Masala chai comes from India. Actually, it is black tea with a few aromatic herbs added to it. Because of this, every serving of this unique tea comes with an assortment of health benefits. You can get your hands on some masala chai tea bags from your favorite Asian grocer or health food store, or you can brew it from scratch which is more exciting.
This Indian beverage is also sometimes referred to as “spiced tea”, and that pretty much sums up its flavor. Many people say that it definitely tastes far more interesting than ordinary black tea. For those who find masala chai to be too overpowering, they may sweeten it with sugar. Sometimes a little bit of condensed milk may be added.
Black tea, just like what’s mentioned earlier, is brewed together with a total of 5 different spices, each one of them very popular in Indian cuisine. Also, every single one of these spices has its own respective health benefits to offer. Below we will enumerate these spices added to black tea in order to produce a serving of masala chai:
- Ginger. A well-known remedy for indigestion, ginger is also respected for its ability to control pain and inflammation, as well as strengthen the immune system. It’s proven to lower blood pressure, too.
- Black peppercorn. This very common culinary spice is capable of killing off bacteria so it’s very good at keeping infections at bay. What’s more, it’s commonly employed to promote better digestion.
- Cardamom. Just like black peppercorn, cardamom is very good at facilitating the digestive process. In traditional healing, it’s used for controlling blood sugar as well as neutralizing toxins in the body.
- Clove. Because of its superb anesthetic and anti-inflammatory properties, clove is a wonderful home remedy for various aches and pains. It also has antioxidant, anti-flatulent and carminative properties.
- Cinnamon. This spice with a phenomenal and unmistakable aroma is very good at keeping blood sugar stable. Additionally, its impressive antioxidant content is said to help keep the heart in an excellent shape.
Due to the addition of the aforementioned beneficial spices to black tea, it’s no wonder why masala chai is getting the nod of so many health-conscious tea lovers all over the planet! If you haven’t tried sipping a cup of masala chai tea before, it’s high time that you do so to enjoy its unique taste and the various perks it offers, such as:
- It promotes better digestion. A lot of the spices in masala chai tea assist in the digestive process, and that’s is why having a cup of the healthy Indian beverage after a meal can help ward off various GI problems that can stem from poor digestion, such as an upset stomach, abdominal cramping, excess gas and constipation.
- It speeds up your metabolism. Having a hard time losing weight? Consume masala chai tea on a regular basis. Some of the spices it contains are known to generate heat, which is something that can make your metabolism accelerate. Also, the tea is very good at eliminating toxins that can make weight reduction a real challenge.
- It helps relieve painful joints. Rather than swallow a pain-reliever that can cause all sorts of side effects, brew yourself a cup of masala chai tea. That’s because many of the spices it contain are scientifically-proven to help lessen pain as well as inflammation. The healthy beverage is also very good at easing PMS symptoms.
- It lowers heart disease and cancer risk. Due to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of masala chai tea, consuming it regularly can help keep at bay high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Also, drinking this Indian tea may also help prevent cancer cells from striking, or from multiplying if already around.
Sources: madteaclub.com
