Healthy Recipe: Yogi Tea

Yogi Tea comprises a specific combination of spices, milk and black tea. Health-promoting, delicious, soothing and a great coffee substitute. Yogi Tea is easy to make from scratch. You can make a big pot full (without the milk), store it in the refrigerator. To make a cup of tea, just fill your cup tree-fourths with tea, add milk and pop in the microwave for a few minutes (or heat in a saucepan).

In the science of yogic food preparation, the spices are said to have the following properties: Black pepper: blood purifier; Cardamom: digestive aid; Cloves: nervous system and generate heat in the body; Cinnamon: bones; Ginger root: for colds, flue, physical weakness, digestion, increased potency. The milk helps in the easy assimilation of the spices and coats the stomach lining to avoid irritation there. 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
• ½ teaspoon black tea
• 3 cups milk (dairy or non-dairy)

Bring water to a boil in a 3-4 quart pot. Add cloves and boil for 1 minute. Add cardamom pods (to better release the flavour, crush or split the pods), pepper corns, cinnamon sticks and gingerroot. Cover and boil gently for 20-30 minutes. Add black tea.

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 honey to taste.

Enjoy!