Chai Tea Benefits

Today you will discover the many health benefits of drinking Chai Tea.

Tea is very helpful for our body. Most of us are using tea as a beverage to help cleanse their body. This is especially for those who have problems with their metabolism.

We use tea for many purposes. Some drink tea to help them sleep, others simply to relax.

There are many varieties of tea. Research has proven that tea is a great medicine. It also has many medicinal powers to counteract many diseases. Chai tea is one such tea.

General Health Benefits of Chai Tea

Below I explain the overall health benefits of Chai tea. Then I will look at the benefits of the individual herbs that make up this unique tea.

Antioxidant

The black tea, a component in Chai tea(this is normally black Assam Tea), contains very rich antioxidants. Which can combat cardiovascular diseases and metabolic conditions.

Chai latte is also rich in antioxidants, due to the black tea component. Which also prevents free radicals from wreaking havoc on your system.

Antibacterial and Anti-inflammatory Properties

These properties in Chai tea help to protect the regular drinkers from infections. It also helps in reducing inflammation responses from one’s body.

Boost the Immune System

Chai tea could be very supportive since it increases the potency of your immune system. It would protect you from future infections and possible complications.

Helps the Digestive System

Chai tea helps out the body digestion and metabolism processes. Cinnamon helps with any stomach upset and alleviates vomiting or nausea. Can also prevent conditions such as diarrhoea. Cloves and Black pepper arouse digestive processes.

The Benefits of the Herbs in Chai Tea

The benefits of chai tea come from the spices used in the making of the tea. Each spice has its unique properties that have different healing effects.

1. Black Tea

As of late, all teas including black tea have been in the news for their significant health benefits. The tea base of chai tea is typically Assam black tea, which has grown wild in the region since time in memorial.

Black tea is rich in antioxidants that help fight a host of diseases. Many believe tea may help lower the risk for such ailments as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. It is due to this belief that South Asians have historically seen tea as a medicinal drink rather than just a recreational beverage.

Researches have also shown that drinking tea can help counteract some of the damage that chemotherapy does to your white blood cells.

2. Milk and Sugar or Honey

The version of chai tea now mostly known throughout the world is the chai latte where milk and a sweetening agent (like sugar or honey) are added to the basic chai tea.

However, it’s believed that milk somewhat reduces the effectiveness of the antioxidants in the black tea component of the tea.

As such, the traditional Indian version of chai tea is still believed to impart higher levels of healthy antioxidants.

3. Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a spice that is acquired from the dried bark of several trees in the Lauraceae family. Growing in the tropics, cinnamon possesses a yellowish brown colour and a uniquely pungent but fragrant odor.

Cinnamon is becoming a favourite medicinal herb as it has many uses. The most important one is that it stimulates other herbs thus aiding them to heal you faster. It helps to enhance blood circulation, relieves gas and heartburn, increases vitality.

Also boosts energy, reduces fever and pains. Helps relieve indigestion symptoms and menstrual cramps, and reduce fatigue. It also may help fight cancer and diabetes.

4. Cardamom

This refers to the pungent and aromatic seeds found in the pods of the tropical evergreen plant also known as cardamom. This is a popular spice in both Indian and Chinese cuisines.

Cardamom helps to unify the kidneys, lungs, and heart. It is also thought to help facilitate good digestion and fight stomach problems. Cardamom is also considered as a warming spice by those practising Ayurveda.

5. Cloves

Clove is native to the spice islands (Indonesia) and are the aromatic floral buds of a tree in the Myrtaceae family. This spice has been used by the Chinese since ancient for both medicinal and culinary purposes.

This herb possess potent antiseptic and pain-relieving attributes. Cloves are also used to help relieve indigestion problems, gas, and colic.

6. Nutmeg

Nutmeg is the seed of the apricot-like fruit of a tropical tree. It’s a popular spice for various spicy dishes. Nutmeg has been used for centuries to help boost the digestion of heavy foods.

Ancient Arab physicians used it to treat lymph and kidney problems. It can also treat rheumatism, diarrhoea, as well as congestion in the chest.

7. Ginger

Ginger (Superherb) is a known medicinal herb used since time in memorial. Ginger is the aromatic rhizome of the plant zingiberoficinale. Its strong flavor makes it a popular spice in many dishes and drinks worldwide.

Long valued as a stimulant for the immune and the circulatory systems. Ginger helps treat conditions such as muscle pains, headaches, dizziness, and motion sickness.

8. Fennel

Fennel seeds are commonly used to flavor many dishes throughout the world. It’s especially popular in fish and curry dishes. The herb possess many medicinal properties.

The spice helps fight a host of digestive and respiratory ailments. It’s also believed to be a anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial.

9. Black Pepper

Black pepper is one of the most widely used culinary spices in the world. It helps support circulation and metabolism. It’s also possess antibacterial and antioxidant properties.

Based on Ayurvedic philosophy. Spices help to bring about a calmer, revitalised and mentally-clarified state of being.

That is why chai tea is a ideal anti-toxin and remedy to the aggravations caused by everyday stress in modern life. Black pepper also has the ability to boost the potency of other herbs that it’s used with.

How to Make a Chai Tea Recipe

There are many variants of Chai tea recipes these days, however here is a sample of an authentic Chai Tea recipe.

Serve four.

Ingredients: Four black peppercorns. One stick of cinnamon, Six green cardamom pods, Six cloves, One-inch ginger root, sliced and peeled. Two black tea bags or One tablespoon loose black tea. Three cups water, One cup whole milk, and Two tablespoons sugar (preferably dark brown sugar)

Method 1:

Place all the spices together in a saucepan add four and a half cups of water. Then bring to a boil and simmer for five minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat and let steep for ten minutes.

Return the saucepan to a boil. Add the tea and remove from heat, let it steep for three to five minutes further.

Strain the mixture into a separate saucepan. Return the now tea over a low heat and add sugar and milk, then stir for one minute. Serve when still hot.

Method 2:

Put all the ingredients in a bouquet garni. This is a cheese cloth that you can place the spices on, then bundle the cheese cloth up and bind them off with a string. You can as well use a large organic tea bag as another option. Put the pan with water on medium heat and set the bundled spices in the pan.

Let the water to a boil on a low heat then simmer. Place the tea leaf into the spice mixture and allow it to simmer for about five minutes. If you like a stronger tea, steep for few minutes and add more tea.

Steeping for long will make the tea bitter. Strain the tea leaves and remove the spices. Stir in the milk, vanilla, and sugar or honey.

What is Chai Tea?

Chai tea is native to India, literally in Hindi. The word “chai” or “cha” is another word for “tea” in the regions where it originated from which are mostly in South Asia like in Nepal, India, Pakistan, and Tibet.

Chai tea is a century old tea that has been important in many cultures around the world. It comes from the natural preparation methods without adding any flavouring. Tea plants are grown in their natural habitat in South Asians in the olden times.

But in times gone by they viewed tea as an herbal medicine rather than spare time beverages.

Commonly though, when we talk about “Chai” these days it’s followed that it will be a spice tea mixed with milk and some sweetener. This also depends on the local region you are in.

English speakers in the old ages and outside of these areas made a similar connection. Between “Chai” and “masala chai” as it’s the most widely known chai today. Typically today, in Western Countries, there is a growing trend in chai tea beverage.

This traditional tea is being served in a new twist as chai tea latte, frozen, with espresso added, in milk shakes, and even in alcoholic beverages. There is no limit to the imagination of how to make chai tea.

Masala Chai

The commonly known version of chai is traditionally composed of spices like cardamom, cinnamon, star anise, cloves, fennel, ginger, and peppercorn. These spices are usually warmed in boiling water. Then mixed with milk, honey, and black tea, although recipes often vary from village to village.

Likewise, this rich black tea that is traditionally flavoured with milk and sugar or honey. It also includes various spices which add not only to its zesty taste but also to its health benefits. Hence has become very popular among the tea enthusiasts. It has become an inevitable staple on many menus.

Establishments that offer beverages are now offering Chai tea as a special item to their esteemed customers. This shows how chai has become popular and important. Once you drink a cup of Chai tea, be sure that you will be a fan and an addict of it within no time. The enjoyment you get from it is immense, do not worry it is not an alcoholic beverage. It just tastes great…

Chai Tea Vs Other Teas

You can find tea everywhere throughout South Asia and other countries. One of the most popular teas in the field of South Asian restaurants is a chai tea.

They use Chai tea as beverages, or they drink tea after eating their meals. However, we always worry to buy excellent tea because it is expensive. We always think of a good product of tea which suits your budget.

Then why think to other tea if chai tea can answer your problem in finding the right tea that you ever wanted. This kind of tea is very nutritious and useful to our body. Unlike the other teas, which have added preservatives that in turn can affect your health.

Some of the Chai tea latte found in coffee shops have sweeteners and additives which are not so good. So always know what your buying or simply make it yourself(¹).

Is Chai Tea Good for Your Health?

The question one must ask is if chai teas are good for their health. We all know that teas plays a great role in our health but is this one an exception? Chai tea depends on how you drink it.

It is a very tasty beverage and is great to consume it a few times in a week. You can make a cup of chai tea using natural ingredients that are healthy. Look up some more recipes for chai, and I’m sure you will find some good options.

So to answer the question is Chai tea good for you. In my opinion the answer has to be YES the combination of tea and herbs can only be beneficial for your health.

Warning and Side Effects of Chai Tea

As much as this great beverage has many healthy benefits, it has also its other side which is the side effects. Chai side effects include:

Caffeine content

Yes black tea within Chai contains caffeine but how much?

Lets look at a comparison between some popular drinks. Coffee has the most caffeine content followed by Chai tea then with the least is green tea.

Caffeine is a stimulant that can cause anxiety(²) and affects sleep. The caffeine in black tea is much more than that of green tea. You can, however, purchase caffeine free chai teas to avoid caffeine. You can also use the alternative green tea instead of black tea to limit the caffeine.

If you substitute Chai for Coffee you will use less caffeine, hence caffeine wise Chai tea is better for you than Coffee.

• Pregnant women and mothers who are breastfeeding should be cautious while consuming this tea. The many herbs and spices may cause side effects.

• High consumption of chai tea may cause iron deficiency in your body. The many compounds present in chai tea prohibits the absorption of iron in the stomach.

• You should not drink chai tea when you are using other medical drugs. This is because components in chai tea may react with these drugs. It is always advisable to consult with your doctor as to how you should take chai tea when on other drugs.

Conclusion

Making your own Chai Tea can also be fun and will ensure that you can control the ingredients for a better and healthier effect. Adding more of one spice than another can change the flavor of your Chai tea considerably.

There are many methods online which you can make chai tea.

Yet, after some practice, you may want to make extra changes to the recipe until you are happy with the taste. Or just visit a spa in your area that serves Chai Tea, and enjoy a day having your preferred treatment with your favorite tea.