YOGI TEA

Yogi Tea is a beautiful blend of spices, black tea and milk that warms the body and stimulates digestion.  The taste is fabulous and much like the soothing taste of chai tea.  It's easy to make one cup or a larger batch that you can store in the refrigerator.  Making your own with these easy recipes has the added bonus of filling your home with it's wonderful aroma!  Try this perfect winter tea.

Single Serving Yogi Tea

Ingredients:
1 1/3 - 1 1/2 cups of water 
3 whole cloves
4 whole b;lack peppercorns
4 whole cardamom pods, split (use the side of a knife on the pods and gently pound a time or two)
1/2 cinnamon stick
2 - 1/4 in. thick slices of fresh ginger root (if the ginger root is organic then there is no need to peel it)
1/4  tsp black tea (one tea bag or you can use loose leaf, decaf or regular)
1/2 cup milk (more or less to taste- you can also use almond milk)
optional sweetener such as honey or *sucanat if desired

Directions:
Boil the water and add all of the spices including the ginger root.  Cover and boil about 20-25 minutes.  Add the black tea and let sit for several minutes.  Strain the whole mixture into a cup using a very fine strainer (I use a jelly bag strainer) and then add milk and sweetener to taste.  


Large Batch Yogi Tea

Ingredients:
2 quarts of water
15 whole cloves
20 whole black peppercorns
20 whole cardamom pods, split 
2 or 3 cinnamon sticks (some brands are really robust!)
8 slices of ginger about 1/4 inches thick
1/2 to 3/4 tsp black tea (2-3 tea bags)
Milk, almond milk, coconut milk to taste
Sweetener such as honey or*sucanat to taste, if desired

Directions:
Boil water and then add all of the spices including the ginger root. Boil for 20-30 minutes.  Reduce the heat and simmer for 2 hours.  Remove from heat, add the black tea and steep while the mixture cools.  Strain into a pitcher or container using a fine strainer.  You can serve right away with milk and sweetener to taste or store in the refrigerator and reheat when you want and then add milk and sweetener.  

*Sucanat is a natural sweetener that is unrefined, made from dehydrated can juice and can replace white or brown sugar in cooking and baking.

Clockwise from top: cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, black tea bag and loose tea, fresh ginger, whole cloves, and whole peppercorns.