Chicory appears to be having a moment. Although the plant’s use has long been associated with New Orleans coffee, it is catching on globally. Some people are using it as a coffee supplement. Others are completely replacing coffee with chicory. And still others are adding it to other foods, for a variety of purported health benefits.
Whatever the uses and reasons behind them, chicory sales are booming. One report estimated the global chicory market at $685 million in 2020 and is projected to hit $905 million next year.
Perhaps the most famous use of chicory is at the Café du Monde in The Big Easy. The café has long added chicory root to its dark-roasted beans to up its café au lait’s roasty-toasty flavor. First-time visitors to the city are almost obliged to frequent the café, sample the beverage, and nibble a beignet.
