Ayurvedic Warming Herbal Tea (Masala Chai) Recipe for Fall – Vata Season:
Use organic ingredients whenever possible!
4 cups of water
1 inch of fresh ginger, grated
1 cinnamon stick
8 cardamom pods
1/2 piece of star anise
4 whole cloves
2 black peppercorns
1/2 vanilla pod, sliced lengthwise (optional)
Bring all to a boil and simmer rapidly for 10 minutes. Lower the heat and add:
1 cup of milk (optional; fresh raw organic dairy or homemade almond milk is best)
Sweetener to taste (coconut sugar, or stevia if you are sugar-free)
Simmer for one more minute. Strain and enjoy!
This recipe is based on the principles of Ayurveda. The fall season in the northern hemisphere is cold and dry, which can aggravate vata dosha. These spices are warming and nourishing to vata dosha. The milk adds a fatty, heavy quality that is grounding. If you need to omit milk for some reason, try adding a bit of ghee.