Nettle-Oat Chai Tea
I can’t say that I’m a tea expert, but when I made this chai tea I felt like one 😃. If your looking for the perfect cup of tea though, look no further. This tea packs quite the punch 🤛 when it comes to nutritional value. There were some ingredients in this tea that I’ve never heard of prior to my holistic nutrition certification and I’m glad I was introduced to them. All of these ingredients provide a significant amount of vitamins/minerals/nutrients.
Some of the benefits from this tea include:
High in bone building calcium, magnesium, potassium, silica, iron, silica, B vitamins, is rich in chlorophyll, supports alkalinity, helps eliminates uric acid, is a gentle kidney cleanser, lowers blood sugar, improves insulin sensitivity, relieves diabetic neuropathy, promotes weight loss, improves insulin sensitivity, decreases inflammation, boosts detoxification…. And that’s only from a few ingredients 🤯. This is really the perfect tea to start the day, unless your a coffee drinker. Then that’s a different story. I found that this tea is great on its own, but adding in a splash of maple syrup and non-dairy milk took this tea to a whole new level. Enjoy!
Total Time:
20 - 60 minutes for steeping, depending on which option you choose
Ingredients:
Herbs
1 heaping tsp - nettles
1 tsp - Oat straw
1 tsp - Rolled or quick oats
1/2 - 1 tsp - Yerba mate, rooibos, or black tea (optional)
1 pinch powdered or cut/sifted licorice root
1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg
5 whole cloves
1 - 3 thin slices of fresh ginger
2 - 3 cardamom pods, cracked
1 / 2 cinnamon sticks
1 whole star anise
Serving
Maple syrup (optional)
Splash of non-dairy milk (optional)
Directions:
Combine all herbs with 2 cups of water over high heat.
Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and let simmer, covered for 20 minutes. (Alternatively, pour 2 cups boiling water over the herbs and let steep, covered, for 30-60 minutes.)
Strain. Add maple syrup and cream to taste, if desired.
Notes:
If using black tea, add it in the last few minutes of steeping or simmering to avoid an overly bitter brew.
Both black tea and yerba mate contain caffeine.
*This tea was made using the recipe from the book
Body into Balance: An Herbal Guide to Holistic Self-Care Book by Maria Noel Groves*