Coffee Alternatives

Chai

Chai Tea or Masala Chai is a spiced tea originating from India. The tea is brewed with a mixture of fragrant herbs and spices.
In South Asia, chai refers to plain tea, whereas English speaking countries know chai as the spiced tea, formally called Masala Chai. Cafes and coffee shops make chai latte by flavouring the steamed milk with spiced tea. Some also include espresso in the Chai Tea Latte and refer to this as dirty chai or “turbochaiger”.
The spices typically include cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, star anise, peppercorn and cloves. Other possible herbs and spices include liquorice root, nutmeg and rose flavouring.
Chai can be made with green tea, which usually includes almond, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and saffron flavourings).
Chai tea is available in supermarkets as an instant mix or liquid concentrate.
Here are some benefits of the herbs and spices included in Chai Tea:

Cardamom

• an intense aromatic fragrance with a strong, unique taste
• used to treat teeth and gum infections
• prevents and treats sore throats
• aids lung congestion
• pulmonary tuberculosis
• inflammation of eyelids
• digestive disorders
• breaks up kidney stones and gall stones

Cinnamon

• a delicious aromatic spice
• stimulates circulation
• acts as a nerve tonic
• prevents and resolves flu, colds, catarrh and other infections
• helps to reduce fevers
• energizes
• warms
• relaxes
• reduces anxiety and stress
• relives cramps and colic
• warms and stimulates the digestive system

Ginger

• a pungent and warming herb
• stimulating effect on the heart and circulation
• creates feelings of warmth and wellbeing
• restores vitality
• helps fevers and catarrh
• expels phlegm and relieves coughs and chest infections
• aids digestion
• invigorates the stomach and intestines
• stimulates appetite and
• enhances digestion
• moves stagnation of food and subsequent accumulation of toxins
• enhances immunity
• relieves nausea and vomiting
• settles the stomach
• calms wind
• relaxing and pain-relieving effects
• relieves abdominal pain, flatulent indigestion and griping caused by diarrhoea
• promotes menstruation, useful for delayed and scanty periods as well as clots
• relieves painful ovulation and periods
• invigorates the reproductive system
• inhibits clotting and thins the blood
• lowers blood pressure and cholesterol

Star Anise (also known as star aniseed, badiane, Chinese star anise)

• this spice is made from a star shaped fruit which is harvested just before ripening
• helps rheumatism
• aids digestion
• helps relive cold-stagnation
• warming

Peppercorns

• a hot, woody, citrusy, floral spice to flavor
• the fiery spice stimulates energy and enhances vitality
• it has long been used along with other peppers to increase sexual energy and fertility and to prolong life

Cloves

• primarily a culinary herb
• stimulates and warms
• lifts the spirits
• relaxes tension
• increases energy
• acts as a tonic and antispasmodic to uterine muscles, preparing them for childbirth

Liquorice Root

For benefits of Liquorice Root in tea, see Liquorice Tea

The herbs and spices in Chai Tea act to warm and revitalize the body, making a fantastic alternative to coffee.