Chicory comes from the dried and roasted root of the Chicory Flower (Cichorium intybus). Throughout history, Chicory has been used as a substitute for coffee in times when coffee was in short supply, and very expensive. Caffeine free with a more "roasted" flavor than regular coffee, it is also more soluble in water, which means you use a lot less of it when brewing. It has a very distinct flavor, and can be an acquired taste for the uninitiated. Product of India.