What Is Chai Tea?
Chai tea is available in most cafés, but it is equally simple…
…to prepare at home, whether from scratch, premixed tea bags, or a store-bought concentrate. In addition, chai tea has been connected to a number of health advantages. It may be served hot or cold, but we recommend drinking it warm to get the most out of its health benefits of chai tea.
Chai tea is a sweet and spicy tea with a fragrant fragrance. You could identify it as masala chai depending on where you’re from. However, for the sake of consistency, this essay shall refer to “chai tea” throughout. Chai tea is a blend of black tea, ginger, and other spices. Cardamom, cinnamon, fennel, black pepper, and cloves are the most common spices, but star anise, coriander seeds, and peppercorns are also popular.Chai tea is typically prepared using both warm water and warm milk, as opposed to ordinary tea, which is brewed with only water. It is also sweetened to various degrees. Chai lattes are another another popular way to drink tea. People make these by combining a shot of chai tea concentrate with steamed milk, resulting in a beverage with more milk than a regular cup of chai tea.
The Benefits Of Chai Tea
There are many reasons why people enjoy drinking chai tea. One reason that comes up often is how soothing it feels when sipping it in the morning. Another common benefit is that it helps with digestion because ginger aids in relieving stomach cramps. In addition, the spice content makes it great at combating nausea. Lastly, some believe that chai tea provides relief from headaches. All these claims have been backed by scientific research. Let’s take a look:
Soothing Aches And Pains
One study found that chai tea was effective against pain caused by arthritis. This means that if your joints hurt after exercise or during the day, then adding a cup of chai tea to your diet could help alleviate discomfort. Other studies suggest that chai tea has anti-inflammatory effects which make it beneficial for treating joint.
Boost Your Energy Levels
One study found that drinking two cups of chai tea before bedtime helped people sleep better because they were less likely to wake up during the night. This was attributed to the caffeine content. Another study showed that participants who drank three cups of chai tea each day had fewer nighttime awakenings compared to those who didn’t drink any tea. In addition, one cup of chai tea per day improved concentration and memory among older adults.
Improve Digestion
Research shows that ginger improves gastrointestinal function. A study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology discovered that consuming 1 gram of powdered ginger daily reduced stomach acidity while increasing gastric motility. Ginger also helps reduce nausea associated with chemotherapy treatments.
Reduce Inflammation
According to research conducted by scientists at Purdue University, turmeric contains compounds called curcuminoids that help fight free radicals and prevent them from damaging cells.
Relieve Headaches
A recent study suggests that drinking chai tea may relieve tension headache symptoms. The researchers concluded that this effect was due to the presence of an active compound known as vanillic acid. Vanillic acid is present in black pepper and cinnamon bark. However, other types of spices such as nutmeg contain similar amounts of vanillic acid so it isn’t clear whether just having a few drops of cinnamon on top of your chai tea will provide enough relief.
Chai Tea recipes
If you want to try making chai tea yourself, here are several different ways to do so. You’ll need a teapot and a strainer. To brew chai tea, heat about 3/4 cup of water over medium heat until boiling. Add 2 teaspoons of loose leaf chai tea leaves to the pot. Cover and let steep for 5 minutes. Remove lid and stir well. If desired, add sugar or honey to taste. Serve immediately. Alternatively, use pre-packaged chai tea concentrates instead of loose tea leaves. Simply follow package directions. For example, mix 4 ounces of concentrated chai tea with 8 ounces of boiled water. Stir thoroughly and serve. Finally, there are commercial brands of chai tea available. These include flavored varieties like vanilla and chocolate. Some even come in convenient single serving packets.
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