Inka Naturalis: Instant Grain Beverage
Inka Coffee Substitute
Inka is a Polish drink, commonly used as a coffee substitute. It's taste resembles coffee, but it has no caffeine.
The inka drink mix made by Naturalis Inka comes in a round can similar to instant coffee. The brown powder smells woody, but has a very similar aroma to the powdered coffee brands we're all used to. To make the inka beverage, you're supposed to use one heaping teaspoon of the powder, mixed with boiling water or milk. I tried it with water, and the inka coffee that resulted was suprisingly black, with a white and brown foam. It does taste like a very weak coffee, but maybe that's just because of the similarity in making it, and how it's known as a coffee substitute.
Inka Coffee Substitute
The woody smell did carry on into the drink as expected, but it tastes more nutty. It's not bitter at all like I expected, especially for a coffee-type drink. There's no aftertaste, except for a slight fresh feeling, (similar to mint, when you breathe in it cools your mouth). I could imagine it being a great warm drink for winter or night time, especially when you don't want the caffeine. I imagine that it would taste great with milk as well, for a more creamy inka coffee substitute.
Inka is a grain beverage made from extremely simple ingredients: Roasted Barley, Rye, Chicory, and Beet Roots. It's interesting, looking at the nutrition facts, that Naturalis Inka has almost no nutritional value when mixed with water. It has only one gram of carbohydrates. It's also all natural with no preservatives, chemical additives, or caffiene.
Get Inka Naturalis Here
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| NATURALIS Inka coffee substitute, 8.75 Ounce Cans (Pack of 12) |
23 Comments
Where can I buy, in the USA Inka coffee?
Michael,
I just added a link into the post where you can purchase Inka. It's also now in our New Atlas Beverage Store
Great substitute for "postum"which is now unavailable. Great sub, but I also use it in making a cake called "postum cake" Now, will I call it "inka cake"?
Just ordered a case for my dad for christmas. He has drunk Postum for years and just discovered Inka. Thinks it's the closest substitute.
I've been trying to cut down the coffee that I love to reduce acid. A health food friend of mine recommended Inka Grain Bev. I ordered some online in bulk, but had very low expectations. People who like a weak coffee flavor would probably love this stuff! I think it's OK, but expect I can get used to it over time. It's nice that it is instant. Plan to carry some in the car so that I can have some on the go - just take in my cup, get some hot water and go!
I purchased some INKA the other day. It was delicious. More delicious than coffee. But it didn't contain any chicory or beet roots as mentioned in the copy above.
Are there two different types of INKA?
Somebody wrote a comment elsewhere that the company cut down the ingredients and that they found the drink "flat" without the chicory and beet roots. But I'm wondering if the original is still to be found somewhere, so same question: are there 2 tipes of INKA on the market?
A lot of people have been asking about the inka ingredients recently. The importer, Adamba Imports, still lists on their website inkacoffee.com the same ingredients that I have in my review.
I'm not sure what ingredients the Inka coffee substitute in the Amazon listing have, but if someone who's purchased it could leave a comment, or send me a picture of the ingredients that would be great to clear up any rumors.
I want to buy some Inka but don't need bulk buy of 12 cans. Anywhere you can buy smaller amounts?
Rainbow Foods in San Francisco has Inka in their bulk items section. That is where I was first introduced to it. I'm not in San Francisco now, so have been looking online for another supplier. Rainbow may be willing to ship product, but I kind of doubt it. I will call and ask them who their supplier is, though.
I love Inka. I drink it with milk or cream, and because of the non-bitter flavor I don't sweeten it at all like I do coffee. I've tried lots of coffee substitutes - like Teechino and others - and find I prefer the simple flavor (and low price) of Inka over anything else.
I have emailed Inka but recieve no reply. Your Your product has been given to me by a friend in Los Angeles. I live in Hawaii. My note to you was to ask where I can find a retailer on the island of Hawaii -- or if I can have it sent to me. I was a Postum drinker before it vanished from the shelves. Yours tastes much the same. If you reply to this email, please provide some background of the product. Thank you,
Richard
I discovered inka coffee not long ago and I drink it all the time now. You should be able to find it in any natural bulk food store. I live in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada and I buy it from the Corn Crib.
Dones anyone have the nutritional informatin on Inka?
is inka coffee available in australia?
Where can I find Inka in Illinois? This doesn't have any of the ingredients that Postum has so I wonder how it can taste the same or nearly the same. I would like to get some but will need a list of ingredients in it. Could you help me? My 92 year old mother has used Postum for @60 years and has had her last cup because we can't find it anymore. I am trying to find a good substitute for her. Is Inka sweet? Postum had molasses in it.
Ruthie, this is info from Poland
Skład: jęczmień, żyto, cykoria, buraki cukrowe (zboża – 72%)
Wartość energetyczna/100 g: 346 kcal; białko (protein): 4,9 g; węglowodany (carb): 81,4 g; tłuszcze: 0,1 g
Translation: barley, ray, chicory, sugar beets. It has 346cal per 100G. Average use is 4G per 6OZ cup which makes it 14 cal per such serving. Inka is not sweet but since it has some sugar beets it has a touch of it. You can also try Cafix (on line only). AS far as getting INKA in Illinois; any Polish food store would have it (plenty of those in Chicago), but getting it from Adamba on line is probably the easiest. By the way, shipping for few cost as much as for one (250G package is only $3.5 and shipping 10.50, so it makes sense to get few for the same shipping price). Never had Postum so I can't tell if there is a difference. To some extent they all will taste similar since they are all based on grains. Comparing Pero, Cafix, Cafix is a bit sweeter.
Inka is available in Australia. I just bought some at my local deli in Melbourne. I have seen it around for years. My deli had it in a cardboard box rather than the round can you see in pictures. But the picture on the front is the same
I love coffee, but have grown tired of it, so one day at my local health I tried inka and I love it!!! It is the closest I have come to the taste of coffee and I drink it black mixed with water.
I find it very enjoyable, dont need sugar or cream. I love it!!!!!
I am from Canada....is there anywhere u can get this in Canada? I am very interested in finding it so that I can lead a healthier lifestyle......
Jodi, you didn't say where in Canada, but it's a safe bet you could find it at a bulk food or health store like Goodness Me or Bulk Barn. I buy mine at Bulk Food Warehouse.
Bought some today at a Stop and Shop grocery store.
To Jodi from Canada, I used to buy Inka in Canada but I haven't been able to find it for years. You could try CAFLIB which I buy from Superstore in the coffee ailse. It's very close to Inka for flavor, it's made with rye and chickory as well. Caflib is also all natural and caffiene free.
I have drunk Kraka, a beet coffee with grains, in a blue container like Inca, in the past bought at safewAY IN VAN BC.