Cinnamon Spice Chai

Invigorating herbs and spices make this tea a whole-body treat.

Cinnamon appears in many of the recipes we love to enjoy over the holidays, and there may be good medicinal reasons for that.

Because of its warming and stimulating properties, cinnamon has long been used to boost vitality, improve circulation, and clear congestion. It is a well-respected digestive aid, particularly in cases of overeating, bloating, and sluggish digestion. It’s also one of the best herbs around for stabilizing blood sugar. So more than just a pleasing holiday spice, cinnamon can help our bodies counteract the stresses and overindulgence of the season.

A delicious tea blend that originated in India, chai has as many recipes as drinkers. Here’s one of herbalist Rosemary Gladstar’s favorite chai recipes. Use it as a warming, energizing tea in the morning, or ice it for a cool afternoon pick-me-up.


Cinnamon Spice Chai

Ingredients

  • 1 part chopped cinnamon bark
  • ½ part coriander seed
  • ½ part chopped gingerroot
  • ¼ part coarsely ground black peppercorns
  • ¼ part cracked cardamom seeds (put in herb mill and grind quickly)
  • ⅛ part whole cloves
  • Darjeeling tea (or your own favorite black or green tea)
  • Honey (to taste)

Directions

  1. To make the chai: Combine the cinnamon, coriander, ginger, peppercorns, cardamom, and cloves and mix well. Using 1 teaspoon of the herb mixture per cup of water, simmer the spices for 15 to 25 minutes. Remove from the heat, add an appropriate amount of Darjeeling (depending on how many servings you’ve brewed), cover, and let steep 5 minutes. Strain, then sweeten to taste with honey.
  2. To use: Drink! I love this tea with frothed milk. It rivals the best latte and offers so much more in health-giving properties.

EXCERPTED FROM ROSEMARY GLADSTAR’S MEDICINAL HERBS: A BEGINNER’S GUIDE © ROSEMARY GLADSTAR.


Rosemary Gladstar

Rosemary Gladstar

About the Author

Rosemary Gladstar is the best-selling author of Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide, Fire Cider!, and Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health, which draw on her 40-plus years of experiences studying and teaching about the healing properties of herbs. She is a world-renowned educator, activist, and entrepreneur, and the founding director of Sage Mountain Herbal Retreat Center, the International Herb Symposium, and the New England Women’s Herbal Conference. Gladstar is founding president of United Plant Savers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation and preservation of native American herbs. She was the original formulator for Traditional Medicinal herbal teas and has led herbal educational adventures around the world. She is the recipient of an honorary doctorate from the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon, and serves on the board of the Association for the Advancement of Restorative Medicine and The National Health Freedom Coalition. She lives in Vermont.

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