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ginseng caffè caffè al ginseng
04 December 2017

WOULD YOU LIKE A COFFEE? AS LONG AS ITS GINSENG COFFEE

Ginseng coffee is no longer a drink only for gourmets and experimenters of exotic tastes, but a consolidated habit for many consumers, so much so as to be introduced into the shopping basket for the study of consumer habits on the part of Istat (the national statistics office).

But isn’t ginseng coffee just a slightly trendier, and certainly tastier, version of the traditional ginseng drink? The latter is prepared by putting dried or powdered Ginseng into water and heating until boiling; you let it boil for at least 15 minutes. The taste of this drink is initially intense and bitter, but then releases a pleasantly sweet and full-bodies aftertaste. Ginseng coffee, on the other hand, which is created from the combination of coffee, Ginseng extract and other ingredients, has become more popular than the pure version for its unique and full-flavoured taste and for its energising and stimulating properties, every bit as powerful as coffee! What is more, Ginseng has a series of properties and benefits which have been known in traditional Chinese medicine since antiquity.

Ginseng, or Panax Ginseng (from the Greek pan “everything” and akèia “cure”, a term from which the Italian word panacea comes from, that is, remedy for all malaises; the term ginseng, instead, come from the Chinese, rènshēn, which literally means ‘plant of Man’, precisely for the human form of its roots), is a perennial herbal plant, with a plump rhizome and fusiform, originating from eastern Asia and North America. Traditional Chinese medicine considers the plant an elixir of youth, possessing all therapeutic, curative and energising virtues imaginable; and it seems that this has been known for centuries, because ginseng appears in the oldest medical treaties, at the beginning of the Christian era. The part used is generally the root, fresh or drieda.

 

There are various types of ginseng, the main ones being:

  • Asian Ginseng is Panax ginseng. According to traditional Chinese tradition, ginseng promotes the energy of yang and opposes the excess of yin.
  • American Ginseng is Panax quinquefolius. According to traditional Chinese medicine, quinquefolius promotes yin energy and reduces the excess of yang.
GINSENG’S PROPERTIES

The virtues of ginseng are attributable to various components present in its roots. Besides a good content of vitamins, essential oils and polysaccharides, there are many important ginsenosides, the main active ingredients.

  • It has hypoglycaemic properties, useful for reducing blood glucose concentration. Ginsenosides appear to favour insulin synthesis and increase the production of glucose transporters in the liver; panaxanes (polysaccharides) seem to reduce the synthesis of glucose at blood level and increase its use in the various body tissues.
  • The plant has toning and adaptogenic properties as it promotes the organism’s ability to adapt to stress, reinforcing the immune, endocrine and nervous system and improves physical and mental abilities. Various studies have demonstrated, in fact, that ginseng influences the release of cortisol, or the “stress hormone”; this stimulates the functioning of the immune system and the release of proteins, strengthening the organism’s resistance to psychophysical stress, favouring adaptation to the external and internal variations that it causes.   In addition, it’s able to temporarily increase the body’s functioning and activity with a consequent improvement in reflexes, a reduction in fatigue and a strengthening of memory.
SOME SIDE EFFECTS…

Precisely for its ability to stimulate our body’s various systems, ginseng coffee should be consumed with moderation. Particularly those who suffer from insomnia, anxiety or agitation, an excessive intake of this drink could provoke tachycardia, irritability or hypertension. It’s best to avoid consuming ginseng together with other stimulating drinks, such as coffee, tea or alcoholic drinks.

 

…AND SOME CLARIFICATIONS

Also for the above-described reasons, the percentage of ginseng extract which is used in the coffee recipes is very low. On this question, it’s a good idea to give some clarifications since a lot of controversy and debate has often occurred due to misinformation.

What counts in the recipe for ginseng coffee mixes is not so much the % of ginseng contained in the product, but, rather, the concentration of ginsenosides. Ginsenosides are considered as the reference active ingredients for determining the quality of the mixes that contain Ginseng.
What counts in the recipe for ginseng coffee mixes is not so much the % of ginseng contained in the product, but, rather, the concentration of ginsenosides. Ginsenosides are considered as the reference active ingredients for determining the quality of the mixes that contain Ginseng.
When choosing a Ginseng-based product, it’s not only important to know the quality, but also the quantity of the active ingredient present, which can vary greatly depending on the form marketed. The products normally on the market use extract of ginseng with active ingredient levels of around 1% or 2% purity, while some products of higher quality arrive at 8%. Greater, however, the level of active ingredient, lower is the quantity of extract used; otherwise the good and tasty product that we know would become very bitter. Unfortunately, misinformation at times creates misconceptions and the fact that a label indicates 1% of ginseng doesn’t in any way mean that the product is qualitatively superior to a product in which the dose is only 0.3%.
most important thing is to enjoy a good cup of coffee… provided it’s ginseng coffee! 😛