Coffee substitutes

[Timestepper]

This is likely due to the reality that we can't effectively grow coffee in the United States and it must be imported from the coffee producing regions of the world that ranges between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. There are some websites that discuss home-growing your own coffee, but it appears that it requires a tremendous amount of effort, perfect growing conditions accomplished in a controlled environment, and a bit of luck. One site I saw said that out of 20 seeds planted only a couple actually sprouted at all; the rest rotted in the dirt. One successful person I saw grows them in a greenhouse and manages to get a few pounds of green coffee beans per year.

Pretty much my point - no matter how few know how to make alcohol, it's still going to be infinitely easier to procure than coffee, which virtually no one is going to be able to produce.

[Moped]

I bet it would be worth it's weight in gold in a TEOWAWKI!

[Timestepper]

Figuratively speaking, maybe. In a true TEOTWAWKI scenario, I doubt that gold would have much value to anyone with any sense. Can't speak for anyone else, but I think I'd rather carry 10 pounds of food (or coffee) than 10 pounds of gold.

[DaveS]

More than know how to grow coffee, I'd wager.

Funny thing: In the historic journals, diaries, etc... I've read, more folks complained about the cost or lack of availability of coffee than about the cost or lack of availability of alcohol.

Not saying that alcohol isn't a good thing to have on hand, but when it comes to comfort items (which are at least as important for mental health as actual survival supplies) I'll take a good pot of coffee over a gallon of booze. If only because I've never yet seen anyone turn into a raging @sshole and threatening bodily harm from drinking too much coffee.

We were "trek'n" once and had no coffee. (see your last sentence above) my pards threatened to tie me to a flat raft and set me adrift in the great cumberland. Seems my muslin "bag-o-beans" was left at home when I packed to go.

That was a long two days!

Dave

[sigmtnman]

Drink it black for the flavor and the smell. Mostly like French or Italian roast, with one of my favorite being Seattle's Best Level 5 (French Roast), but it's too expensive anymore. Right now I've got a cup of Community dark roast.

Edited May 16, 2012 by sigmtnman

[Timestepper]

We were "trek'n" once and had no coffee. (see your last sentence above) my pards threatened to tie me to a flat raft and set me adrift in the great cumberland. Seems my muslin "bag-o-beans" was left at home when I packed to go.

That was a long two days!

Dave

Ah, but as in the case Moped mentioned earlier, it wasn't because they'd had too much, but rather because they suddenly couldn't have any at all. As for me, I carry a brick of black tea on my treks and it's always in my bedroll, so I don't have to worry about forgetting it. (If I forget my tea it's because I've forgotten my bedroll, in which case lack of caffeine is the least of my problems!)

[Caster]

R_Bert is right. Learn to identify sassafras trees and keep a pack shovel handy. In scouts we used to take pieces of the root taking care not to intentionally kill the tree. Carefully putting the dirt back afterward.

[DaveS]

I read somewhere recently that they are saying Sassafras tea causes cancer. Maybe that was in California....I don't remember....

Edited May 16, 2012 by wd-40

[Timestepper]

I read somewhere recently that they are saying Sassafras tea causes cancer. Maybe that was in California....I don't remember....

From another thread:

At one time Sassafras was the "New World's" biggest export to Europe. It does indeed seem to have very good tonic qualities and my wife and I drink Sassafras tea on a fairly regular basis. Besides the tonic effect, it also has anti-coagulant properties.

Sassafras was banned from commercial sale several years ago (1960, I think) because safrole is indeed a carcinogen and anecdotal evidence seemed to show that extended consumption could cause liver damage over time. What the freak-the-f*uck-out panic spreaders of the FDA didn't bother to take in account about safrole is it can not be metabolized by humans and so poses (in my understanding) no real negative health risk. I also seem to recall that in the early/mid 90's the ban was removed from Sassafras extracts from which the safrole has been removed.

[DaveS]

Yes, that too. I think I'll ponder all of this over a cup of "joe"....

[Caster]

I read somewhere recently that they are saying Sassafras tea causes cancer. Maybe that was in California....I don't remember....

I read somewhere that California causes cancer.

[DaveS]

I notice that almost everything (maybe even Timesteppers Chickory) causes cancer in California? Wha'z up wit dat?

[Caster]

I notice that almost everything (maybe even Timesteppers Chickory) causes cancer in California? Wha'z up wit dat?

I think chemotherapy causes cancer in Kalifornia.

[Guest Lester Weevils]

For years have utilized "known to the state of california to be hazardous" product labels to select the most effective paints, adhesives and household chemicals. Began in the late 1970's when I first began to notice the labels. Had built some floor monitor speakers and was gonna glue on naugahyde which was a quaint tribal custom of the time. That was before anyone had thunk to cover speakers with carpet or epoxy paint.

Used healthy water-based contact cement that didn't have the warning label. That water based contact cement was probably so healthy that you could have used it on flapjacks to subsitute for Aunt Jemima syrup. Anyway, the day after cutting and gluing the naugahyde, went out to the shop and all the naugahyde had fell off the speakers onto the floor! Not one piece had even tried to stick longer than 24 hours. Possum snot would have been a better adhesive. All those young innocent naugas slaughtered and skinned in vain! Poor little naugas cut down in their prime for nothing. So went back and bought the old fashioned foul-smelling contact cement known to the state of california, and the naugahyde stayed put for years.

Admittedly there are chemicals bad fer ya but often the most effective products can be chosen merely by seeking the california seal of disapproval. In that fashion california provides a useful service to other states.

[Timestepper]

WARNING: Scientists have been found to cause cancer in laboratory rats!