Homemade Chai Tea (a.k.a. Yogi Tea): A Wellness Drink

 Imagine, sitting nestled in a cozy blanket, a warm mug of chai tea in your hands. The rich smell enveloping you in it’s sweet and spicy embrace.  

This tea is made with natural spices steeped with black tea, sweetened with honey and topped off with a splash of milk. It is good for enjoying on a brisk day, can be iced to savor during the warmer months, and belongs in your arsenal for fighting off illness. A scone or muffin paired with a big cup of tea also makes for a wonderful breakfast or bedtime snack.

My family never fussed over sickness in my childhood home. We had natural solutions at home that we used, and if it got really bad, we would go to the doctor and get it checked out. My mom was a nurse before she became a mother. She always had a few tricks up her sleeve for kicking sickness. One of my favorites was a mug full of “yogi tea”. One of our neighbors had received the recipe from her yogi instructor (hence the name) and passed the recipe along to mom. It quickly became family favorite and for years not a week went by without mom filling our home with the spicy smell of this cherished drink. 

Once I went to college and started drinking chai tea, I realized that it was incredibly similar to what I grew up with. It’s probably why I spent a pretty penny and drank several each week. That familiar taste brought back a rush of memories and filled me with nostalgia. After working in a coffee shop and finding out the ingredients they added to the tea (and the insane amount of sugar) I figured I should cut back a bit. 

Now that I am a wife and mother it is a staple in our home as well. I have since carried on the tradition of brewing up a pot any time illness pops up in our home. The warmth and honey sooths a sore throat and lessens a cough. The spices steeped into the tea boost the immune system and lower inflammation. My husband loves to add a scoop of vanilla collagen powder (discount code below) to up the nutrient content even more. I try to always have a small stock pile of the ingredients on hand because you never know when you need a big cup of yogi tea.

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Chai Tea Ingredients 

It is always best to use whole organic ingredients whenever possible, but you can totally use ground spices in a pinch. I did run out cardamom pods once and add some of the ground cardamom from my spice cabinet because I didn’t want to wait for the pods to show up. It turned out just fine.

Cloves-

This sweet and aromatic spice is used for its medicinal properties and has been for years. It is high in antioxidants and has antimicrobial properties. Cloves are also frequently used for oral care and for promoting bone and liver health.

Cardamom pods-

This spice is what gives chai tea that signature flavor and is used across the world in both sweet and savory dishes. It has antibacterial properties and can help with controlling infections. Studies have been done to show that it could help in lowering blood sugar and inflammation. Cardamom pods can also improve oral, liver, and heart health. 

Black peppercorns-

The “King of spice” was the common name for black pepper back in the day and it makes sense when you look at the benefits it contains. It can detoxify the body, and due to the anti inflammatory properties it reduces joint pain. Along with a laundry list of other benefits it can naturally relieve pain and naturally increase the good bacteria in your gut!

Cinnamon sticks-

Did you know that cinnamon is actually bark from a certain type of evergreen tree which is commonly found in Sri Lanka? This incredible bark has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties! It contains compounds that can combat brain aging and supports gut health. Pouring hot water over a few lemon slices and a cinnamon stick makes for a super simple and effective tea as well.

Ginger-

As a warming spice this adds a layer of flavor and coziness to the tea. It is a powerful anti-inflammatory and has antioxidant properties. Many women use it to combat morning sickness because of its ability to aid in indigestion. 

Black tea-

The base to this beverage is the black tea. Because it contains a certain amino acid that binds with the caffeine it doesn’t cause the jitters that come with coffee.

Honey-

To sweeten our tea we always used honey, raw honey whenever possible. It’s a great source of antioxidants and phytonutrients along with its anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. It’s also very soothing for sore throats which is another reason we love to drink chai tea when fighting off a cold. I have used a small bloop of maple syrup or a touch of organic sugar if I ran out of honey. I try not to substitute just because I don’t want us missing out on the nutrients if at all possible. 

Milk-

This adds a sweet creaminess to the beverage. Whoever possible we use raw milk because of the immense nutritional benefits since raw milk is a living food. Any milk will work but may affect the flavor when using something like oat or almond milk. 

These spices tend to get a bit expensive, especially when buying organic. We try to buy in bulk when we can, and it has saved us so much in the long run. The initial investment in buying bulk is so worth it for our family. We recently stocked up on bulk cinnamon sticks, cloves, cardamom pods, and peppercorns. You may also be able to buy bulk at a local health food store!

Let’s get brewing! 

 

To start off, fill a teapot with of water and set it over medium heat.

Add in the peppercorns, cloves, sliced ginger, and cinnamon sticks to the teapot.

If using whole cardamom pods you will need to lightly crush them so they green pods crack. This releases the flavorful seeds inside the pod. Sandwiching the pods between the countertop and a steel measuring cup is a very quick and effective way to crack them. Once cracked add them to the tea pot.

Simmer for 45 minutes over low to medium heat. 

Add in the tea bags and gently simmer for another ten minutes. 

Strain out the spices and remove the tea bags if desired.

Serve with milk and honey to taste. 

Personally, when I make it I leave the tea bags and spices in the pot. Each morning for 5 days or so I add a cup of water before heating it up. This allows me to get the most out of my spices. 

To make it iced remove the tea bags and spices then add in honey and stir until dissolved. Store the tea in the fridge and serve over ice and top with milk. 

Print out this recipe and add it to your wellness arsenal or send to a friend! 

Yield: 6 Cups

Chai Tea (a.k.a. Yogi Tea)

Print

A sweet and spicy beverage for cold stormy nights and the first thing to reach for when illness visits your home. This tea is the definition of cozy.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 55 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

• 18 Peppercorns
• 12 Cloves
• 3 Slices of ginger
• 2 Cinnamon sticks
• 20 Cardamom pods
• 3 Black tea bags
• Splash of milk
• Honey to taste

Instructions

1. Pour 6 cups of water to a teapot and set it over medium heat.

2. Add the peppercorns, cloves, ginger, and cinnamon sticks to the teapot.

3. Crack the cardamom pods and add them to the teapot as well.

4. Simmer on low to medium heat for 45 minutes.

5. Add in the tea bags and gently simmer for another 10 minutes.

6. Strain the spices and tea bags if desired. Leaving them in the teapot allows them to continue to infuse flavor.

7. Add milk and honey to preference.

8. Any leftover tea can be left on the stovetop or stored in the fridge for 5 days.

Notes

~ If the spices and tea bags are kept in the teapot an extra cup of water can be added each time it is reheated. Just simmer for ten minutes before serving.

~ To make this recipe for summer strain off the spices and tea bags and add in honey to taste before storing in the fridge. To serve pour the sweetened tea over ice and top off with milk.

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