Tumeric- Chai recipe - Tumeric tea recipe - Kurkuma thee - Chai recept - Zelf Chai maken

About a year ago I ran into all this incredible information about the health benefits of tumeric (Dutch: Kurkuma) ~ Now I was already a big fan of Indian spices and curries, but learning all this new information inspired me to come up with some new tumeric-recipe's myself :D

For instance I just love - love - love - love Chai latte (Indian spice tea with milk) - it turned into a big hit in Amsterdam and around capital cities worldwide the past few years. More and more people are turning to this delicious heartwarming and divine liquid treat instead of the regular coffee or cappuccino while meeting up with friends in town :)

But how about treating your loved ones and friends to this recipe in your own home? Making your own chai (which in itself means 'tea' in many countries) is one of the most basic things in the East. Basically every household has an pot on the fire 24/7 brewing herbs and spices into their family-recipe of chai. Different parts of the East know different recipe's, some spicy, some mild, some with lots of milk, some with lots of sugar, some black and strong like coffee, some entirely based on spices and with no black tea in it what so ever.

The recipe I am about to share with you here will be - what I consider to be - a basic chai, but with the option to turn it into a super health-boosting drink by adding tumeric to the mix :) For me this kind of tea replaces the whish for drinking coffee - or can be like a soothing dessert-kind of drink before bed since it is free of caffeine :) It is literally heart warming containing delicious spices such as ginger and cloves :)
You may like to keep your body in superb shape, support a natural healing from a cold or more challanging disease, cleanse yourself of harmful toxins or significantly improve your overall health. All through a delicious tea you would likely be enjoying for the aromatic, luxurious qualities it possesses aside from the health benefits. It relaxes the body and eases the mind ~ what better drink to enjoy alone or with your loved ones at any given moment of the day? Also - if you close your eyes and take sip - you will feel yourself transported into Eastern spheres in no time - such bliss! In this picture I am enjoying a tea with a friend in a Yurt  (Mongolian tent) another friend of mine has set up as her second house and a base for womens retreats in the countryside of the Netherlands :) <3
Maybe it is just my happy imagination ;) But this is what drinking my Turmeric Chai recipe makes me feel like ~ it mentally transports me to a magical place where things are round, soft, friendly and beautifull, like this yurt ;)

Below the recipe you can find more about the astounding health benefits of Tumeric (anti-inflammatory, a strong ally in the treatment of cancer, digestion- and liver supporting) if you'd like to learn more about this yourself <3

 

INGREDIENTS (EN):

My basic CHAI RECIPE

- 1/2 dessertspoon star anis

- 1,5 dessertspoon ground cinnamon

- 4 to 7 whole cloves (to your liking)

- 1/4 TEAspoon (so very little) cardemom OR 4 whole cardemom seeds

- 1 teaspoon funegreek
- 2 dessertspoons ground ginger OR 1 inch of freshly grounded ginger root

To turn it into a TUMERIC CHAI also add:

- 2 dessertspoons (inbetween teaspoon and tablespoon)  ground Tumeric

and for extra healing power (optional) 

- a tiny pinch of ground black pepper 

(Dutch / NL) INGREDIENTEN:

Basis CHAI-RECEPT

- 1/2 dessertlepel steranijs

- 1,5 dessertlepel gemalen kaneel

- 4 tot 7 hele kruidnagels (naar smaak)

- 1/4 THEE lepel (dus heel weinig) cardemom OF 4 hele cardemom zaadjes

- 1 theelepel fenegriek
- 2 dessertlepels gemalen gemberpoeder OF 2,5 cm vers geraspte gemberwortel.

Om er een KURKUMA-CHAI van te maken voeg je hieraan toe:

- 2 dessertlepels gemalen kurkuma wortel

en voor extra krachtige werking (optioneel) 

- een klein snufje zwarte peper 

HOW TO MAKE IT

Right after adding the water to the dry spices this is what the mix looks like.

Making chai is the easiest thing in the world; just put all ingredients together with one litre of (if possible filtered or natural spring) water into a pan and bring to a boil. Let simmer on a low fire for about 10 to 20 minutes, the longer you leave it on the fire the more intens the flavour will be. Next turn down the fire and let sit for about 10 minutes so most of the spices will sink to the bottom of the pan. This is important because you dont want to clug up your strainer right away which will probably happen when you rush into straining the tea into a thermos (I know - I often tried haha). After letting it sit for 10 minutes pour the Chai patiently trough a strainer and into a pot or thermos big enough to hold your tea. This may take you a few 'sessions' / a few times of pouring and then waiting for it to drip through the strainer. I sometimes help it 'move through' by scraping a teaspoon over the bottom of the strainer (It is so in my star sign to want his to go faster then it would by nature haha) ;) The last bit on the bottom of your pan will probably be a thick layer of wet spices, almost like a curry. This you can either throw out or use as an addition to an actual curry ;)

Tumeric-Chai with and without nutmilk :)

Now your (Tumeric) Chai is done :)

HOW TO SERVE IT:

I like my chai best with a soy- or nut milk added to it. Don't worry if it doesn't dissolve as smoothly as any normal milk would - you may see some 'clouds' in the chai after adding any plant-based milk - this is normal ;) You can also drink it 'pure' but keep in mind this is strong stuff! When I am on my own I may drink 2 cups of this recipe per day- and a full 1 litre thermos will last me 3 days!

I usually just poor in half a cup of the Chai in a big glass, then fill up the other half with hot boiling water - and finally add a generous dash of nutmilk.
I personally never sweeten it - but it can be sweetened perfectly to your liking with for instance honey or coconut blossem nectar :)

Like with many recipe's I just move in and out of certain preferences - so I may drink the tumeric version a few times per month and then again the regular one or a home made macachino (maca cappuchino) or just a warm chai-nut milk - boiling the same spices along with a nut milk and drinking that after straining.

~ ꒰ღ˘‿˘ற꒱ ~

Now as promised the incredible background information I have collected for you guys :)

The Anti-Inflammatory Benefits of Turmeric Tea

Its effect on inflammation in the body are one of the main health benefits of turmeric. This specific tea has long been used to help with rheumatoid arthritis – an inflammation of the cartilage and joints. Turmeric additionally reduces the risk of infection and promotes healing with cuts and open sores, because it contains enzyme inhibitors for COX-2. This is a naturally produced enzyme that promotes swelling and pain in the event of cuts, infections, etc. It is this anti-inflammatory property that turns turmeric into a great cancer fighting agent – since it slows down the production of the cancerous cells. Cancer development is directly affected by inflammation. In fact sceince has concluded; chronic inflammation is leading cause of many cancerous development and growth. There has been done some amazing sceintific investigation using tumeric as an ally to fight head and neck cancer (link to medical journal about this and another one about using tumeric for healing other kinds of cancer) and to limit side effects of radiation therapy.

Turmeric Tea's Brain Health Benefits

Another health benefit is the prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer’s appears after a buildup of plaque, called amyloids on the brain. Turmeric has several enzymatic blockers that prevent beta-amyloid (the substance responsible for the plaque build up) from being formed, therefore slowing down the symptoms and allowing the brain to maintain its function. This means that while Alzheimer’s - as far as regular science goes - is neither curable or reversible, it can be slowed down and manageable with a little dietary help. Studies show that along with Alzheimer’s, turmeric could potentially help those that suffer from other disorders like multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease.

Tumeric Tea Digestive & Liver Health Benefits

Anti-inflammatory use is not the only turmeric health benefit. Digestion plays a big part in our overall feeling good. Our bodies immune function relies strongly on our digestive system working as it should. Turmeric stimulates the gallbladder, aiding in easing indigestion and heartburn. This is why in traditional medicine, it was also used to treat ulcers and gallstones. Turmeric actually acts as a liver flush – it removes toxins and bile from the liver’s system, making it function better and more efficiently.

HOW TO UP UP UP THE HEALING CURCUMIN EFFECT :)

If you want to experience the full effects of the curcumin element in tumeric, say in a process of healing from cancer or during cancer treatment - you best take an extract that contains significant amounts of curcumin. This is what sceince uses in the earlier mentioned cancer-treating investigations.
Also note that curcumin 'on its own' is poorly absorbed into the bloodstream.
It helps to consume black pepper with it, which contains piperine. This is a natural substance that enhances the absorption of curcumin by 2000% (!)
Also curcumin is fat soluble ~ so it may be an idea to take it with a meal that contains some raw coconut oil or cold pressed extra viegre oil(s) like a salad - or take it together with your Omegafats-supplement or simply as a tea with a creamy nutmilk like in the recipe above :)

Remember that of course - if you have any kind of chronic or acute problem with your stomach, gallbladder, liver, or in general - you want to naturally visit with your doctor before you start adding a strong pepper-ish turmeric tea to your every day diet ;)

For now - all else Id like to add is; my sweet dear fellow tea-lovers :)
Enjoy joy joy in the making and drinking of this golden silky and heavenly Chai :)


~ ꒰ღ˘‿˘ற꒱ ~


With loads of love and good vibes!!! :)

Wieteke