Chai tea is a healthy, spicy and pungent beverage made from some of the world’s most medicinally active herbs. The basic components of chai tea includes cinnamon, black tea, clove, ginger, black pepper and cardamom.
Each of these ingredients has its own powerful health benefits and their synergy creates a potent tea that helps prevent cancer, support digestion, promote cardiovascular health and lower blood sugar .
Unlike coffee, chai tea have many inherently beneficial properties. Its black tea component is rich in antioxidants and its spices have been used for years to promote general well-being and health, as well as treat various ailments.
Also it has various health benefits that helps the body in powerful ways. Making this spiced tea from scratch is also easier than you might think.
Homemade Chai Tea Recipe
Ingredients:
6 whole cardamom pods (lightly crushed)
6 whole cloves
2 single-serve black tea bags or 1 Tbsp loose black tea
2 Tbsp dark brown sugar
1 cup low-fat (1%) milk
1 cinnamon stick
1 1-inch piece of fresh ginger root, thinly sliced and peeled
1 tsp whole black peppercorns
Method:
1. Put cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, peppercorns and 3 cups water into a pot. Bring to a boil.
2. Place a cover. Then reduce heat and let simmer for at least 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to let steep for at least 10 minutes.
3. Return pot to heat and bring to a boil. Remove from heat, then add tea, cover and set aside. Then let it steep for 3-5 minutes.
4. Strain through a fine mesh sieve, discarding solids, then return liquid to the pot. Stir in sugar and milk and heat over low heat for 1 minute. Pour into cups and serve.
Health Benefits of Chai Tea
1. Black Pepper
Black peppercorns gives chai tea a little spice. It helps with flatulence, indigestion, works to detox the body and get rid of excess fluids.
2. Cardamom
Cardamom is a powerful antioxidant that helps remove free radicals in the body, which helps promote disease. Cardamom is also useful for headaches and works well for preventing heart stroke.
3. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is very effective in lowering blood sugar and cholesterol levels. It is considered to be a great antioxidant, which helps prevent diseases and is a good anti-inflammatory agent, which helps with arthritis and chronic inflammation.
4. Cloves
Cloves is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent that aids in arthritis. It helps fight inflammation by reducing your risk of disease.
5. Ginger
Ginger is a common ingredient in chai tea, It helps to relax the stomach, can be taken for motion sickness, helps with nausea and sweating. Also it helps in the prevention of colon cancer because it boosts your immune system.