Latest news with #caffeinefree
Khaleej Times
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Have you sipped on safcha, the Emirati twist on matcha yet?
For matcha lovers and those who want to try it without worrying about sleepless nights, a new caffeine-free alternative has emerged from the UAE: safcha. Saaf Cafe, an Emirati concept inspired by the palm tree, a national symbol of heritage and identity, now serves the drink made from dried palm fronds. Safcha mimics the properties of matcha — a heavy pour of antioxidants and nutrients — sans the caffeine. Like the Japanese tea, the drink is green, and its production — the leaves are carefully selected, steamed, dried, and stone-ground into a fine powder — inspired by its overseas counterpart. The name itself blends the words 'saaf', which is Arabic for palm fronds, and matcha. It is ideal for those looking for a calming drink or an earthy local flavour. Mohammed Al Badwawi, brother of the founder of Saaf Cafe, told KT LUXE: 'During our participation in an exhibition in Saudi Arabia, we discovered a new product called safcha. We were immediately drawn to it because it perfectly aligns with our vision of offering products made from the palm tree.' By promoting this healthy beverage, the cafe hopes to attract the younger generation by providing food and juices that align with modern health trends, such as caffeine-free coffee alternatives similar to matcha. 'We've always aimed to offer choices that suit everyone, including those who are sensitive to caffeine,' Al Badwawi added. Now, safcha has become a staple on the extensive cafe menu. Hatta effect Saaf Cafe was established in 2024 in Hatta, and its name pays tribute to the natural environment and cultural heritage of the mountainous Hatta region. It also seeks to promote the culture of using dates by presenting them in various forms — from coffee infused with date extract, priced at Dh30, to other beverages such as 'Basr Juice' (made from fresh dates), Spanish Latte with dates, and V60 with dates. The menu also includes dishes like date pizza, date tiramisu, and rutab (semi-ripe dates) cheesecake, with prices ranging from Dh15 to Dh45. Al Badwawi explained: 'We wanted everything to be inspired by Hatta, from the name to the ingredients.' Saaf Cafe is not just a business project; it is a contribution to the community. We want people to see the palm tree not just as a symbol but also as a source of nourishment, wellness, and inspiration" Mohammed Al Badwawi In addition to beverages and desserts flavoured with dates, the cafe also offers personal care products such as date oil for hair, facial serum, eyelash oil, body oil, and date patches for eyes, feet, and joints. 'Saaf Cafe is not just a business project; it is a contribution to the community. We want people to see the palm tree not just as a symbol but also as a source of nourishment, wellness, and inspiration,' he said. The cafe was founded by Ali Al Badwawi, a retired government employee, former FIFA referee, and former member of the UAE Football Association. Al Badwawi views the project as a tribute to Emirati heritage. With more than 150 palm trees on the family farm, the Al Badwawi estate supplies the dates used to produce the beverages and food items served at the cafe. More than a cafe It's usually location that draws a crowd, but in the case of this cafe, it was the site of operation that proved to be the challenge. (It is located inside Dubai Municipality's Al Wadi Park at Hatta.) However, a collaboration with the local municipality helped turn the cafe into a visitor attraction. 'It was difficult to design a marketing plan that would draw people into the park to visit the cafe, but the municipality cooperated by placing a sign for the cafe inside the park,' he said. The venue functions as both a cafe and a restaurant, featuring two floors and an outdoor space. It was established to serve local products. The cafe blends traditional and modern atmospheres, and offers a unique dining experience suitable for all ages, including traditional breakfasts and other meals. Services include dine-in, online ordering, and soon, a new branch in Mirdif, Dubai. The cafe also organises events and initiatives aligned with local culture, such as dedicating special hours for only women, where people can connect over snacks and a cup of safcha.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Coffee, hold the beans. The new wave of brews are made with mushrooms, date pits and more. Are they worth trying?
While you don't need to give up your morning cup of joe if you don't want to, coffee alternatives do offer some benefits. (Getty Creative) For people obsessed with all things coffee, an iced latte made by their favorite barista or a hot cup at home in the morning can make all the difference in their day. But while many people have a passion for coffee, some are trying to scale back, whether that's because it's affecting their sleep, upsetting their stomach or giving them the jitters. These days, you don't have to look too far for coffee alternatives: There are oodles of beverage brands, such as Atomo, that tout themselves as healthy alternatives to java, which has so-called upcycled ingredients and mimics the taste of coffee. Another popular alternative is mushroom coffee, made by brands such as Four Sigmatic and Ryze. There's also functional coffee, such as MUD\WTR's adaptogenic drink and Rasa's herbal mix with ashwagandha and chicory. Then there's Everyday Doze's functional coffee, which is infused with nootropics and superfoods in addition to Arabian coffee beans. Should you try these new beverages, or even replace your regular cup of coffee with them? Here's what to know. Do coffee alternatives contain caffeine? Many coffee alternatives are low in caffeine or don't contain caffeine at all. Instead, their claims of boosting energy come from other ingredients, such as adaptogens. This could benefit people who want to scale back on caffeine in general. The caffeine in coffee (about 95 mg per cup) may cause uncomfortable side effects, says Davis, especially for those who suffer from anxiety. Intolerance to caffeine, which varies greatly from person to person, may exacerbate anxiety symptoms, including rapid heartbeat, sweating and even shortness of breath. Drinking caffeine too late in the day can disrupt sleep, which, over time, can lead to poor health outcomes like high blood pressure and weight gain. Those who are especially sensitive to caffeine can also experience other side effects like jitters, headaches and gut issues — and the more caffeine you drink, the more likely you'll experience them. Some studies show a risk to drinking too much caffeine — a 2024 study found that drinking more than 400 mg of caffeine per day (a little more than four cups of coffee) could increase the likelihood of developing heart disease, for example — but a major reason people may consider scaling back is the risk of developing a dependence. When your body gets used to a regular caffeine fix, skipping it can trigger withdrawal symptoms like headaches, irritability and fatigue. Are there health benefits to drinking coffee alternatives? Many coffee alternatives boast ingredients like adaptogens, which are natural substances believed to help the body manage stress, or nootropics, which are compounds thought to enhance cognitive function — things you won't get in your average cup of coffee. Dietitian Amy Davis tells Yahoo Life she's a big fan of mushroom coffee. 'With functional mushrooms, the more you take them on a daily basis, the more you feel the benefits of them,' Davis says. 'Lion's mane, for example, is the OG brain booster mushroom — it's going to support cognitive function and focus, which is one of the main reasons why people drink coffee.' Davis also points to other ingredients common in these coffees, such as chaga, a type of mushroom that she says is 'great for immunity,' while another mushroom, cordyceps, may help provide energy. However, more research is needed to assess the actual benefits of these substances. Other coffee alternatives promise similar benefits to java but promise fewer side effects. Atomo, for example, claims that their upcycled coffee is 'high in antioxidants' — similar to regular coffee, which is also rich in antioxidants — but with 'a clean caffeine experience giving consumers a superfood-based approach to your caffeine ritual that is easier on your stomach.' Davis says that date pits found in Atomo are a healthy coffee alternative because you'll get a 'really concentrated source of the nutrients that are found in dates,' such as potassium. Are coffee alternatives more environmentally friendly? One environmental problem connected to the coffee industry is deforestation: the demand for coffee, and specifically sun-grown coffee, means trees must be cleared out to build large plantations. Since this sun-grown method also leads to a loss of nutrients in the soil, coffee farmers must keep finding new land once they are unable to grow in that particular area. Plus, growing coffee requires a lot of water — around 140 liters are needed for a single cup. These issues led Atomo to create a coffee-like beverage that is not only more sustainable than coffee production, but also uses parts of plants that would otherwise become garbage. It's made from so-called upcycled ingredients like chicory root, grapeskin, date pits, sunflower and lemon and mimics the taste of coffee. The bottom line Matthew Badgett, an internal medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic, doesn't think choosing a coffee alternative in lieu of a cup of joe will do much to improve your health. 'Maybe a coffee alternative provides benefits that are equally valuable, but we don't know,' Badgett tells Yahoo Life, referencing the lack of studies on these alternatives. 'But we know that coffee is good for you.' So you don't necessarily need to give up coffee if you enjoy it. Coffee is rich in polyphenols, which help fight inflammation and protect against cell damage, and several studies show people who drink coffee regularly have lower rates of cancer and chronic disease. Davis says that whether you opt for a coffee alternative comes down to how you feel about your coffee habit. 'If you're someone who is prone to feeling anxious or jittery after having coffee, this is going to be a good fit for you,' she explains. While Davis says that coffee alternatives like mushroom coffee provide energy and help improve cognitive function, so does the caffeine found in coffee. Love coffee, but are sensitive to caffeine? Badgett says you can always go for decaf, which has similar health benefits but significantly less caffeine.
