Eggshells in Coffee

Since I recently purchased a new coffeemaker, I’m back in the experimental mode of trying new things with my coffee. I have a sensitive stomach, and while I love coffee, the acidity in it makes my stomach curl. I’m quite touchy about how my coffee is perked, and I can only drink very fresh coffee, since the older coffee gets, the more bitter and acidic it gets.

Years ago, I used to try everything to moderate the coffee acidity: add sugar or salt to the grounds before perking, try shredded wild chicory, etc etc. The best thing I found was eggshells. Yep! Eggshells. It’s not done very much anymore; it’s considered an “old wives’ tale.” But it seemed to work for me! So I’m back to using eggshells for my coffee. You can try it and see if you sense a difference.

Note: I DO NOT recommend using raw eggshells from raw eggs. There’s the chance of salmonella poisoning, and that would defeat the purpose of making a yummy, stomach-friendly cup of coffee, wouldn’t it? You always have to keep safety (and use safety products) in mind when dealing with raw stuff. I save the eggshells from our boiled eggs. I store them, crunched up, in a baggie in the fridge. They will keep for a few days. And any eggshells you do not use, toss in the compost or in your potting soil– eggshells are marvelous for the soil.

Here’s what you do:
Add a tablespoon of crunched-up eggshells to your coffee grounds. It has been said that the calcium carbonate in the shells reduces the acids in the coffee. Plus, the calcium will cause any loose coffee grounds floating around in the coffee pot to sink to the bottom.

I taste a difference. My coffee is slightly milder and less acidity. You can experiment with the amount of eggshell in your coffee grounds– add less if you want a more robust drink. Try it and see!

Licorice Tea

I’m a coffee drinker. I used to be a tea drinker, but then I got married and had four children, 2 years apart, give or take 6 months. I NEEDED coffee. I had three kids under the age of 3 for a time. It’s a good thing I had them all when I was very young, I don’t think I could ever do something like that again.

Well, now that I am *cough* OLD, I am getting back to teas now and again. I still like the regular, plain old, orange pekoe tea that my mother and grandmother drank before me, but I’ve tinkered here and there with testing out herbal teas.

HANDS DOWN, the best herbal tea I have ever had is this: Stash Licorice Spice Tea. Wow, folks– Wow! I found it at my local Hannaford’s Supermarket (WalMart doesn’t carry it), and it’s a little pricey- $2.50 for a box of 20. But if you’re thrifty, one teabag can make two cups of tea.

The scent drives me wild. After making the tea, I frequently carry the empty package in my shirt pocket, to smell the licorice all day. It makes the house smell incredible. The tea requires no sugar- it’s really nice tea. Perfect for afternoons or as a dessert tea after dinner.