![Chai tea as a holiday treat](https://vitalpoint.ca/df_media/W1siZiIsIjIwMjQvMDEvMDYvMDAvNDAvNDgvNmY1ZWY1ZmMtNDdmYS00NjVmLWE2MDgtZDYzNjlhZTBkZjFkL2NoYWloZWFkZXIuanBnIl0sWyJwIiwidGh1bWIiLCIxNTAweDc4NFx1MDAzZSJdXQ/chaiheader.jpg?sha=7f9edbaa6aaa3a02)
Ginger - warms the lungs and digestion - great for beginning stages of a cold with watery, runny nose or when you’ve had too many cold-natured foods that slow digestion. Warming for the body as it promotes perspiration.
Cardamon & clove - strengthens stomach qi, treating belching, nausea, and vomit
Nut meg - warms the digestive system, aiding with food stagnation, bloating, or feelings of nausea
Cinnamon - increases circulation to warm the body, has a diaphoretic effect which is useful for the beginning stages of a cold or flu
Black Pepper - helps to stop diarrhea and warm the interior
![Crushed cloves and spices](https://mcusercontent.com/fc060b4be6f2c869760ae77f5/images/9a8705c6-5d37-cbec-4f7f-e27de736a59e.jpg)
Chai Tea Recipe:
- 1 whole cinnamon stick
- 6-8 green cardamom pods
- 1 tsp whole black peppercorns
- 3-4 whole cloves
- 2 ½ cups water
- 2 Tbsp grated ginger (for less intense ginger flavor, slice instead of grating)
- 3 Tbsp loose leaf black tea (or ~3-4 black tea bags // use decaf as needed)
- 2 cups dairy-free milk (we favor oat milk, coconut milk, and cashew milk // use thicker, richer dairy-free milks like canned coconut milk or our Oatly recipe for creamier chai!)
- Sweetener such as stevia, organic cane sugar, or maple syrup to taste
Instructions:
1. Add cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, peppercorns, and cloves to the bowl of a mortar (or cutting board) and use pestle (or heavy pan) to slightly crush the spices. You aren’t pulverizing into a powder, just slightly crushing into small pieces
2. To a medium saucepan add crushed spices, water, and grated (or sliced) ginger and bring to a boil over high heat. (Note: For a less gingery chai, reduce amount of ginger and slice rather than grating). Then reduce heat slightly to medium/medium-low and maintain a simmer for 15 minutes or until it reduces by about one-third.
3. Add tea (loose leaf or bags) and dairy-free milk of choice (we love light canned coconut) and lower heat to low. Cover and continue cooking for 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Then turn off heat and let steep for 5 minutes more (covered) or longer for deeper flavor.
4. Add sweetener of choice to taste (we prefer stevia or maple syrup, but sugar is more traditional). Strain through a fine mesh strainer before serving.
![cup of chai tea](https://mcusercontent.com/fc060b4be6f2c869760ae77f5/images/52f593c7-5257-1102-97a3-661c779c258e.jpg)
![Kristina Adams](https://vitalpoint.ca/df_media/W1siZiIsIjIwMjEvMTAvMDUvMjMvMTYvMDgvMjE1ZjFhNzEtY2RhOS00YTc2LWI0MTctOTgyMzYzYWE2M2Q3L1NjcmVlbiBTaG90IDIwMjEtMTAtMDUgYXQgNC4xNS41MCBQTS5wbmciXSxbInAiLCJ0aHVtYiIsIjEyMHgxMjAjIl1d/Screen%20Shot%202021-10-05%20at%204.15.50%20PM.png?sha=dc58e74045c42a8f)