Chai - The Spice Tea Of India

Chai Tea Recipe

In India, the common word for tea is chia which evolved from the Chinese word for tea, cha, which the British turned into tay, which then evolved into tea. Be that as it may, the drink known as Chia Tea is a nourishing drink of spices, tea, and milk and is absolutely delicious! 

You just can't beat the aroma and taste of a good cup of Chai Tea so for lovers of the leaf I wanted to share this tasty, healthy and easy Chai recipe, including the health benefits and energetics, by Yogi Bhajan.

Traditional Yogi Tea (aka Chai Tea) is a warming combination of spices that is drunk daily by yoga practitioners in India to maintain stamina, support digestion, and enhance the immune system. 

The ingredients of Traditional Yogi Tea and their benefits are as follows.

△ Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) are excellent for cold, stiff creaking joints and supporting healthy digestive function. Cloves are pungent, warming and bitter.

△ Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum), a member of the ginger family, is excellent for increasing mental clarity and is calming, warming and soothing to the digestive system. Also known as the 'Queen of Spices', this spice has a unique, pungent aroma is slightly bitter yet sweet, with a warm flavour.

△ Black peppercorns (Piper nigrum) are a great blood purifier and a circulation and immune system enhancer. The warming, spicy oils in black pepper help the body more effectively absorb and use the active ingredients in this tea. Also known as the 'King of Spices', Black peppercorns are pungent and hot.

△ Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) is excellent for enhancing mental clarity, helping to stabilise blood sugar levels, and supporting digestion. Cinnamon has a mild yet sweet flavour and is energetically warming.

△ Ginger (Zingiber officinale), aromatic and warming, is excellent for all systems of the body but excels in supporting digestion, improving circulation, and reducing inflammation. Fresh ginger is energetically warming while dried ginger is considered to be hot. 

△ Black Tea (Camellia sinensis) synergises the other ingredients in this tea. I use Formosan tea which is grown without the use of any pesticides, herbicides or chemicals. It is also 98% caffeine free with no bitterness. Formosan Tea is also rich in antioxidants.

This is the original recipe by Yogi Bhajan.

INSTRUCTIONS TO BREW 1 CUP

3 whole cloves
4 whole green cardamom pods
4 whole black peppercorns
1/2 cinnamon stick
1 slice of fresh ginger root

Bring all ingredients (excluding the black tea) to a boil in one cup of filtered water, then simmer for 20-30 minutes.
Next, add 1/4 teaspoon of good quality black tea. Remove from heat and let sit for 1 or 2 minutes.
Then add 1/2 cup of rice milk or milk of your choice and bring back to a simmer then immediately remove from heat.
Strain & enjoy ღ

Brew a large pot in the morning, drink a cup at breakfast then take the remainder in a thermos to work to enjoy the benefits throughout your day. 

If you don't have the time or resources to make your own Yogi Tea why not try out my new incarnation of Chai Tea. Good Morning Chai-Lite is an earthen cup of nourishing and rebuilding herbs combining the traditional Chai spices but omitting the black tea, while still offering up all the sweet and spicy aromatic flavours of Chai. Good Morning Chai-Lite is blended to help keep you grounded and centred throughout your day.

Chai ka maza lele, tumhara din khil jaayaga (take the enjoyment of chai ~ your day will blossom ❁) -Traditional Indian saying