Ginseng coffee is a beverage that combines coffee with ginseng, a root that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries.
The origin of it is elusive, but the first commercially viable blend was produced and marketed in 1994 in Indonesia by the Citra Nusa Insan Cemerlang company. This combination has become popular in various parts of the world, particularly in Italy, where it is served in most cafés.
Ginseng coffee is often considered a healthier alternative to regular coffee due to the addition of ginseng and sometimes a reduced caffeine content. It can be found in ready-to-drink forms, like instant coffee packets, for example, or it can be made at home by adding ginseng extract or powder to coffee brew.