# What Does Postum Taste Like? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 9, 2006, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-postum-taste-like/379678 "2006-11-09T05:37:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ChiMagnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a3d4f5/32.png) [@ChiMagnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiMagnet)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-postum-taste-like/379678/1 "2006-11-09T05:37:51Z")
While looking for alternatives I found Postum in the coffee aisle. Is it any good? It says it is an decaffinated (which is what I am looking for) grain beverage. It can’t taste like coffee but a small jar of it was $6.00. I know that ain’t a lot of money but still if anyone’s used it let me know what you think of it. What do you put like cream and sugar in it? I’m surprised Starbucks didn’t at least try to serve it. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![tarragon918](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@tarragon918](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tarragon918)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-postum-taste-like/379678/2 "2006-11-09T10:35:37Z")
Postum was the coffee substitute during WW II; my Mom used to enjoy it from time to time, mostly for nostalgic reasons though, I think. I remember tasting it once or twice - it tasted pretty bad to me. It may be an acquired taste. But my first impression was that it was only popular during WW II because it was all there was. LOL My opinion only - YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![DrMemory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DrMemory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrMemory)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-postum-taste-like/379678/3 "2006-11-09T12:04:37Z")
It tastes _Kinda_ like coffee. Heavy on a roasted taste. Introduced as a coffee substitute when coffee was scarce/expensive. Starbucks-Postum Latte… :eek: "Waiter, if this is Tea, I ordered Coffee. If this is Coffee, May I have tea? ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-postum-taste-like/379678/4 "2006-11-09T12:50:18Z")
My grandparents used it during the war, my folks chose to reuse the coffee grounds when things were tight, that should tell you something. I seem to recall that my grandfather continued to use it after the war, so maybe it’s an acquired taste. Yes you can put sugar and cream in it, just like coffee or tea. I’ve tasted it. If you can imagine roasted grain, steeped in hot water, tastes like, you’ve got a fair idea. I think it’s pretty bad, but I’d have to be in very dire straights before I’d even drink instant coffee, of any kind. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-postum-taste-like/379678/5 "2006-11-09T12:53:06Z")
Heh, I thought the thread was titled, “What does **Possum** taste like?”. I was gonna say, “Chicken”. ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-postum-taste-like/379678/6 "2006-11-09T13:53:33Z")
Postum tastes like sadness. Sadness and chicory. I once tried something similar – it was another “roasted grain beverage” alternative to coffee whose name escapes me. It was rather unpleasant and remeniscent of coffee only in that it was dark brown and hot. Apart from that, it tasted like it had been rescued from a brush fire and mixed with a little hay and flax. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-postum-taste-like/379678/7 "2006-11-09T14:22:27Z")
[QUOTE=UncleRojelio] Heh, I thought the thread was titled, “What does **Possum** taste like?”. I was gonna say, “Chicken”. [/QUOTE] Me too! LOL! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-postum-taste-like/379678/8 "2006-11-09T16:29:21Z")
Mr. S says it tastes like Ovaltine without the chocolate. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-postum-taste-like/379678/9 "2006-11-09T16:36:37Z")
[QUOTE=pimaspinner] Me too! LOL! 😃 [/QUOTE] Me three, and I was about to start ranting about all of the mistypings on the forum lately. There have been more than usual lately, right? It’s not just me? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-postum-taste-like/379678/10 "2006-11-09T16:55:37Z")
[Postum](http://jeffwerner.ca/2004/12/postum_coffee_s.html) [History](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postum) [Do you bear up or flare up?](http://www.old-time.com/commercials/1940's/Ad%20Postum.jpg) [This Postum ad is among the strangest I’ve ever seen.](http://www.ciadvertising.org/studies/student/97_fall/practitioner/rubicam/advp.html) ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-postum-taste-like/379678/11 "2006-11-09T17:01:59Z")
[QUOTE=UncleRojelio] Heh, I thought the thread was titled, “What does **Possum** taste like?”. I was gonna say, “Chicken”. [/QUOTE] I thought it said “What does Poison taste like?” and wondered that it hadn’t gotten zero replies. I had a housemate who drank Postum every day. He was an older guy so he must have developed the habit years before. I was never tempted to try it. ---
**Author:** ![meowpossum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/848f3c/32.png) [@meowpossum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meowpossum)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2006, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-postum-taste-like/379678/12 "2006-11-11T22:06:33Z")
I started drinking Postum a while ago. I was under a lot of stress at work and having problems with panic attacks, so I looked around for a non-caffeinated drink to fill the hot-brown-beverage gap left by going off coffee. It’s a taste that grows on you. The closest I can describe it is as a sort a liquid burned toast with a hint of molasses flavor. It’s much better than it sounds, and I actually drink it by choice now. ---
**Author:** ![Sonia\_Montdore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Sonia\_Montdore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sonia_Montdore)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2006, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-postum-taste-like/379678/13 "2006-11-12T01:05:40Z")
[QUOTE=pimaspinner] Me too! LOL! 😃 [/QUOTE] Me three! Only, I was gonna say, “Go ask Granny Clampett.” ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2006, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-postum-taste-like/379678/14 "2006-11-12T01:13:04Z")
I got Postum hot as a small child after winter play. Wasn’t too bad, but I much preferred Ovaltine. No, I am _not_ old enough to be your dad. Unless you’re, like, sixteen. ---
**Author:** ![M.Meursault](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@M.Meursault](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/M.Meursault)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2006, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-postum-taste-like/379678/15 "2006-11-12T03:34:25Z")
I had Postum. ONCE. At my girlfriend’s 90 year old grandma’s house. Cause she didn’t have coffee. I think the best way to describe the taste is hot, liquid Wheat Chex. I stand behind the accuracy of that analogy. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2006, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-postum-taste-like/379678/16 "2006-11-12T04:05:07Z")
[QUOTE=UncleRojelio] Heh, I thought the thread was titled, “What does **Possum** taste like?”. I was gonna say, “Chicken”. [/QUOTE] Old recipe for possum. First, catch your possum and skin it. Place jointed possum in big cast-iron pot with a dash of olive oil, onions, garlic, bayleaves, a splash of red wine, a litre of chicken stock, and two small river rocks. Boil the buggery out of the pot for at least six hours, then let it sit for another hour to tenderise. Discard bayleaves and possum-meat. Eat the rocks. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2006, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-postum-taste-like/379678/17 "2006-11-12T04:30:46Z")
[QUOTE=astro] [This Postum ad is among the strangest I’ve ever seen.](http://www.ciadvertising.org/studies/student/97_fall/practitioner/rubicam/advp.html) [/QUOTE] Carrie Blanchard says “Men have always been partial to my Postum” Of course they have dear, of course they have… ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-postum-taste-like/379678/18 "2006-11-15T02:16:52Z")
[QUOTE=Bobotheoptimist] Carrie Blanchard says “Men have always been partial to my Postum” Of course they have dear, of course they have… [/QUOTE] I first read this as “Carrie _Bradshaw_.” :dubious: So _that’s_ how she keeps so skinny.