Yogi Tea is health promoting, delicious and soothing and a great coffee substitute. The benefits of Yogi Tea would fill pages. In the science of yogic foods the spices used are said to have the following properties. • Black pepper: blood purifier, increase hydrochloric acid secretion • Cardamom pods: supports digestive, cardiovascular and immune systems. • Cloves: beneficial to the nervous and immune system. • Cinnamon: strengthens the bones, helps to regulate blood sugar and cholesterol. • Ginger root: healing for colds and flu, increases energy, supports digestion!
Serves: 16 cups.
Ingredients:
- 1 Gallon Water
- 30 cloves
- 30 whole green cardamom pods
- 30 whole black peppercorns
- 1 large finger of fresh ginger, thinly sliced
- 5 sticks cinnamon or 2 long ones
- 1 teabag, Black Tea
- Raw milk or substitute, and raw honey to taste (optional)
Directions:
- Bring water to boil.
- Add all spices except black tea bag.
Steam 30 -45 min. Longer is stronger. - Finally, add black tea bag for 30 seconds, remove and steam another 5 min.
- **The black tea is added last because it amalgamates the spices and sort of seals
them. Also the tannins help assimilate the spices into the body.
I soak it for about 8 seconds and remove the bag. - If adding milk & honey, do so after adding the tea bag and letting it steep – OR
BETTER add milk and honey to individual cup or a small batch. That way you
can store the raw tea in the fridge and prepare with milk and honey as you go. - If you go cup by cup, you can leave the raw tea on the stove on the lowest flame
to enjoy all day.
The milk in the tea helps in the easy assimilation of spices. A homeopathic dose of black tea acts as an alloy for all the ingredients, creating just the right chemical balance.
While it was not a part of the original recipe, the use of nut milk is an acceptable variation.
When Yogi Bhajan was a military commander in India there was an epidemic among the troops. He ordered all of his men to fill their canteens with yogi tea and drink nothing else, not even water. His Battalion was the only unit that didn’t get sick!
Yogi tea purifies the blood, lungs and circulatory system. It cleans the liver and has many more unseen benefits. It’s good to drink this tea every day.
Note: for a stronger tea you can let the spices sit and sink to the bottom. If the tea gets really strong you can cut it with milk or reconstitute with a little water.
You can refrigerate what is left and use it as you go.
I leave it on the stove for the day on very low heat, and offer it to my patients on the days that I am working.