Talk:Coffee

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Latest comment: 17 January 2022 by Holdwine Meriadoc

Fan theory about Bilbo's "coffee" (do not include in article !)[edit source]

Not to be included in the article, under any circumstances ! This is just a fun bit of speculation. Given the climate and nature of The Shire, it's improbable the hobbits could produce coffee beans on their own, and it's also rather unlikely they'd bother to trade coffee beans from far, far away, from southern lands unknown. However, let's be mindful of what Tolkien had to say about the Red Book of Westmarch: Some of its "translated" texts might be a looser interpretation, more accessible to a modern reader. I think this is the case with the references to Bilbo serving "coffee" to Thorin and friends. "Coffee" is a straightforward shorthand, but the hot drink Bilbo served was actually... chicory. Chicory grows all over Europe and in similar mild climates. It would have no problems growing all around The Shire as a common blue field flower, easily forageable by hobbits. Bilbo or his acquaintances might gather chicory roots every now and then, dry them alongide other useful herbs in a storeroom or cellar, then grind the dry chicory roots into a powder usable for hot drinks. This at least explains how a medieval to early modern-ish society like that of The Shire could get ahold of a regular supply of coffee. :-) --A Hobbit Gentleman 21:27, 11 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]

It would be useful to add to this theory that ground dry chicory roots were used as a substitute (Ersatz in german) for real coffee during the great depression in the 1930s and during the second world war in Europe and is called Ersatzkaffee or Zichorienkaffee in german. --Akhorahil 08:19, 12 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Actually sounds pretty plausible to me! I highly dislike coffee, so I drink a chicory/dandelion root powder drink that is much nicer, in my opinion. -Holdwine Meriadoc 16:10, 17 January 2022 (UTC)Reply[reply]