Winter Spice Chai

A cozy tea for the winter

In case you’re wondering, I’m something of a tea fanatic, especially when it comes to spiced and herbal teas. Once fall and winter set in, it’s time for my favorite winter spice chai (tea) along with a few tasty snacks! This is also my go-to tea for those days when I’m feeling like my body needs an extra boost to fight off the sniffles. While this is similar to the Indian version of chai, my recipe has literally been winterized, lol!

Quick side note: this post may contain affiliate links from which I receive a small percentage from any sales using these links.

What does it do?

I love  this winter spice chai because it’s not just delicious, it’s what i like to call, a “multi-purpose tea”. Meaning, all or most of the ingredients have anti-inflammatory properties and support the body’s ability to heal itself and ward off illness. Not only that, this recipe is an easy one that can be made up in bulk and refrigerated for a few days. In other words, this tea works as both a treat and as a remedy for common digestive ailments including the sniffles! 

Ingredients

1. Ginger (ground or fresh)
2. Cardamom
3. Nigerian / African chili powder (ground hot African chili peppers)
4. Black and red pepper corns (ground)
5. Turmeric (ground or fresh)
6. Cinnamon
7. Nutmeg
8. Star anise
9. cloves
10. Organic raw honey or brown sugar
11. Vanilla (beans or extract- 1/2 teaspoon)
12. Almond extract (1/4 teaspoon)
13. Cold pressed raw coconut oil (1 table spoon to 32 ounces)
14. Goat milk (or you can use Nut or oat milk for the vegan version)
15. Filtered water
16. Organic black tea

Health benefits

Just in case you’re wondering, if you’re looking for a hot and soothing beverage that will ease your tummy after all of that holiday food, this tea is the one you want to drink. Ginger, cardamom and star anise, are great for reliving bloating, indigestion as well as nausea. Turmeric, one of my favorite add-ins, is anti-inflammatory and helps to support the body’s immune system. The same is true of ginger, which is also anti-bacterial and anti-microbial. Cardamom is warming and soothing to the stomach and also helps with indigestion. You can check out some of my earlier posts right here to read up on the health benefits of these healing ingredients.

Here’s how to make it

1. Bring water, coconut oil, goat milk (or nut milk) and chai spices to a simmer in a small saucepan or cast iron kettle, on the stove.
2. Next, reducing the heat, add in black tea.
3. Allow the tea to steep.
4. Strain the warm spiced mixture into a mug; this will hold back the whole spices and tea leaves.
5. Add your raw honey or brown sugar into your chai and sweeten to taste.

So, as you can see, it’s not hard to make this delicious winter chai recipe. What’s not to love about my spice and herbal tea blends! They are an amazing add to anyone’s recipe book because they are both tasty and healing. You can try some more tea recipes here and here!

My thoughts on commercial blends of “chai”

I’ve talked a lot about why I don’t like fast food and commercialized recipes that dilute the natural benefits that come from home cooked meals, beverages, etc. I’ve bought chain restaurant versions of “Chai” tea (a rather silly name, considering Chai literally means tea) and non compare to what I create in my kitchen. Not only are these commercial versions loaded with fillers and fake flavors, you can’t vouch for the quality of the ingredients. Also, the natural medicinal or healing properties of the ingredients are lost in the production process. All you are left with are artificial flavors, mystery fillers and tons of added sugar! Bottom line, making your own winter spice chai will support a healthy digestive track and immune system, but it will also save you a lot of money.