Are you looking for a fun alternative to your morning cup of joe? Try some chai tea! Chai tea has been used for centuries in many countries across the world. This rich black tea is traditionally sweetened with honey and a variety of spices, but can also include a variety of spices that provide some additional flavor…as well as a ton of health benefits! The cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger, and pepper give chai a special immune system boost that you won’t find in any other type of tea. Here are the health benefits of each ingredient that you can find in this warm, winter beverage:
Cinnamon – quickly becoming a popular medicinal herb, cinnamon is said to lower blood pressure, reduce pains and fevers, and help heal a sensitive stomach. The cardamom in the chai tea is also known for its ability to relieve digestive problems. So, if you frequently experience indigestion, nausea, gas, or heartburn, you should definitely give chai a shot!
Cloves – cloves are believed to help invigorate and strengthen the body by protecting your immune system from flus and colds.
Ginger – this herb has been used for thousands of years to help fight the common cold. It has been shown to be particularly effective in strengthening the respiratory and digestive system.
Pepper – although this might seem like an odd ingredient to put in a tea, pepper works to stimulate the taste buds. It has been used for thousands of years to help promote a healthy digestive system.
So, the next time you sit down for a tasty cup of chai tea, you will not only be treating yourself to something delicious, but you will be helping to improve your health too! If you want to brew your own cup of home-made chai, it’s fairly easy to make at home. Try this recipe for our own special blend of chai tea and let us know what you think!
Chai Tea
Ingredients:
- 1 cup nonfat dry milk powder
- 1 cup powdered non-dairy creamer
- 1 cup French vanilla flavored powdered non-dairy creamer
- 2 ½ cups white sugar
- 1 ½ cups unsweetened instant tea
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
Directions:
- In a large bowl, combine the milk powder, non-dairy creamer, vanilla creamer, sugar, and instant tea. Stir in the rest of the ingredients. In a blender or food processor, blend 1 cup at a time until the mixture becomes a fine powder.
- To serve the chai, stir 2 heaping teaspoons of the mixture into hot water
You can spice this recipe up even further by adding 1 teaspoon of nutmeg and allspice, and ¼ white pepper.
If you don’t have French vanilla creamer, you can use 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract instead. If you want to try this method, mix the vanilla extract in with the sugar, let it dry, and break the mixture into small lumps. Follow the same directions as above.
