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Herbal Tea | Herbal Chai

Indian Herbal Tea is made from herbs, ginger, cardamom and lemongrass. This Herbal Chai can definitely become your cup of goodness to begin a day with.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 57 kcal
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

  • 4 cups water
  • 3 to 4 teaspoons black tea powder (tea dust) or 3 to 4 black tea bags, optional - for using tea leaves, check notes no 2
  • 1 inch ginger for a milder taste and 2 inch ginger for a stronger flavor. it should be peeled, washed and either crushed or grated.
  • 2 to 3 green cardamoms - crushed or powdered in a mortar-pestle (optional)
  • 1 lemongrass stalk
  • 3 to 4 mint leaves
  • 3 to 4 holy basil leaves (tulsi) - optional
  • ½ to ¾ cup milk or soy milk, cashew milk or almond milk – add more or less as per your taste, optional
  • 8 teaspoons raw sugar or regular sugar or any sweetener of choice, add more for more sweetness

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In a kettle pan or saucepan, add the water. Peel the ginger and then crush the ginger and cardamom in the mortar-pestle. This is important otherwise you won't get the flavor of ginger and cardamom in the tea.
  2. Add the crushed ginger and cardamoms to the water.
  3. Add the lemongrass in the water. I usually cut it into many pieces. So chop them and add to the water.
  4. Also, add the mint leaves and holy basil leaves to the tea.
  5. Boil this water and herb mixture for 7 to 8 minutes or till the color of the water changes to a mild yellowish hue. This change of color of the water will be due to the ginger releasing its juices and flavors in the water.
  6. Add sugar or your preferred sweetener and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes more. You can choose to omit the sugar if you prefer.
  7. Now, add the tea powder or tea bags and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes or till the water gets a deep hue of red. Tea powder or tea bags can be omitted to make a herbal tisane.
  8. Add milk. Simmer the tea for 2 to 3 minutes if you are using regular milk or soy milk. Skip the milk if you prefer.
  9. If you are using almond milk or cashew milk, then just stir the milk with tea and remove from the kettle. Heating further would cause the cashew or almond milk to become slimy and split.
  10. Strain the Herbal Tea through a strainer right into the cups.
  11. Serve the Herbal Chai hot as is or pair with snacks.

Notes

  • Opt to skip tea leaves or tea powder and milk to make a herbal tisane. 
  • If using tea leaves, steep 3 to 4 teaspoons of the tea leaves for 2 to 3 minutes in the hot water instead of simmering. For steeping, add the tea leaves and switch off heat. Stir and cover the pan with lid. Steep the leaves for 2 to 3 minutes. Strain and serve as is or add preferred milk (hot) and sweetener of choice. 
  • Choose to add your preferred sweetener or skip it altogether.

Nutrition Information

Calories 57kcal (3%) Carbohydrates 11g (4%) Protein 1g (2%) Fat 1g (2%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 1g Cholesterol 4mg (1%) Sodium 24mg (1%) Potassium 81mg (2%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 9g (18%) Vitamin A 97IU (2%) Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 1mg Vitamin B6 1mg Vitamin B12 1µg Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Vitamin D 1µg Vitamin E 1mg Vitamin K 1µg Calcium 53mg (5%) Vitamin B9 (Folate) 2µg Iron 1mg (6%) Magnesium 11mg Phosphorus 35mg Zinc 1mg

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 57

% Daily Value*

Calories 57kcal 3%
Carbohydrates 11g 4%
Protein 1g 2%
Fat 1g 2%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 4mg 1%
Sodium 24mg 1%
Potassium 81mg 2%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 9g 18%
Vitamin A 97IU 2%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 1mg
Vitamin B6 1mg
Vitamin B12 1µg 42%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Vitamin D 1µg 5%
Vitamin E 1mg
Vitamin K 1µg
Calcium 53mg 5%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 2µg
Iron 1mg 6%
Magnesium 11mg 3%
Phosphorus 35mg
Zinc 1mg

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.