CHAI BABY!!!

I love Chai tea. However, I do avoid black tea and sugar, which is often used in traditional Indien teas. Fortunately, I came by this recipy for a HEALTHY-SPICE-ONLY tea about 10 years ago. Since then, my kitchen often smells of India. I love this recipy, as it is sooooo easy and quick to make. Just the smell makes me happy. Over the years I have created different variants. I decided to include these as well, so you can find your own personal favorite.

So, here we go. For this Chai you need...

INGREDIENTS
Base recipy for spice mix
1 table spoon of fresh ginger
1-2 cinnamon sticks
2 star anis
2-3 cloves
5-6 whole green cardamom
150 ml water

Optionally:
Plant based milk, or
Honey, according to your taste, or
Rooibos tea (in bags or dried leaves)
Fennel seeds: just add them to the base recipy

HOW TO....
1. Peel the ginger and slice it thinly
2. Put the water in a pot and add all spices. Bring to boil and let it simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Now the spice mix is ready to be consumed.

Over the years I have created different variants.
Choose your own favorite CHAI

CHAI LATTE - my personal favorite
Add the spice mix in a cup.
Add honey to your liking and stir.
Warm the plant-based-milk and foam it, as you would do for a cappachino.
Add foam and warm milk to the cup and your Chai Latte is ready

CHAI with milk:
Leave the spice mix in the pot.
Add 0.75 liter (plant-based) milk and let boil for another 5 minutes
Add honey, according to your liking.

SPICE TEA - if you need a gentle kick
This variant serves only the spice mix, without the milk.
Add honey according to your liking

CHAI ROOIBOS - great in the evening
Boil some additional water, add rooibos tea. I usually use a tea bag or dried rooibos in a . Leave 4-5 minutes to infuse. Remove the tea bag.
Poor 3/4 of rooibos tea in a cup and add 1/4 of spice mix.
As the Rooibos is rather sweet itself, I usually do not add any honey.

ABOUT
Today cafes often use chai sirop for your chai latte. Needless to say, that this contains much sugar and does not fit a healthy diet. The recipy above uses spices that can support your overall health.

• Cardamom: Soothes digestion and can help with colds.

• Cinnamon: Stimulates circulation and boosts mood!

• Ginger: Considered a superfood. It strengthens the immune system, has antibacterial properties, and stimulates appetite.

• Anise and Fennel: Soothe the stomach and can have antispasmodic effects.

• Cloves: Can have anti-inflammatory effects and are a source of antioxidants.

• The name "rooibos" comes from the dialect of the first African settlers and means "red bush". Today a true national drink in South Africa,rooibos does not contain theine or caffein and therefore has the advantage of being consumable at any time. This does not detract from its many benefits for the body. It is called "red tea" for the color it takes during its production, but in reality, it is not really part of the tea family. Rooibos is more comparable to a herbal tea or an infusion.