Where I am in time and space, it’s winter in the Pacific Northwest. This time of year, it is my favorite luxury to have some chai blends in the cupboard I can brew up in the evenings. When I’m winding down at the end of the day, I love brewing myself some tea–especially a warming herbal chai with oat milk and maple syrup. I’ll curl up with it in the low light of the rainy winter and watch movies until I fall asleep.
In this article, I’m going to give you the how-tos for creating your own special herbal chai blends. We’re going to go over herbs to include in your blends and how to make an herbal decoction. In the beginning of my herbal studies, these chai blends were what got me hooked on decoctions. So I’m giving you the inside scoop to make the medicinal blends yourself.
Before we begin, let’s talk about where chai actually comes from.
Disclaimer
This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat or diagnose any health conditions. There are no federal organizations to test herbal products or license herbalists, so the herbs discussed are not FDA regulated. All the herbs discussed in this article are generally regarded as safe, but you may have adverse interactions with particular herbs, just like we can all have reactions to different foods! And remember, your health is always your own responsibility.
A Quick History of Chai: A Symbol of Rebellion
Although the tea plant, Camellia sinensis, has been grown in India for hundreds of years, tea wasn’t a staple in Indian households until a couple hundred years ago. After the British gained control of Hong Kong in 1841, they turned to India to begin growing tea on a commercial scale and marketing tea to Indians. They launched a massive campaign strategy to get Indians hooked on tea–and it worked. Although Indians were hooked, tea was still an expensive commodity.
In the beginning, Indians would add milk, herbs, and spices to their tea in order to keep the costs of tea down. However, as the British continued their massive tea campaign throughout the country, many Indians resisted the new commodity since it served as a symbol of imperialism. Since so many Indians were hooked on the addicting substance, Indians began adding masala spices, milk, and sugar to their teas–against the approval of the Indian Tea Committee–to reduce the profit the British made on the tea trade in India.
And thus, the chai (which just translates to “tea”) became the warming, flavorful drink we all know today! Learn more about the history of chai here.
Making an Herbal Chai
When you look up chai recipes online, you’ll find a huge variety of options to choose from. Most of these blogs will try to sell you on the recipe being quick and easy. However, I’m here to give you an herbal chai recipe that’s loaded with medicinal benefits. First of all, there’s something really magical about working with a plant in a more whole form (as opposed to the powdered form). And second, when we work with the whole herb, we get to receive a world of medicinal benefits from working with those plants that we wouldn’t otherwise get in a quick chai mix.
In this article, I’m going to introduce you to a choose-you-own-adventure chai blend. This recipe will show you all of the options available to you for herbs to include in your chai and ways to prepare it. Because that’s what chai is–everyone has different needs and preferences and you deserve the ability to explore the world of chai flavors. And to do that, we’re making a decoction.
What is a Decoction?
When we make a decoction, we put a pot of water onto the stove with the herbs and simmer it for some time. Usually, a decoction is simmered for 20-60 minutes, but it can take longer. There are some reasons why we make decoctions with chai spices over infusions (where we’d pour the hot water over the herbs and let them steep). Chai spices are pretty tough and take a lot of energy to extract all the wonderful medicinal constituents (chemical compounds). By simmering these herbs, we get a lot more of that medicinal goodness from the plants.
Herbs to Include
Below is a complete list of my favorite herbs and spices I include in my herbal chai blends. As a reminder, this recipe is completely herbal and therefore caffeine free. If you’d like to make a chai blend that has caffeine, you can add black tea to the mix.
These are suggestions to include in a large chai blend that you can take out of the cupboard anytime you want to make a chai. In my kitchen, I have a few mason jars with different chai blends that I’ll take out from time to time. This recipe is intended to help you create these blends for yourself.
Also, because we are making a decoction, it’s best the herbs you include are not powdered but are, instead, whole. Making a decoction with powdered herbs doesn’t make a whole lot of sense because the purpose of a decoction is to pull that herbal excellence from the tough bark, seeds, and roots in the blend. So when you’re shopping for chai herbs, buy ’em whole!
Base Herbs
These are the herbs who are going to form the base of your chai blend. When you think of chai spices, you’re probably thinking of these herbs. You can add all or any of the following herbs to your blend and your chai teas will taste amazing. I recommend experimenting with different combinations of herbs to find out what you like!
- Cinnamon (verum or cassia; sticks or chips)
- Ginger
- Cardamom (hulled or in pods)
- Allspice
- Clove (just a few will be enough!)
- Fennel
- Star Anise
- Black Pepper
- Nutmeg
- Chaga, Reishi, or Turkey Tail
Herbal Extras
These herbs can be added to your blend to make your chai unique. You don’t have to add any of these herbs, but adding them could add fun and added medicinal tones to the blend. I don’t recommend adding more than a couple of these herbs to your blend, but you’re your own person! Do what you want!
- Orange Peel
- Dandelion Root
- Vanilla Beans
- Tulsi/Holy Basil (Vana, Rama, or Krishna)
- Astragulus
- Turmeric
- Rose (I prefer buds for my chai blends, but petals work, too!)
Learn More about the Chai Herbs
Each of these wonderful plants works with the body in different ways–each one is very medicinal. If you’d like to learn more about the properties of these plants, check out this article on the chai spices. This article could also help you create an herbal chai blend that works well for your particular constitution (your body’s particular energetic properties and tendencies).
Herbal Chai Decoction instructions
To make your herbal chai decoction, you’ll need a pot with a tight-fitting lid. Make sure the pot is non-toxic (we want to avoid aluminum and non-stick pots) like ceramic and stainless steel. I have a coated cast iron dutch oven I like to use for my decoctions but you can use anything with a lid! A lid is important because that’s what will keep the water (and the yummy herbal medicine in that steam) inside the tea.
Combine some water and the herbs in the pot. I like to add enough herbs so the water has a full layer of herbs floating on top. That’s the best amount to really get the medicinal benefit of the herbs. However, if you’re just looking to make your chai for enjoyment, you can add less. Bring the water up to a boil and then turn the heat down to a simmer. Let the water simmer anywhere between 20 minutes and two hours. For more medicinal benefits, let the blend simmer for longer.
Once that’s finished, you can strain some into a mug and add your favorite cream or non-dairy milk. I also like to add some stevia or maple syrup to sweeten it. You can put whatever you don’t drink into the fridge where it’ll last for about a week.
Herbal Chai Recipe Card
For your convenience, I’ve created this free recipe card for you to download. All you have to do is put your email address down below and your recipe card will arrive in your mailbox!
Summary
Curling up with a milky herbal chai in the evenings is one of my favorite ways to wind down–and now, you can do it, too. In this article, we went over the history of chai, what a decoction is, herbs to include in your blends, and instructions on making a chai decoction.
Do you have a favorite chai blend? Do you have herbs you like to include you don’t see here on this list? Share your thoughts and questions down below, I would love to hear from you!
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy a wonderful chai tonight!
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