Chai Tea is an ancient remedy and great reboot for our health. Something we particularly need around very stressful times, like the holidays. It is an ancient beverage dating back to 2737 BC. Chai is the generic term for “tea” in Hindi. Its tradition can be found both in China and India. It has always been promoted as having both medicinal as well as spiritual healing powers. It is not only the black tea that is found to be beneficial because of its antioxidants but it is also the many spices used to create the unique flavor of chai tea that give a boost to our health. Some common spices used are cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, peppercorns, ginger and anise. In combination these spices boost our metabolism, wake up our immune system and generally promote our body’s well being.
Today when we talk about the health benefits of chai tea as those that reduce cancer risk (cinnamon and cardamom). It prevents colds (ginger) and fights diabetes. It is known to boost our energy and our immune system. It reduces the effects of PMS and bloating. The list goes on.
Perhaps one of the best ways chai tea helps us is to allow us a quiet moment to regroup and reboot in the midst of a busy day. There is nothing better for our mental health than taking a moment for ourselves to enjoy a cup of chai, breath and reflect on what we enjoy. Five minutes is all it has to take. Longer can only be better.
Many of the store bought and pre-made chai teas can be packed full of calories from fat and sugar. The way around that is to make your own. Making it at home also allows you to spice the tea in a way you like best. You can easily make it in batches to enjoy for several days. That way it is not very time consuming. Because of the spices, the flavor only gets richer.
Here is a recipe for Chai Tea that is flavorful and lower in calories:
Ingredients-
1 ½ cups water
7 cardamom pods, crushed
6 whole cloves
4 white peppercorns
1 (½-inch) piece peeled fresh ginger, coarsely chopped
1 cinnamon stick, broken
1 cup low-fat (1 %) milk
1 tablespoon black tea leaves (such as Darjeeling or Assam)
⅛ cup honey
Directions-
1. Combine first 6 ingredients in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil.
2. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes. Add milk and tea; simmer for 3 minutes (do not boil).
3. Strain through a fine sieve into a small bowl or pitcher; discard solids. Add honey to tea mixture, stirring until blended.
4. Pour into mugs and serve.
Yield 2 one-cup servings. Calories 143.
Enjoy! And Live Vibrant!
