Once the signs of autumn roll in I immediately start craving chai. It has been a favourite drink of mine for a long time but especially after living in India and daily finding the Chai wallah on the closest street and sipping on the warm, sweetly spiced beverage. Here is my version that I make at home. You can adjust i based on your preferences either doing a base of black tea if you want a little kick or some medicinal mushrooms if you want something more rejuvenating (chaga and reishi are my favourite) or a simple herbal base like red rooibos. You can also adjust the spices to your liking making it more heating and spicy with chilies, ginger, black pepper and clove or more neutral and sweet with cardamom and cinnamon. You can sweeten it with honey, maple syrup, sugar, xylitol or stevia and add any animal or alternative milk based on your preference.
Immune-boosting, earth-nourishing Chai
Ingredients
- Base- two bags black tea, two tablespoons medicinal mushrooms or other adaptogenic herbs or one tablespoon red rooibos
- 3 cups Milk- Goat, cow, sheep, almond, cashew, oat,…
- 3 cups water
- thumb sized piece of ginger – peeled and sliced
- one tablespoon spice mix (cinnamon, clove, chilli, cardamom, black pepper, fennel, fenugreek, allspice, nutmeg,….)
- sweetener- honey, maple syrup, cane sugar, xylitol, stevia
Instructions
- Pour water and milk into a pot and put on medium high
- Peel and slice ginger and add to water
- Collect what spices you like and grind in a mortar and pestle (I usually make lots and keep extra in a jar)
- Add spices to the pot
- If using medicinal mushrooms or other herbs add now
- Bring to a boil and allow to simmer for 10- 20 mins
- Add black tea or rooibos
- allow to steep for 5 mins
- strain into a cup and add sweetener as desired
- Enjoy!!
