Foreign Substitutes

The exploration of the various foreign substances used to replace coffee continues. This time, though, the examination covers the entire nineteenth century and includes the import of foreign replacements used to replace coffee imports during prohibition and non-prohibition periods. Chicory, its cultivation in Sweden, and the import of foreign chicory coffee are a particular focus, and other substitutes, such as sugar beets, dates, sago, figs, and almonds, are discussed in order to show the variety on offer to meet consumer demands. Despite the domestication and cultivation of chicory in Sweden, a significant portion of chicory coffee continued to be imported into the country and was regarded as superior, so chicory is discussed here as a foreign substitute. Similarly, the sugar beet plant is included even though it became domesticated in the mid-nineteenth century. Finally, there is discussion of some more nuanced issues concerning coffee substitution, the importation of commodities, and the stratified consumer society of the time.