Who doesn’t love a good chai?

This would be our go to drink when we want to cosy up, relax and bliss the day away. Chai, the word for tea in India, supposedly dates back 5000 years and has many nourishing benefits for the body. Chai is anti-inflammatory, can help ease nausea, has a high anti-oxidant load and aids digestion! That gives you even more reason to drink it.

Our homemade chai mixture smells divine, tastes delicious and you really notice yourself relaxing after drinking it. We make our chai’s with almond milk or coconut milk and if you are feeling inclined go here to make your own almond milk. Chai is made using various combinations of spices and tea with the most popular blend starting with black tea and a blend of ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, black pepper and cloves. We don’t drink caffeine so we don’t use black tea. Instead we do one of two options 1) no tea or 2) we add Rooibos tea from South Africa which naturally has no caffeine. We also add some additional spices.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 3 tbsp organic ground cinnamon
• 1 tbsp organic ground cardamon
• 1 tbsp organic ground ginger
• 1/2 tbsp organic ground allspice
• 1/2 tbsp organic ground cloves
• 1/2 tbsp organic ground nutmeg

Here’s how to put it together:

1. Place all of the above ingredients into a small glass jar.
2. Close the lid tightly.
3. Shake well until mixed together.

Note: you can divide a small portion into a small glass jar and carry it with you so you’ll never be without your chai!

How to make your chai on the stove top:

1. Bring a saucepan of almond milk, coconut milk other nut or plant based milk or water to a slight boil.
2. Add 1 heaped tspn of your chai mixture per person and stir occasionally being careful not to boil the liquid to much.
3. Taste occasionally to make sure the spice is to your desired strength (Note: the longer it sits the stronger it gets!)
4. If you wish to have a sweet chai then add maple syrup or coconut sugar to your desired taste. If you want to sweeten with honey then add the honey when the heating is complete. Do not heat your honey.
5. When your desired strength and taste is reached remove the saucepan from the heat and pour into a mug. (Note: If you have added tea make sure you use a strainer to remove the tea leaves when you pour the chai into your mug.)

How to make your chai in you Thermomix:

1. Add 1 heaped tsp chai mixture per person to your mixing bowl
2. Add 400 mls of your favourite plant or nut based milk (equivalent to 1 tin)
3. If wanting a sweet chai add coconut sugar to taste here (do not add honey at this step)
4. Use veroma temperature
5. Set clock for 5 mins at speed 3
6. If you are wanting to use honey to make your chai sweet then add it once you are done with heating. Do not heat your honey.

Options:

1. Add a pinch of black pepper – at step 2
2. Add 1 tsp on loose leaf rooibos tea – at step 2
3. Add coconut sugar to taste – at step 2
4. Add honey to taste – at step 5

Enjoy making our chai mixture and having a mug when your done!