What is Chai Tea?

What is Chai tea? According to Hindu tradition, the Chai tea (Masala Chai) has its origins in emerging kingdoms of South Asia, what we know today as India, about 9000 years ago, when a king purifying created this drink as a remedy in traditional Ayurvedic medicine.

The history

Initially, the Masala Chai was just a mixture prepared with many spices known as "hot", among which are cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, star anise and ginger infusion It is traditionally sweetened with brown cane sugar called jaggery. In certain areas, such as western India, is not used anise and pepper, the drink preparation itself are made from almonds, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and saffron.

Originally this drink not included tea leaves, so it did not contain caffeine and served hot or cold as a remedy for minor ailments. The inclusion of black tea leaves Masala Chai occurred around 1830, with the beginning of the struggle against British Chinese monopoly on tea, action originated from a calculation made on the high consumption of tea Britain, which proved to be of a pound per person annually. With the start of the British plantations in Assam, India, around 1935, they decided to include black tea in the mix as part of their usual, this generated almost exclusively for export product, as for native was expensive and difficult to consume.

According to huffingtonpost. In 1870, around nineteenth percent of total tea consumed in Great Britain are came from China, but into the 1900s this percentage had fallen to 10 percent, the difference in numbers was in large part by the new tea plantations, grown 50 percent in India and 33 percent in Ceylon.

In the early twentieth century, an aggressive campaign of the Tea Association of India (British owned) encouraged the local textile industry, mining and mostly to provide their workers rest periods that would include a black tea. This was served in true English style, with cold milk and sugar to taste, since initially the Association rejected the style of wallahs Chai, who made her drink with a higher proportion of milk and sugar, as this reduced consumption per capita tea leaves, and therefore purchase.

This ended in the 60's, when the CTC System (crush, tear, curl), a mechanized system for the production of tea which lowered costs, was introduced making the use of black tea in the Masala Chai and Hindus became popular appreciate the combination abiding sweetness, giving milk body and accentuates the flavor of the spice mixture, which eventually consummate not only as a popular drink in the British dominions but beyond its borders.

Nowadays, the Chai tea is the traditional drink of India and an important part of their daily diet; they serve as entertainment for the guests as their snack and 4 in the afternoon, accompanied by salty snacks like samosas, pakoras, farsan (Gujarati snacks). It is estimated that in some regions the inhabitants take 4 cups of Masala Chai during the day.

Today we find two variations, one with green tea, which comes from Kashmir and the second, which is a version with more westernized - South African rooibos (red tea), which makes this drink without caffeine.

What is in Chai tea and its benefit? 

Originally the properties of Masala Chai are:

Black tea

It helps prevent heart attacks, good for blood circulation and contains a high level of antioxidants.

Cardamom

It has many digestive properties and acts as a mouth freshener. It is diuretic, anti-gas and anti-nausea. When taken on a "Malasa Chai", cardamom mucous inhibits properties of milk.

Clove

Clove is great for chills, lethargy, depression and obesity. It contains properties that help digestion and neuromuscular disorders.

Ginger

Ginger is known as herb that can help us to deal migraines. It contains digestive toxins that help victims of rheumatism or rheumatoid arthritis. It is also used as an aid for colic, flu and laryngitis.

There is no single recipe, this can vary by family or region, but the easiest to prepare a Masala Chai (500 ml) boiling method is a quarter of milk with 3/4 parts water, 2 tablespoons of black tea 1 teaspoon ginger, 1 cinnamon stick, 4 cardamom seeds and 3 cloves. It is recommended not boil a long time because it generates a bitter taste. At the end we sweeten it with honey or brown sugar and ready to enjoy the traditional Indian drink.

Chai tea is an unexpected blow to our taste buds, takes us from the mild to strong, from calm to fierce. With all its features and qualities it becomes a delightful and soothing drink that you can make, and enjoy at home or at tea shop as Chai latte.

How to Make Chai Tea (Easy Steps)

How to make your own Chai tea - Chai tea, or Masala Chai, existed since time immemorial in India. The story goes that in each region you may added your own spices. Thus, each new ingredient was medicinal providing flavor and properties to the mix, which today it is said that in addition to energizing is exhilarating.

Chai Tea Latte

According to legend, the history of Masala Chai begins 5,000 years ago in a former Hindu kingdom. These legends have a king created as a drink Ayurvedic cleansing. Even in ancient times the Chai was made with a variety of species and prepared in many different ways.

This rich energizing beverage is an alternative to start your day, in its different versions; you may drink it with or without milk.

This tea preparation based on a special mixture of spices and intense, it is the most popular drink in southern India because it has rich flavor and revitalizing properties. And today we are going tell you how to prepare it.

The best known of this spiced tea recipe includes; black tea, ginger, cinnamon, vanilla, poppy, cardamom and cloves. But there are many variations, according to the taste of each person. The most popular versions are alone or with milk (Chai latte).

Chai tea ingredients:

• 8 black tea bags, paper or 4 teaspoons of black tea leaf
• 8 cardamom pods
• 8 black peppercorns
• 8 cloves
• 3 star anise
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• Half grated nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons of fresh ginger (peeled and thinly sliced)
• 1 whole vanilla pod and the seeds reserved
• 6 cups hot water
• 6 cups milk
• Sugar or honey to taste

Recommendations: Our advice is to buy good quality spices and whole.

Instructions

The first step to make your own Chai tea, is to gently crush the spices to release its aroma easily, but do not do it too fast. All spices are then boiled in water for 10 minutes over low heat and at the end you add the milk (if you want it), black tea and sugar.

You can intervene, according to your taste. The longer boil spices, the stronger flavors of Chai, some people leave the process for half an hour. If you do not want to use cow's milk, you may replace it with soy milk or almond milk. You can also change the type of sugar and use brown sugar, black or even a touch of honey.

Then let stand 5 to 10 minutes. After that you can strain and start to drink it your.

Japanese Tea Ceremony

Japanese Tea Ceremony - Japan is a very ceremonious country and keeping their ancestral traditions carefully. The tea ceremony is a long, slow and ritual with several stages, in which the guests and the host form a whole.

It is much more than a simple meeting for tea, we might think as foreigner, it is a set of movements, attitudes and repackaged around tea, which confer an aura of important spirituality.

The tea house

The garden and tea house, are both essential for a perfect Japanese tea ritual. At the beginning, you will stay for tea inside the main house, but you will also involved in separate room.

In Japan, these houses are called Sukiya, with few decorations stay to not distract attention. Commonly, this house consists of a driveway, roji; a waiting room, yoritsuki; another room for the preparations, mizu-ya; and the main room itself, cha-shitsu. All of this is located; usually surround a lush garden that called "tea gardens".

Stages of the Japanese tea ceremony

The tea ceremony can develop in several different ways, such as times, season, and the purpose. But in general, in shortened form, it consists of the following phases:

1. Kaiseki: The host serves a light meal

2. Naka-dachi: intermediate pause

3. Goza-iri: The main phase, the host serves the green tea, the koicha.

4. Usucha, the end of ceremony. In this stage, a lighter tea is served.

The complete ceremony usually lasts 4 hours, although sometimes it simplifies, going directly to the phase usucha.

How is the Japanese tea ceremony performed?

Guests gather in a waiting room, and then they go to the garden. In the garden, they wait until it reaches the host and greet them with a bow. Then, before they entering the main tea house, the guests have to wash their hands and mouth with water in a stack.

They enter the room, as a position of humility, respect and equality among all participants. There will be a niche, where there are placed a roll of calligraphy with a thought or a wise, and a fireplace or stove.

The host served light meals, called kaiseki. At the end, the host puts more charcoal in the stove and offers candy. After this, guests pass the garden to pause, naka-dachi, and wait in a bench. Later, the sound of a gong, will tell them that they must return to the tea room.

The place is now more enlightened, as they have withdrawn the reed blinds of the windows, and the roll of calligraphy has been replaced by a vase of flowers. The containers for tea are all placed in their proper place.

Next to the fire with the tea, it is the vessel with water and tea cup, chaired, with a cloth cover. At that time the host begins to use utensils as they will need them.

When, the process of thick tea (Koicha) was end. Guests will take the cup, one after another, and drink slowly, cleaning at the end of the edge with a damp cloth. This part of the ceremony is concluded by this.

In the last part you can chat since it is the less formal of all phase. Before the lighter tea, usucha, are served. When the session ended, the guests leave the place and the host just sits on his stay, enjoying the silence for a moment.

The path of tea and Zen culture

There are many types of tea, but most of all Japanese used the green tea, usually in powder called matcha.

The preparation and taking of the type of tea was transformed into the path of tea (chado), which is a way for learning and self-knowledge. Currently the form is practiced by the tea master Sen no Rikyu, who quoted 4 principles: harmony (wa) respect (kei), purity (sei), and tranquility, jaku.

Once you get the 3 first principles, wa, kei, and sei, you will find an inner peace, kaku.

Zen experience is the central point of the path of the tea. One of the reasons why there are no striking objects in the tea house is, it will only distracted the attention and the focus of the presentation, as I mentioned earlier. 

The experience of watching a tea ceremony is an opportunity to witness of a long process of learning, where tea is interspersed into a spiritual experience filled with meticulousness, serenity and peace til the end.

Can Chamomile tea benefits sleep?

Can Chamomile tea benefits sleep? The current trend is to return to nature, well-being find through the vast amount of natural resources that can provide for our welfare. And in the case of insomnia problem, natural remedies are increasingly appreciated against the dubious benefits of another treatment. One of the most used natural treatments for sleep is Chamomile tea.

The benefits of having enough sleep

Sleeping is an activity we do every day, not only because we like our body but also because it asks us, and in return, we get positive results for our health and mind.

Sleep well is meant to enjoy good health, despite the frenetic pace of modern life, sleep is a basic need that must not deviate. Health experts state some benefits of adequate sleep include: improve your memory, reduces stress, controls your appetite, improve your mood, increase concentration, replace your energy, etc.  Above all, having enough sleep will improve our quality of life.

Chamomile tea benefits sleep

This tea is presented as one of the best natural remedies for insomnia for its relaxing and calming properties. More often it takes infusion, which will invites you to create a bedtime ritual. Get comfortable, forget the problem of the day and enjoy a relaxing Chamomile tea.

For all the benefits of Chamomile to sleep there maybe a trick that we love because it involves a relaxation before bed time. Expert in home remedies for insomnia say; they do drink Chamomile tea in a larger container than the usual cup and add to bath water has a calming effect enormously.

Obviously, the Chamomile tea benefits sleep is not as immediate as it can be that of any other treatment, but it has no side effects and contraindications if we consume it properly. Its benefits are seen against insomnia best if we used Chamomile regularly, it will increase our sleep quality. Before long, it will reduce nervousness and tension.

Other benefits of Chamomile plant

Researches state that this plant is not only used for insomnia. This is one of those that are not lacking in any home that is intended to problems and ailments of all sorts’ plants. As a magic elixir, the Egyptians considered chamomile as an essential health, highlighting its use in infections and skin irritations.

Conventional wisdom recommends chamomile for stomach problems and to relieve the discomfort of menstruation for its effects as a muscle relaxant. It also has antibacterial properties and strengthens the immune system and asthma cases are very effective inhaling fumes chamomile.

5 Amazing Benefits of Chamomile Tea

The benefits of Chamomile tea has long been discovered for a long time ago, because this tea has been used for several remedy through the ages. It has so many health benefits and has no side effects if we consume it properly. However, its use is not recommended during the first trimester of pregnancy or if you have allergic to daisies.

You may have the amazing benefits of Chamomile tea with regular use. Taken moderately can be used for an indefinite period of time without any problem. However, if you go to surgery is recommended to stop taking chamomile two weeks earlier, as this herb may cause bleeding condition.

It used externally to relieve tired eyes and reduce dark circles. It is common to see two sachets models get cold chamomile tea over the eyes to reduce swelling.

Also, this tea has traditionally been used to relax muscles and relieve menstrual pain.

Here are the common uses of Chamomile tea related to health condition according to health experts:

1. Effective treatment for insomnia
2. Help digestive problems
3. Anti Inflammatory
4. Diuretic
5. Reduce stress and depression

What is Chamomile tea good for?

To promote sleep

Chamomile tea relaxes a person enough, so you can sleep better. However, this herbal tea is not a cure for insomnia. If you have insomnia problems, you may try any other solutions.

Improving our digestion

Like mint, ginger, fennel and parsley, chamomile helps digestion. Unlike other herbal teas, chamomile has a flavor that almost everyone likes.

In addition, it is also good for relieving mild nausea. But if you are pregnant, talk to your doctor before you consume it, it is because the use of chamomile is not recommended during pregnancy.

Others digestive problems that are relieved gas such as, diarrhea, bloating and stomach pains.

To reduce puffy eyes

Put chamomile tea bags over the eyes for a folk remedy which deflate your beauty. But it is not recommended to use if you have allergies to certain plants because it may cause more irritation.

Relieving stress and anxiety

Another amazing benefit of Chamomile tea is effective in treating anxiety and nervousness, as it serves as a natural painkiller. Drinking this tea will helps us to relieve feelings of overwhelming fear, panic and fatigue, as it promotes relaxation without excessive sedation.

To ease the pain of menstruation

For its anti-inflammatory properties, chamomile tea is very good for relieving cramps caused by inflammation in the ovaries during the menstrual period of women. This remedy works best if you start to drink tea with a little honey, a few days before menstruation occurs. But for the recommended amounts, please consult a professional or your personal doctor.