Sipping on ginger flavored chai is an experience I look forward to at any time of the day. To add a zesty flavor to the mornings, to unwind and relax in the evenings or to help me stay awake at night and complete an important writing project, a cup of ginger chai is the perfect choice.
Masala chai, as we all know, may be prepared with one or a combination of several spices including cardamom, cloves, cinnamon etc. Ginger flavored, milky tea is in fact, a great favorite in many Indian households. The distinctive flavor that ginger adds to chai and its quality to be soothing and invigorating all at once is what I like the most about this spice in my tea.
The entire ritual beginning with brewing the tea and then enjoying it along with cookies, fried snacks, or other accompaniments is certainly a warming, nourishing and delicious experience. It begins with adding the loose tea to boiling water and then adding the milk and sugar, watching it all gradually mix and turn into a delightful hue. I use a little mortar and pestle to gently crush a small piece of ginger to infuse the flavor, though you could also grate a few pieces of ginger to be added to the chai. Then it is time to pour the aromatic and inviting chai into beautiful cups. Finally, the experience is complete when I sit down to enjoy sips of the ginger flavored tea between some light banter or just reminiscing about the days I would enjoy it in India, watching the blooming colors of the bougainvilleas outside the window and noticing the slight ruffle of the curtains in the breeze.
Ginger is beneficial for overall well-being and helps strengthen the immune system. It is known to ease an upset stomach, relieve sore muscles, is great for digestion, and has numerous other health benefits. Since the quantity of ginger used in ginger chai is small, even if you are sensitive to ginger there seems to be no serious side effect to this amazing tea experience.
