An aromatic and delicious hot drink comes to our mind when we hear the word chai. You enjoy this hot beverage in any season; it is good to go with any snack.
In general, the name of this tea form is the Hindi translation of the word tea, as it originated in India. Chai tea, also called masala chai, is a mixture of black tea, milk, water, and spices. People use traditional Indian spices in this infusion like cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, black pepper, and many others. However, its brewing method is slightly different from other teas because it brews with milk, spices, and water instead of only water.
Chai tea, nowadays, loves by everyone around the world. Even many tea cafés and tea houses in western countries have added it into their menu. Another famous form of chai tea is chai tea latte which is different from traditional chai. As the name suggests, latte contains more milk and sweet than usual tea and has frothed.
With a pleasing taste, this tea may bring multiple health benefits for you. The spices and black tea has many valuable properties that can work for your wellness.
Let’s know some benefits of chai tea. In the end, you will learn the methods of making chai tea.
Benefits of chai tea
Improves Digestive system
The foremost benefit of drinking chai is that it will improve your digestive system. Drinking chai will keep you far from stomach problems such as gas, bloating or indigestion.
Black tea helps to improve digestion, and many studies have proven this point. Also, the spices and herbs added to the masala chai give us a healthy gut. Ginger in tea improves oxygen circulation in the body, which helps organs work optimally; consequently, it improves digestion. Another spice, black pepper, helps to alleviate digestion problems.
Improve heart health
Imbalanced blood pressure and cholesterol are some of the causes of cardiac problems. The good news is that your regular chai tea may keep your heart healthy.
The main ingredient of masala tea, cinnamon, is helpful to reduce bad cholesterol and blood pressure. When you take cinnamon in your masala tea, it fulfils the daily required quantity for your body. It will keep you safe from heart issues.
Also, the black tea used for making chai may help decrease blood cholesterol and maintain your heart healthy. The other ingredients in masala tea are proven good for cardiac health.
Anti-inflammatory
Black tea and the spices include in chai tea may fight inflammation. Whether you are suffering from chronic inflammation or due to exercise and injury, chai tea will alleviate it with anti-inflammation properties.
Ginger in masala tea is packed with strong anti-inflammation properties. It has been used in medicines and herbal drinks for centuries due to its healing properties. Taking ginger in tea will help you to get relief from inflammation problems.
Other ingredients, like cinnamon and cardamom, also have anti-inflammatory values. These ingredients can reduce inflammation and calm your stiff muscles caused by inflammation.
Boost energy
Remember the time when you have less energy and feeling drowsy. After drinking a cup of chai tea, you feel energetic and can concentrate on work. Yes, it happens because of chai that makes you feel energetic.
Black tea contains caffeine that gives a boost to the energy level. The caffeine in a cup of tea is far less than in a cup of coffee. Thus, it will not affect you negatively.
Relieve pain
You like to have a cup of chai after an exhausting day. What do you feel that all the tiredness and pains have gone after drinking a pleasant cup of chai tea? It happens because of the black tea and spices it contains.
Black tea is best known for soothing mild headaches, pains, and migraine pain. Besides, we have discussed above that ginger is anti-inflammatory, so it lessens pain due to inflammation.
Caffeine is another content in black tea which helps to reduce mild pains. Because of caffeine, many people get relief from headaches with chai tea instead of using pills.
Also, women can drink chai tea to get relaxation from menstrual pain. Where cinnamon gives you relief from pain, ginger will soothe the menstrual cramps. Another pain reliever spice is clove. It helps to ease dental pain. All in all, all ingredients and black tea together is a magical and delicious remedy for alleviating pain.
Antioxidants
Black tea and the spices in chai tea are rich sources of antioxidants properties. It protects against numerous diseases in the body. Antioxidants can strengthen the cells in the human body, which will prevent many diseases, including cancer.
Camellia Sinensis plant, which is the source of black tea and other spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves, have antioxidants. A blend of all these ingredients will help your body maintain health.
Immunity booster
A strong immunity leads to a happy and healthy life because it can save you from many diseases. There are many supplements and tonics available in the market for strengthening immunity.
But a delicious masala tea can also helps you to have strong immunity. Black tea prepared with the concoction of some spices such as ginger, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, tulsi, and other spices can boost the immune system.
Health experts suggest taking vitamin C because it is beneficial to boost immunity. In tea, we get vitamin C from cardamom. You can add either green and black cardamom as both are good for your immunity.
Chai tea’s other powerful ingredient, ginger, strengthens immunity. It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities that can prevent the weakening of immunity.
Reduce nausea
You have read that chai tea treats digestive problems; it can also cure different types of nausea. Chai has some compounds that are useful to treat this condition.
A chai tea usually contains ginger, a potent ingredient efficient to treat nausea. Mostly chai has the prescribed amount of ginger that is enough to treat nausea.
Women during pregnancy time can use it to cure the symptoms of nausea. It is a natural way to treat this sickness. Cardamom, cinnamon, and black pepper also have antibacterial properties that might help you treating such illnesses.
How to make chai tea
Chai tea or masala chai tea is easier to make. Like other teas, we make it with boiled water. But milk is the main ingredient of chai. Without milk, chai is incomplete. For making chai tea, you can make the mixture of grounded spices at home, or we have made a pre-prepared masala tea mixture, which you can buy and make this process easier.
Ingredients
- Black tea
- Cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, black pepper, coriander seed (well-grounded)
- Ginger
- Star anise, fennel (optional)
- Milk
- Water
Recipe for chai tea
- Pour water into the saucepan.
- Add all the spices along with ginger and black tea.
- Boil it for 2-3 minutes, and add sweetener and milk.
- Simmer the gas and brew this for 3-4 minutes
- Strain the mixture and put it into a cup, and enjoy!
