Homemade Chai Tea From Scratch

Plus Fun Variations on the Indian Recipe

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Dec 19, 2009 Heather Loney

Aromatic spices like cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon make health-boosting masala chai tea a treat for the senses and the body.

There is nothing quite like the fragrance and flavour of masala chai tea made from scratch. Homemade chai tea takes a little extra time and care to prepare, but there is no comparison to store-bought tea when it comes to the taste. Do something good for your body and soul by taking the time to make your own chai tea. Keep reading to learn about the health benefits of homemade chai tea.

Classic Chai Tea Recipe

  • 2 cups water
  • 2 inch stick of cinnamon
  • 6 whole cardamom pods
  • 8 whole cloves
  • ¾ cup milk
  • sugar to taste (optional)
  • 3 tsp unperfumed loose black tea

Place water, cinnamon, cardamom pods, and cloves in a small pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. Add sugar to taste and milk, and return to a gentle boil. Add the black tea, turn off the heat and let steep for two minutes. Then simply strain and serve. Makes two servings.

New Variations on a Classic

All it takes is adding a few ingredients and you can make new favourites from the classic chai tea recipe. For chocolaty chai tea omit the regular milk and sugar, and replace with ¾ cup of chocolate milk.

For added health benefits add half a teaspoon of fennel seeds and boil with the cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon. Fennel seeds are rich in minerals like magnesium, and ease digestion.

For a delicious twist of the classic masala chai, make the chocolaty chai tea recipe, and steep mint tea as well as black tea for two minutes. Chocolate, mint, and chai, a delicious combination.

Health Benefits of Chai Tea

There are many health benefits to this delicious Indian recipe. Cinnamon has many health benefits, including its ability to lower LDL cholesterol and regulate blood sugar levels. Cinnamon can also be consumed to treat yeast infections, and has an anti-clotting effect on the blood. The aromatic spice is also a great source of manganese, iron, fibre and calcium.

Fragrant and spicy cardamom has a calming effect on the digestive tract, and can be used to treat indigestion. Cardamom also is a natural anti-inflammatory, anti-septic, and anti-oxidant. The exotic spice is also rich in minerals like manganese, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iron. It also contains vitamins like riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin C.

Not to be outdone, cloves are rich in minerals and vitamins, and also have the properties of an anti-fungal, anesthetic, and aphrodisiac. Studies also show promise of cloves containing cancer-fighting properties.

Turn your afternoon coffee break into something really special, and make masala chai from scratch. Not only is it a delicious hot drink, but your body will benefit as well.

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The copyright of the article Homemade Chai Tea From Scratch in Recipes is owned by Heather Loney. Permission to republish Homemade Chai Tea From Scratch in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Cardamom pods, Robin Cardamom pods
Whole cloves, Elenadan Whole cloves
Chai tea, avlxyz Chai tea
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Comments

Jan 14, 2010 4:32 PM
Guest :
Thanks for recipe. There is a good piece on chai at http://desigrub.com/2010/01/tethered-by-tea/
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