Ayurvedic Chai Base
This recipe will create approximately 4 - 10 oz chais
One thing my girls will always tell you is that we love our ‘little treats’ when it comes to running errands. This is an ayurvedic chai recipe I have crafted that contains no syrups, only digestive supporting herbs and spices. While this recipe is delicious on it’s own, I did create several other iterations that alter the flavor slightly. If I am really needing digestive support, I will sprinkle some fresh cracked black pepper and/or add a sprinkle of cayenne pepper. As a person who does not deny myself joy in any capacity, I also created a simple whipped cream recipe that I add to my chai each morning. While at my local spice store recently, I purchased some cinnamon sticks and vanilla for my chai. You can make this a chai tea by adding some black tea during the heating process, or make it a dirty chai by adding some coffee if that’s your jam. It’s about creating joy and intentionality with your ingredients to make it your own to suit to your tastes. The goal of Ayurveda is doing what makes you feel good. So I say, go ahead… inject some more joy into your mornings with this delicious and digestive supporting beverage you can feel good about drinking each day. The flavors will become more potent the longer the mixture sits. Keep that in mind when creating to store the base mixture.
You can even prep the chai base and throw it in the fridge for a couple days to reduce the amount of prep time needed each morning, just heat up and take with you on your journey.
Let me know if you’ve tried the recipe, or what you think would be some fun additions. I’d love to see you create your own version!
Chai Base Ingredients:
5-6 cups water
1/2 tsp ground cardamom
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
4 whole cloves
a few slices of fresh ginger discs (just peel and cut into thin chunks - this does add that ginger ‘heat’ so use to your liking as guided by your tastes)
2-3 tsp honey
Chai Optional Ingredients:
sprinkle some cayenne pepper for some spice
Black peppercorns
cinnamon sticks
vanilla
Whipped Cream
black tea bags
coffee
Whip Cream Ingredients:
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
3 tbs honey
splash of vanilla
sprinkle of cinnamon
Instructions:
Place the water into a pot and begin heating to a boil. While the water is warming, peel and slice your fresh ginger (if you’re using it) & add to the pot. If you’re using cinnamon sticks, you can add those too now. I use 2 - 3 inch sticks.
Add cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, vanilla (optional) and ground ginger. Stirring occasionally
Once your chai is at a rolling boil, give it a good stir and at this point you can shut the heat off. At this time we are letting the mixture sit for a few minutes to extract the most flavor and gut benefits from the spices. If you’re making a chai tea, you will add the black tea at this point.
While the chai is extracting, place your whip ingredients into the blender or whisk until you reach the consistency of whip you’re looking for.
In your glass or coffee mug, place the honey, and add the completed whip on top.
Pour your Chai base over the honey and whip cream.
Stir & enjoy!