More on Frederick the Great: Four years after Frederick issued his manifesto in favor of beer and against beer, he forbade the roasting of coffee except in official government establishments. Frederick’s poor subjects had to turn to coffee substitutes…roast chicory root, dried figs, wheat, corn and barley. If they managed to get their hands on real coffee beans and roast them…well, the King had spies, “coffee smellers” as they were known, to make sure they had no coffee. However, coffee triumphed!!!
Personal note: OMG…coffee smeller….perhaps another previous life??? It certainly wasn’t one involved with drinking dried figs!
Caffeine Chronicles 