Cappuccino is out! Hello Chai Tea!!

You might wonder what chai tea has to do with this blog? Well, fabulousness (yes, I love to add -ness to all sorts of words. . .even if it turns them into tongue twisters *grin*) does also come from inside. . .even mostly if I’m honest. . .so, do not only take care of the surface my sweethearts!!

Of course I still enjoy my occasional cappuccino but its nr 1 spot on my list of fav hot drinks has been taken over by chai tea latte! Especially now that it’s getting colder and darker. . .

Whether chai tea is healthy or not may be discussed but in India many people drink it on daily base and are convinced about its positive influence on body/health . . .fact is that if you consume the high quality version (take care when ordering chai tea latte as some coffee shops sell you steamed milk with spice syrup instead of real tea) the following aspects should be considered:

The World Famous Antioxidants:

- Chai tea has several antioxidants, who fight back free radicals. Some scientists say that tea in general has 10 times more antioxidants than fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants help our body to lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

Help For Our Digestion:

- Ginger, one of the main spices of chai tea, helps digesting. It also helps in case of stomach ache and morning sickness. (Ginger is also said to help in case you have a cold. . .well actually I can confirm that this is true. . .)

Less Caffeine:

- 1 cup of chai tea has less caffeine than one cup of average coffee. One can also choose decaffeinated chai tea same as one can choose soy milk instead of cow milk in case of chai tea latte).

Easy Peasy Baby:

- Take a break from your stressful life by enjoying a cup of hot chai tea. The spices in a chai tea, especially the warming cinnamon, help to relax the body and spirit.

Unfortunately I had to consider, after coming back to Luxembourg, that in my area you don’t get decent chai tea. . .what a misery. . .so again it’s time for some „do it yourself“!

And here’s the receipt:

To make this tea using a traditional recipe, gather fresh spices from an Asian or Indian market. Take cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, whole black or white pepper corns, a cardamom pod, and grind them together into a powder. With chopped ginger root, add this mixture to a liquid of two parts half-and-half to three parts water. Use a strong, black tea from Asia such as Darjeeling, Ceylon, or Assam blends, instead of a green tea. Black tea has been oxidized, and has more tannins and a higher pungency. This mixture brews over a low, simmering heat for up to an hour, unlike steeped tea that takes more minutes. Strain out the spices and stir in a teaspoon of sugar/honey to bring out the spiciness without overly sweetening. Your cup of chai is ready to ease your nerves and warm your soul.
Source: www.wisegeek.com/ehow.com

My hints:

-Many indian markets/stores sell the spice mixture in powder form ready to use)

-In case you prefer chai tea latte; well it’s the same tea mixed with steamed milk. . .one actually gets little steamers for domestic use. . .you don’t have to buy one of those sophisticated coffee machines. . .in case the delicious milk foam is not so important to you just mix some warm milk shortly before serving. . .


Enjoy!!

XO Tanja