Spices for tea: types, taste, benefits

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-02 16:12

Tea is not just a drink. This is a fragrant infusion that can give strength and energy. According to history, this drink was first tasted in China. Initially, tea leaves were used as a medicine. After some time, they began to use it as a drink, adding various herbs, fruits, berries and spices to it. It was they who made it possible to make the drink more fragrant, fragrant and healing. So what to add to tea?

Drink with cloves

Spices for tea can be found on the shelves of any kitchen. Take at least a clove. A drink with such an additive has a pleasant and original taste. Cloves not only improve the aroma and cheer up, but also enrich ordinary tea with vitamins and other beneficial substances. After all, this spice contains caryophyllene, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, calcium, glycosides, organic acids and tannins.

As for vitamins, cloves contain B vitamins. These are B₁ and B_{2. In addition, tea spices containvitamins C, PP and A, as well as an essential oil that has beneficial properties.}

Benefits of clove tea

Clove is not just an original spice for tea. It is also a product that benefits our body. What is it?

• Clove is useful for flu and colds. It can be used to prevent diseases such as tonsillitis, pharyngitis and tonsillitis.
• Allows you to relieve nasal congestion and relieve toothache.
• Improves the condition of the liver and organs of the digestive system, stimulates appetite.
• Reduces stress and eliminates physical fatigue.
• Relieves muscle spasms.
• Positive effect on the functioning of the digestive system: eliminates diarrhea, improves bowel function, stimulates the functions of the stomach.
• Reduces temperature, strengthens immunity.
• Has an antiparasitic effect.
• Allows to normalize the menstrual cycle.

Clove is a natural antiseptic. Such a spice for tea can improve the taste of the drink. After all, cloves are a burning spice that can irritate the mucous membranes of the stomach. It is for this reason that clove tea is not recommended for those who suffer from peptic ulcers. In addition, the spice is contraindicated for lactating and pregnant women, with individual intolerance, as well as with low blood pressure and gastritis with high acidity.

Clove tea recipe

The recipe for spiced tea is quite simple. For its preparationprepare the following ingredients:

• cloves - 1-2 pcs;
• cinnamon - ½ stick;
• black or green tea - 1-2 tbsp. l.;
• water - ½ l;
• orange or grapefruit juice - to taste;
• lemon - 1 wedge;
• ginger;
• sugar - to taste.

First you need to mix all the spices (ginger, cloves, cinnamon). Spice should be poured with water, put on fire and bring to a boil. Ready broth should be poured over tea leaves. It is recommended to infuse the drink for 3-5 minutes. After the specified time, fruit juice, a slice of lemon and sugar can be added to the tea.

Ginger drink

How to make original Indian spiced tea? You can add ginger to the drink. This oriental spice is a unique medicine. It has no equal among other spices both in taste and in healing qualities.

Ginger tea is original, fragrant, colorful. According to ancient knowledge, such a drink warms up the blood. In other words, ginger speeds up metabolic processes in the body, and this leads to an improvement in the functioning of many organs and body systems. In addition, the drink is able to cleanse the body of toxins.

Useful properties of ginger tea

To understand why a drink containing ginger is so useful, you should pay attention to the beneficial properties of the product. In folk medicine, ginger is used:

• for weight loss;
• to eliminate heartburn and relieve musclefatigue;
• to improve liver function, bile flow and to strengthen the immune system;
• to relieve discomfort and symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting;
• as a tonic;
• to eliminate bad breath from the mouth;
• to fight intestinal fermentation and flatulence;
• to solve problems related to the functioning of the reproductive system.

Despite the benefits, this drink should be discarded when:

• high body temperature;
• prone to allergies;
• presence of diseases of the cardiovascular system;
• blood clotting problems;
• exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases.

Ginger tea recipe

So, how to make fragrant tea with spices? If you decide to use ginger, then you will need the following ingredients for cooking:

• black tea - 3 tsp;
• blackcurrant leaves (dried) - 3 tsp;
• ginger root - 30g

To begin with, it is worth brewing black tea, filling the tea leaves with boiling water. After some time, the drink must be filtered and poured into a thermos. This should also add chopped ginger root and currant leaves. It is recommended to insist the drink under the lid for 15 minutes. It is worth eating only when hot, adding a little honey or sugar.

Masala tea

Probably, many have heard of such an interesting drink as masala. This is Indian spiced tea. Various spices are used for its preparation. Suchthe drink warms, saturates the body with useful microelements. To make masala chai you will need 4 ingredients:

1. Tea. Most often used large-leaf black. However, if desired, you can add white, red or green tea.
2. Milk. Can be used neat or diluted with water.
3. Spices for masala tea. As a rule, various spices are added to the drink. It can be cinnamon, black pepper, cloves, cardamom, ginger. Nuts, flowers and herbs are also allowed. Spices are selected based on their compatibility and the desired result. For example, the combination of ginger, pepper and star anise allows you to cheer up and get rid of drowsiness, while mint with saffron calms down.
4. Sweetener. Tea with milk and spices is prepared with the addition of white or brown sugar. If desired, you can use condensed milk or honey.

Chemical composition and calorie content of masala tea

Each combination of spices and tea has a certain chemical composition. However, the main components can be distinguished. Masala tea contains:

• B vitamins – B₁, B₂, B₄, B ₅, B₆, B₉, B_{12, as well as PP, E and C;}
• micronutrients: copper, iron, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, calcium, etc.
• acids (the main component - tea is responsible for the amount of these components): ascorbic and pantothenic.

As for the calorie content of such a drink, this indicatoris approximately 379 kcal. Despite such a high calorie content, masala chai is included in certain diets. This is due to the optimal content of fats (37%), proteins (18%) and carbohydrates (46%).

Useful properties

Why is this tea with spices and milk so useful? This drink:

• relieves drowsiness and invigorates;
• improves metabolism;
• affects the digestive tract;
• removes toxins and eliminates discomfort in the stomach;
• normalizes blood circulation and cleanses the body of harmful compounds;
• improves the condition of blood vessels, increasing their elasticity;
• normalizes blood pressure;
• quenches thirst and hunger;
• strengthens the immune system;
• improves memory and intelligence.

Classic recipe

To make masala chai you will need:

• water - ¾ cup;
• milk - 1 cup;
• black pepper - 4 pcs.;
• cardamom - 5 pcs;
• cloves - 3 pcs;
• cinnamon - 1 pinch;
• ground ginger - 1 pinch;
• black tea - 2 tsp;
• sugar - 1 tsp

To begin with, it is worth grinding all the spices, pour them into a container and add black tea. The resulting mixture must be poured with water and milk, adding ¾ cups of each component. The drink should be brought to a boil and add sugar and the remaining milk. When the masala chai boils, take it off the heat and then strain it. Drinking such a drink is recommended hot and immediately after preparation.

Before drinking any tea with spices, do not forget about contraindications. You should familiarize yourself with them in advance to avoid unpleasant consequences.