Put a pot on the stove, turn on the flame, and have yourself a cup of yogi tea. Enjoy!
Yogi Tea (without caffeine from black tea) or Indian Chai (with black tea)
Yogi tea comprises a speciï¬c combination of spices, milk and black tea. Health- promoting, delicious, soothing and a great coffee substitute. Yogi tea is easy to make at home. I like to make a big potful, without adding the milk, and store it in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Then, upon making a cup of tea, I ï¬ll the cup and add warm milk and sweetener to taste.
The spices have the following healthful properties:
Black pepper: blood puriï¬er;
Cardamom: digestive aid; Cloves: nervous system and generates heat in the body;
Cinnamon: bones;
Ginger root: for colds, flu, physical weakness, digestion, increased potency. The milk helps in easy assimilation of the spices and coats the stomach lining to avoid irritation. A pinch of black tea gives just a touch of “pick up”.
2 quarts water
15 whole cloves
20 green cardamom pods
20 black peppercorns
3 sticks cinnamon
8 slices ginger root
1/2 tsp black tea (optional)
3 cups milk
Honey or other sweetener to taste
Bring water to boil in 3-4 quart pot. Add cloves and boil for 1 minute. Add cardamom pods (to better release flavor, crush or split pods), peppercorns, cinnamon sticks and ginger root. Cover and boil gently for 20-30 minutes. Add black tea (optional). At this point, you can let the tea cool, strain it, and refrigerate. Or, add the milk, return to boil and immediately remove from heat. Add sweetener to taste.
