In this cold and rainy days I like to
back home and slather on the couch with a blanket and a good hot herbal tea.
Yogi tea is the ideal infusion for the winter. Simply made with cinnamon sticks, ginger root, cardamom, cloves and black pepper- it warms and soothes the body from the inside out. A little sweet, a little spicy and incredibly soothing. It's perfect to drink also in the evening because it does not contain caffeine.
The active principles in the
cinnamon spice known to have anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-septic, local anesthetic, anti-inflammatory, rubefacient (warming and soothing), carminative and anti-flatulent properties.
The active principles in this spice increase the motility of the intestinal tract and help in digestion by increasing gastro-intestinal enzyme secretions.
This spicy stick is an excellent source of minerals like potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, zinc, and magnesium. It also contains very good amounts of vitamin A, niacin, pantothenic acid, and pyridoxine.
Further, it is also a very good source of flavonoid phenolic anti-oxidants such as carotenes, zea-xanthin, lutein and cryptoxanthin.
Ginger does contain numerous other anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds beneficial to health such as gingerols, beta-carotene, capsaicin, caffeic acid, curcumin and salicylate.
Ginger has a long tradition of being very effective in alleviating symptoms of gastrointestinal distress.
Cardamom is related to ginger and can be used in much the same way to counteract digestive problems. This spice helps the body eliminate waste through the kidneys, cardamom is such a good detoxifier is thanks to the diuretic properties.
Cloves offer many health benefits, some of which include providing aid in digestion, having antimicrobial properties, fighting against cancer, protecting the liver, boosting the immune system, controlling diabetes, preserving bone quality, and containing anti-mutagenic properties, as well as fighting against oral diseases and headaches, while displaying aphrodisiac properties as well.
Black pepper have been in use since centuries for their anti-inflammatory, carminative, anti-flatulent properties.
Peppercorns composed of health benefiting essential oils such as piperine, an amine alkaloid, which gives strong spicy pungent character. They also carry numerous monoterpenes hydrocarbons such as sabinene, pinene, terpenene, limonene, mercene, etc., which altogether gives aromatic property to the pepper. Black peppercorns contain a good amount of minerals like potassium, calcium, zinc, manganese, iron, and magnesium. They are also an excellent source of many vital B-complex groups of vitamins such as Pyridoxine, riboflavin, thiamin and niacin.
Peppercorns are a good source of many anti-oxidant vitamins such as vitamin-C and vitamin-A. They are also rich in flavonoid polyphenolic anti-oxidants like carotenes, cryptoxanthin, zea-xanthin and lycopene. These compounds help the body remove harmful free radicals and help protect from cancers and diseases.
INGREDIENTS FOR YOGI TEA: half liter of water
2 - cinnamon sticks
1 - Tb cardamom seed
1 - Tb cloves - 1 Tb ginger powder or a sliced of ginger root - 1/2 Tb black pepper. Put all spices into pot with water.
Simmer on medium heat for 20 minutes,
drink hot.
