Winters & The Love For Spiced Tea

Every year during the winters, there is one beverage that turns out to be a staple in every Indian household. No matter where you live or how old you are, I am sure that you already know about the immensely popular winter beverage which is Spiced Tea or locally known as ‘Kadha’. Yes! We all have been drinking gallons of this drink ever since the Covid Pandemic struck us two years back. But do you know that the concept of spiced tea has been in our household for hundreds of years and passed on through generations? I remember how my grandmother used to make Spiced tea during the harsh winter months and make everyone in the family have it first thing in the morning.

But with time, this winter ritual lost its charm in many households. Nowadays, there are many spiced tea recipes that people love to try out. Today, I will share one such interesting recipe that would definitely intrigue you to try just before the winters drift out!

What Will You Need To Make A Cup Of Spiced Tea?

• 5 Cloves
• 7-8 Cardamom pods
• 2 Star-anis
• 2-3 Bay-leaves
• 1/2 tablespoon of black pepper corms
• Cinnamon Stick
• Milk
• 2 teaspoon of Darjeeling/Black Tea
• A few cloves of ginger
• Sugar

How Will You Make A Hot Cup Of Spiced Tea?

Step 1: Take a saucepan and fill it up with approximately 1 glass of water. Begin the process by crushing some cardamom pods. The seeds inside the pods tend to infuse the taste in the water.

Step 2: Peel the ginger and slice it thinly into the saucepan. Now start adding the other spices like cinnamon, black peppercorns, star-anis, cloves and bay leaves into the pan. Slowly bring the concoction to boil and keep a lid on it. 

Once the mixture reaches the boiling point, lower the gaspit and let it simmer gently on the low flame for about 8-10 minutes 

Step 3: As soon as the mixture starts relishing a nice colour, add the milk to it. Make sure the quantity of milk is not too much but good enough to bring out the essence and colour of the chai.

Keep the lid on it. 

Step 4: Keeping the flame low, let it simmer for some time so that the milk gets to infuse with the spiced concoction. Now turn the flame off and add 2 teaspoons of Darjeeling/black tea as per your preference. Wait for 1-2 minutes for the tea to infuse with the spiced milk concoction

Step 5: Now strain the tea add sugar as per your taste. Serve and enjoy your hot brew of spiced tea. 

Can You Have Spiced Tea Only During Winters?

The concept of spiced tea is such that it can be savoured any time of the year. But it is popularly said that spiced tea has several benefits during the cold winter months. Let’s see what are the benefits here:

1. Energy-Booster –We all know how lazy winter days can get. In order to give you a boost of energy, spiced tea is said to be a good option as it comes with zero side effects and is loaded with essential minerals and nutrients.
2. Weight Loss – If you are trying to shed some weight and fit into your favourite pair of old jeans, then you should have a cup of spiced tea regularly. The spices included in the concoction are said to curb your appetite and also burn some fat.
3. Immunity – By now I am sure we all know how essential spiced tea can be in boosting your immunity in the long run. The herbs and spices that we add to it, provide the body with the much-needed immunity against the diseases that are quite obvious during the winters.

With such lucrative benefits, spiced chai is something that should make its place in your daily routine. Whether you have it for your immunity or just for the taste, spiced tea can be stated as your ultimate winter companion. So if you have enjoyed reading about spiced chai, then let us know about your ‘Kadha’ experience in the comments down below.