Chai is a warm and soothing beverage, usually made with spices, herbs and milk. In Ayurveda chai is considered a rasayana, a beverage or herbal concoction that strengthens the whole physiology.
In present day India chai is made using black tea, which is a useful stimulant if you have a sluggish physiology. Yet, if your Vata has been put out of balance by cold weather, the caffeine contained in black tea can add to your already over-excited Vata. Here is a non-caffeine chai that will help calm your Vata dosha and is perfect on a cold day.
Ingredients (for 2 large cups)
- 6 green green cardamom pods
- 3 whole cloves
- 1 cinnamon sticks or 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp whole fennel seeds
- 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
- 1.5 large cups organic whole milk
- 1 large cup water
- Raw organic sugar or Maple/Date syrup
Directions
- Crush up the cardamom, cloves and cinnamon sticks using a coffee/spice grinder (the ones using blades work best for this).
- Pour the milk and water into a saucepan and heat the liquid.
- Add the crushed spices along with the grated ginger
- Bring to the boil and boil for a minute or two.
- Remove the pan from the heat.
- Cover the pan and let the tea steep for about 10 minutes.
- Strain the chai into cups.
- To each cup, add 2 or more teaspoons of sugar or syrup to taste.
If you don’t want to go to the bother of preparing all those spices, why not use Vata Tea from Maharishi Ayurveda Products instead.
