It’s our inaugural guest recipe blog! So many of you have great recipes you’ve created – if you want to share your whole-foods and healthy recipes (especially the gluten-free, dairy-free ones), please reach out.
This recipe is really two-in-one: chai mix itself and then the drink you make with it. It’s simple, creative, and warms the heart. With a week left until Christmas, you still have time to make a few gifts to be enjoyed by loved ones over these upcoming winter months. Here Lauren Emond (@heart_appetit) shares her love of crafting homemade gifts, especially those including food!
“I may have ordered Chai from coffee shops over the years, but it wasn’t until I had a homemade cup of Chai, or Yogi Tea as she called it, offered by my Kundalini yoga teacher did I truly learn to slow down and enjoy this warm spicy beverage. After every class, she would pull out her mug of hot homemade Chai concentrate, and invite students to gather around in a circle and enjoy a cup.
Years later, I learned something new about Chai. In Hindi and many other languages spoken throughout India and Pakistan, “Masala” translates to spiced. “Chai” translates to tea. Therefore, masala chai is spiced tea. So Masala Chai, or Chai for shorthand, is one of the homemade gifts I like to make for friends and family.
I prefer to make a large batch so I can store it in my fridge and have a few cups throughout the week. This is what inspired my homemade gift for friends.”
Homemade Gift – Chai Mix
Ingredients for 1 quart of Chai:
- 1 T cardamom pods, crushed so they split open
- 2 tsp cloves
- 2 tsp of black peppercorns
- 2 cinnamon sticks (I prefer Ceylon Cinnamon)
- 1 black tea bag
- *1/2 tsp fennel
- *3 star anise leaves
- Mason Jar and ribbon to decorate
- Printed or handwritten instructions
*Optional
Add spice and black tea bag into a mason jar & add a ribbon or cloth to decorate. Include these instructions:
Homemade Chai
Makes 4 cups
- Remove black tea bag and set aside.
- Chop a 1 ½” piece of ginger root (washed and unpeeled)
- Add spices and ginger to a pot with 1 quart water.
- Bring to boil, then cover and simmer 60 minutes.
- Turn off heat, add tea bag and steep 5 minutes.
- Strain and store in a quart mason jar.
To serve, heat chai and add milk of choice and sweeten with maple syrup or honey.
onebitewellness 