GINGER CHAI
ADRAK OR GINGER CHAI IS AN INDIAN TEA REMEDY.
A simple cup of adrak chai or ginger tea is a ritual drink for my cousin-sister Shivani in her Bengaluru home. Ginger tea is a powerful immune booster, a digestive aid, and a natural remedy used in the fight against respiratory conditions according to Ayurveda—the traditional Indian system of medicine.
Find out more about ginger chai >
RECIPE DETAILS
Serves: 2 to 3
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes.
Dietary Style: Gluten Free | Vegetarian | Dairy Free and Vegan substititions
INGREDIENTS
- 1 large piece ginger
- 3 cups cold water
- 2 tsp chai patti or black leaf tea
- milk to taste (dairy or non-dairy)
METHOD
How to make our ginger chai or adrak chai recipe.
STEP 1
Bring the cold water to a strong simmer in a small pot on the stovetop over high heat. While this is heating, pound the ginger in a mortar and pestle to break its fibre until it is not quite a pulp. Add the ginger to the water and simmer on medium heat for three or four minutes.
STEP 2
Once the ginger water is well steeped, add milk to taste (I would suggest half a cup) and bring to the boil. Once the milk is boiling, add the chai patti or tea leaves and simmer a further to to three minutes.
STEP 3
Strain into tea cups and add sugar or honey to taste if desired.
LEARN MORE ABOUT
GINGER CHAI
Does fresh ginger have health benefits?
Fresh ginger is prized in Ayurveda or traditional Indian medicine as a spice to aid the respiratory system and immune system, making ginger tea or adrak chai a common home remedy to coughs and colds.
What’s chai patti?
Chai patti is granuled black tea, or tea dust, that looks something like fine instant coffee. It is commonly used in India to make chai. Its form means that it isn’t embittered by boiling.
Is chai hard to make at home?
Chai is simple to make at home, and requires a small pot, fresh water, a little tea leaf, and some milk (normally). Adding ginger or green cardamom, or even cinnamon, are optional extras to a classic simple cup of chai.
What’s chai?
Chai or cha means tea, though it is worth noting that the many official languages used across the regions of India means that it can also be referred to as chaya, chaha and sah (though this list is by no means exhaustive).
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