Chai Tea – balancing for all 3 doshas

Excerpted from Ayurvedic Cooking for Self-Healing
by Usha and Dr. Vasant Lad

Always want to make a perfect cup of dosha balancing chai. Here’s how:

INGREDIENTS

3 cups water
4 cloves
2 pinches nutmeg, ground
2 pinches cinnamon, ground
1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger, chopped fine
1 tsp black tea
1 cup milk
2 tsp sugar, Sucanat, or other sugar

PREPARATION

• Boil the water with the spices for 2 minutes.
• Add the tea and simmer for 2 minutes.
• Add the milk and heat until hot but not boiling.
• Add sweetener and serve.
• You may vary the amounts of milk and sugar according to taste and dosha. Of course, increasing milk and / or sugar can provoke kapha, so take care.
  
  If you use caffeinated tea, the cardamom will help neutralize the effects of the caffeine.