Karyn’s Famous Ayurvedic Chai Tea Recipe for Longevity

•  1.5 cups of fresh finely chopped organic ginger root

• 8 Star anise

• 1/8 cup black pepper corns

• 8 large ceylon cinnamon sticks, gently crushed

• 1/2 small whole nutmeg, gently crushed

• ½ tsp organic vanilla bean powder

• 1/8 cup whole fennel seeds

• 1.5 heaping tablespoons whole cloves

• ¼ cup cardamom pods, gently crushed

• 1/8 cup rose holy basil

• Between 7-8 quarts of filtered water

• ¼ cup of nut milk or goat milk or cow milk

 Using between 7-8 quarts of filtered, pure water, bring all ingredients to a gentle boil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes, until all ingredients sink to the bottom and liquid turns a dark color. Strain and pour. Option: Pour tea thru a tea strainer with 1 tsp of black organic darjeeling tea or decaffeinated rooibos ¾ of the way full. In a separate small pan, simmer ¼ cup of organic nut-milk, cow or goat milk on medium heat for 5 mins. Use a milk frother to froth the milk. After your tea has steeped for 5 minutes. Add raw honey (stored in a glass jar) to your teacup to taste, then add the milk froth & gently stir. Sprinkle cinnamon powder on top. Bless. Sip slowly with deep gratitude. Allow your remaining chai tea in the saucepan to cool to room temperature before putting it in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to one week.

 Medicinal Properties of Chai:

 Fresh raw ginger root: Melts toxins, fat, mucus, anti-inflammatory, sedative, ignites digestive fire, anti-viral.

 Star anise: Anti-bacterial, yeast & fungus, removes bloating & gas. Strengthens respiratory tract infections, cough & bronchitis. Good source of shikimic acid, which is used in the manufacture of oseltamivir (Tamiflu), a flu treatment. 

 Black pepper corns: Anti-inflammatory, melts mucus, toxins, antioxidant, lowers cholesterol, increases metabolism & is nutrient dense.

 Cinnamon: Antioxidant, regulates diabetes, digestive disorders, respiratory problems, menstrual pain, toothache, cancer, prevents Alzheimers, fights brain fog & memory, removes bad breath & stiffness in joints & is nutrient dense.

 Nutmeg: Opiate-like properties, relieves depression, regulates cholesterol, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, boosts libido, removes pain and insomnia.

 Vanilla bean powder: Removes fever, aphrodisiac, removes bloating, mood regulator, high in magnesium, calcium & potassium.

 Fennel Seeds: Regulates blood pressure, purifies blood, removes gas, aids digestion, sooths stomach upset, supports female reproduction, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, removes blood clots, increases milk for lactation, regulates diabetes, removes acne, antifungal & improves eyesight.

 Clove: Highest ORAC points of all spices (antioxidant), removes parasites, yeast, bacteria, fungus, cancer, toxins, removes pain, especially tooth-pain & ignites digestive fire.

 Cardamom pods: Stimulates digestion, effective against strep throat, yeast, bad breath, diuretic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, aphrodisiac, regulated urinary tract infections, removes headache, poor circulation & constipation.

 Holy Basil (tulsi): Antidiarrheal, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-tussive (treats coughs). Protects liver, brain and heart.