens, and practical wellness rituals bi-weekly on The Tea on Wellness Podcast.
RESOURCES & LINKS
Shop the Episode: Beyond Coffee Herbal
Shop Online: teaandturmeric.com
Instagram: @teanturmeric
Email: hello@teaandturmeric.com
This guide is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before beginning any wellness program, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, have existing health conditions, or are taking medications. Individual results may vary.
Episode Length: 14 minutes
Category: Wellness, Health, Coffee Alternative, Gut Health, Adaptogens, Functional Mushrooms, Chicory, Orange County
Publish Date: October 14, 2026
Location: Laguna Beach, CA
