Winter Reset Chai
There is nothing like having a good warm chai in the middle of Winter. It’s a little spicy and creamy… so great when wanting a little something sweet, but don’t want any more holiday sweets. So here’s a fun fact, chai is both delicious and extremely nutritious, especially if YOU make it. Here’s why… you choose spices from good organic sources, you create a relationship with the spices (get to know the colors, smells, textures), and you take a couple minutes out of your day to prepare something that will nourish and address any dis-ease in your body. Try out this recipe this month and see how you feel.
This recipe makes 2 cups (1-2 servings).Ingredients
2 tsp fennel seeds
4 green cardamom pods
4 cloves
1 cinnamon stick
2-4 nickels size ginger pieces
1 star anise (opt)
1 tsp black tea and/or chicory root
1 cup milk or milk alternative (current fav of mine- almond/pistachio milk)
Sweeter of choice- honey, maple syrup, or date syrup
Pinch of salt
Instructions
In a small saucepan, add 2 cups of filtered water and put on a high heat burner. As the pot is coming up to a boil, begin adding herbs.
First, throw in the fennel seeds. Take a moment and smell them before you put them in… delish.
Then, slightly crush the cardamom pods and cloves. Either with the side of a knife, in mortar & pistil, or coffee grinder. Throw those in.
Then add cinnamon stick, ginger, and star anise.
Let that all come up to a boil and let simmer till half the liquid has reduced.
Add the black tea and/or chicory root and let simmer for another 1-5 mins. If you want a lighter flavor only simmer for 1 minute. If you like a really bold chai, let it simmer for another 5 mins, but watch the water level. You don’t want it to go below a third of the original liquid amount.
Then add the milk of choice. I make my own nut milks. So right now, my favorite is an almond and pistachio blend. SO good. Let the milk simmer, but not boil. So you have to watch it.
Then turn off the burner and let cool for a moment. Find your favorite vessel to drink your chai out of and prepare a strainer over it. Strain your chai and then add a pinch of celtic or maldon sea salt & sweetener of choice.
Finally, take a moment to sit and enjoy the chai. Appreciate all the flavor, the texture, and the aroma of the Winter Reset Chai. If you have a loved one with you, share some with them.
All these herbs have such powerful effects on releasing toxins from the system, nourishing the tissues of the body, and resetting digestion. Make sure all your ingredients are organic and local if possible. Get to know the herbs and people that grow them. It’s an important part of seeing food and plants as medicine.
