Herbal teas are a delicious way to get the goodness of herbs on a daily basis. The downside is they only last a few days in the fridge and aren’t as shelf-stable as other options. This chai honey recipe, though, is a convenient way to have honey chai tea whenever you want, without gathering a bunch of spices every time.
I love herbal honeys and use them for herbal teas, marinades, and even to help with sleep. They last for about a year and don’t need to be refrigerated. For this chai honey recipe, all you need is a spoonful of chai infused honey and some warm liquid to make a tasty drink.
The Afternoon Slump
Many reach for an afternoon coffee or chocolate bar to keep their energy up during the day. Chai honey makes a great afternoon pick me up, without all the refined sugar. Raw honey provides a boost of energy, while the spices increase circulation and decrease inflammation for better brain performance.
The herbs and spices in your cabinet are so valuable when it comes to upping the health factor in your home. Let’s take a look at the spices in this herbal chai recipe.
Chai Honey Tea on the Go
It’s hard to find healthy options on the road when we’re looking to conventional grocery stores and big chain coffee shops. Whether you’re camping in the woods or traveling highways, a jar of chai honey is a quick way to get a tasty hot drink. Bring a jar along with you on the trip and all you need is some warm water to turn it into honey chai tea. I love that you can whip up a big batch of herbal chai in advance and just make a cup of instant chai whenever you want.
Chai Spices
Traditional chai originated in the region of India thousands of years ago and has evolved over the years. Different regions use slightly different spices, but in general warming herbs are used. Not only do warming spices increase circulation and boost brain health, but they improve digestion and flush out excess mucus. Let’s take a look at the spices in our chai honey recipe...
Cinnamon
This spice can be found in many common foods, from the classic apple pie to oatmeal at breakfast. Cinnamon provides energy and helps us digest fatty or cold foods, especially dairy – a mucus producing food. It has the same effect on mucus from colds and flu, helping relieve cough and congestion. I like reaching for cinnamon during illness because it’s also antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral. It helps break up mucus and get it out of the body. For women, it helps to relax the uterine muscles for less painful periods.
Coriander
If you’ve ever grown cilantro, then you’ve also grown coriander. This is the seed of the cilantro plant and it has a lemony taste that brightens up dishes and drinks. It’s not found as often in many conventional chai mixes, but it blends so well with the other chai spices to create unity. Like cinnamon, coriander aids digestion issues of all kinds. Hippocrates reportedly said that all disease begins in the gut, and we see the evidence of this all around us. Spices like coriander help restore digestion and improve gut health. This brings the body back into balance, fighting inflammation and disease. Coriander is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and an antioxidant. It helps calm spasms and soothes the nervous system.
Clove
The tantalizing spicy smell of clove creates a welcoming environment. I put a pinch in my dandelion mocha recipe and use it in both savory and sweet dishes alike. Like the other spices featured here, clove is antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and aids digestion. Clove helps expel mucus, provides a mild numbing effect for pain, and is popular for toothaches. Dairy-rich foods, like a creamy honey chai tea, can make us feel phlegmy and congested. Clove helps combat this issue and opens the sinuses.
Cardamom
Another honey chai tea favorite, cardamom adds a spicy, earthy flavor to the drink. It’s also a warming spice that dispels dampness and improves digestion. Cardamom is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and a tonic spice. It helps relieve spasms and soothes the nervous system.
Ginger
Ginger gives pep to pumpkin pie, gingerbread cookies, and homemade ginger ale. It works wonderfully in this chai honey recipe. Ginger improves digestive complaints, especially all things nausea related. Ginger is truly the wonder spice and tackles issues from flu and sore throat to menstrual cramps and pancreas health.
Black Pepper
Last but not least we have black pepper. Found in restaurants and homes across the globe it’s become as common as salt. Black pepper is anything but common though and has been a prized spice for thousands of years. A little sprinkle on food aids digestion, stimulates circulation, and drains congestion.
So, open up that spice cabinet. Blending these common spices is surprisingly simple and you’ll love this satisfying and delicious herbal chai recipe!
Chai Honey
Recipe from Kami McBride author of The Herbal Kitchen
Ingredients
2 cups raw honey
3 tbsp cinnamon
2 tbsp coriander
1 1/2 tsp clove
1 1/2 tsp cardamom
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp black pepper
Instructions
1. Combine all ingredients and stir well
2. Store in a sealed glass jar
Honey Chai Tea
Ingredients
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup milk (raw milk or almond milk)
1 tbsp chai honey
Instructions
1. Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan and heat until very warm, stirring the mixture to combine
2. If you’re using raw milk and don’t want to heat it, then start with the honey and water on the stove. Once the tea is hot, turn off the heat and add the milk.
3. Serve immediately and enjoy warm.
Kami McBride is the author of The Herbal Kitchen and online courses that help you build confidence and skills to use herbs in your daily life for prevention and herbal self-care. Kami’s 30+ years of teaching herbal medicine is steeped in inspiring a culture that embraces taking care of our bodies with healing herbs, a deep connection with the earth and a lifestyle that passes this knowledge on to our children. Kami has taught herbal medicine at University of California San Francisco School of Nursing and has helped thousands of families learn to use herbs with confidence in their home herbalism. Here is a free handout from Kami on 5 kitchen spices that turn meals into medicine: https://kami-mcbride.com/5-kitchen-spicesKami can be reached at www.KamiMcBride.com
