Chase Away Winter Blues With A Healthy Cup Of Chai

WELLNESS | by VALERIE GRIFFITH

A STEAMY CUP OF CHAI TEA JUST MIGHT CURE WHAT AILS YOU. This sweet ‘n spicy tea can help coax you out of a funk, warm your body, settle your tummy, prevent disease, and awaken your senses All that, and the delicious aromas of cinnamon, cloves and ginger perfume your kitchen.

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Masala chai, as it’s known in India, boasts an ancient pedigree. The original brew was a Hindu Ayurvedic remedy consumed for its healing properties. These days chai’s health benefits are derived both from powerful antioxidants in black, green and red teas, and myriad healing properties associated with the spices that give chai its kick.

There are no rules, only a few key ingredients, when it comes to making chai. Mix and match teas, spices, milks and sweeteners as your muse directs you. Then settle back, steep and drink to your health!

Tea: Choose a full-bodied black tea such as Assam, Ceylon, or Darjeeling. For a caffeine-free alternative look for rooibos, a red tea from South Africa.

Milk: Whole, low or non-fat. Rice or almond milk work well as dairy alternatives.

Sweetener: Honey, molasses or turbinado (unprocessed sugar).

Spices: Principally cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger (fresh is best) and peppercorns (any color); also star anise, allspice, bay leaves, cumin, licorice root, mace, nutmeg, vanilla beans and fennel seeds.

Basic Chai
Makes 4 cups

1 cinnamon stick, broken into pieces
4 whole cloves
2 cardamom pods, crushed and lightly roasted
1 piece of ginger about the size of a dime, peeled and chopped
1/8 teaspoon ground peppercorns
2 cups milk
2 cups water
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons loose black tea

Boil spices, milk and water for 5 to 10 minutes. Add honey and remove mixture from heat. Add tea leaves and steep for 3 to 10 minutes. Strain and serve in warm cups.