No. 31

The Medicinal Values of Chai Spice

Most of us love chai teas whether hot or iced. But did you know, minus the cream and sugar, plain chai spice, whether mixed into tea leaf or herbs, is practically like taking a supplement? Chai is a very healthy spice blend that can be consumed every day and consists of various blends of ginger root, clove, cinnamon, cardamom, corriander, and pepper. Here is a quick list of what each of these delicious spices do for you.

1. Ginger Root- calms the stomach, improves digestion, promotes vascular health, heart health, anti-inflammatory, promotes the production of saliva helpful for dry mouth, cleans the kidneys and bowels, used for motion sickness, nausea, and morning sickness, improves blood flow, reduces body aches from arthritis, and happily adds zing to any tea.

2. Clove- a well known spice that rids the body of parasites (who knew!), antiviral, anti-fungal, antimicrobial, aphrodisiac, reduces nausea, bloating, gas, and stomach discomfort, remedy for digestive problems, fungal infections, nausea, candida albican, morning sickness, and to promote better digestion.

3. Cardamom- nausea, reduces acid stomach, soothes mucous membranes, remedy for heartburn, gas, sore throat, disorders of the tongue or problems with the back of the tongue at the throat, hoarseness, and erectile dysfunction.

4. Black Pepper- kills harmful bacteria in the gut, stimulates the vascular system, anti-cancer, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, reduces oxidative stress in the body. The “hotter” chai teas generally have more black pepper than the milder types.

5. Cinnamon-  calms the stomach, improves digestion, lowers high blood sugar, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-parasite, anti-fungal

6. Coriander-  calms and settles the stomach, diarrhea corrective, reduces gas, bloating, and nausea

If you love chai but think you are restricted to decaff tea, remember that red chai, which is chai blended with South African red rooibos, is naturally caffeine-free and rich in flavor. You can add Chai spices to any herbal tea blend which is also caffeine-free.  Chai spices in a powder form, can also be added to hot cocoa, steeped into hot milk or seed milk, coffee, or even some baked goods. We have each organic single spice for your own recipe as well as both powdered chai spice blend and whole form.  Enjoy Chai in Good Health!