Immune Boosting Chai Tea Recipe

We love this so much I have it prepped and ready to go regularly during the cold months. And it's my most asked for recipe! Enjoy!

Here is the low down on why I included each of these herbs. Besides it tasting REALLY good. If you like it spicier, add a bit more pepper or ginger, sweeter, more cinnamon or astragalus. Its versatile and crazy effective immune boosting powerhouse.

Cinnamon, sweet or true or Ceylon: I have recently switched to sweet. It’s delicious and better for you. More expensive but worth it. Only the best for you!

Cinnamon is a great antibacterial, antiviral and anti inflammatory. Great for cold and flu season. It also helps increase circulation. Perfect! We use cinnamon or gui zhi a lot in Chinese herbal formulas because it is so versatile and so beneficial. Here is a bit more about why I use Ceylon or sweet over cassia for the Chai. Enjoy frequently!

Ginger: A panacea for everything! Antiviral, antibacterial, warms the body and helps settle the stomach. Ginger should be used on the daily. I put it in everything! Especially in Chai. This is another widely used herb in Chinese medicine, gan jiang or sheng jiang.

Cardamon: great for infections and antiviral. It is anti inflammatory and great for the digestion. It may even have some awesome cancer fighting abilities! And I love it. I’m heavy handed with this one in my recipes. You’ll see. This herb is called sha ren in Chinese medicine and is used to even help with vomiting and diarrhea and other distressed digestive issues. Ahem, norovirus…..Can you tell I have kids. Ha!

Astragulus: amazing immune booting herb that strengthens the body and it protects the liver and helps with digestion. Really, its amazing. I’ve even read studies where it helps considerably against some of the cocksackie viruses. My kids get a hint of Hand Foot Mouth, this chai made with a boat load of astragulus or huang qi, goes down the hatch! Another VERY commonly used herb in Chinese medicine.

Burdock: This guy is harvested in the fall, It should be a dead giveaway that it is perfect for those things that ail us in fall and winter. And it does! It helps the blood and lymphatic system, helping to keep you healthy and move the crap on out of the body. It helps to soothe sore and scratchy throats too. And its great for skin rashes! Perfect for cold and flu season! Especially with kiddos that can easily get hives and/or rashes from illnesses. Oh and again, its been used in China for forever. Its called Niu Bang Zi.

Orange peel: Not only a nice hit of vitamin C and I think chai needs that orange taste. mmm. It is also an amazing healer! It is great for the tummy and coughs and it helps balance out some of the other ingredients, like the burdock, astragulus and echinacea. It important to have balance! Even with good for you things. This is also many Chinese formulas. Well, mine. My tummy always needs a little TLC. It’s called Chen Pi

Clove: or ding xiang, is anti everything. anti parasitic, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal….and it tastes good. I threw a bit in for ya.

Black Pepper: Its hot and spicy so it might seem like a contradiction, but this common spice is ant inflammatory. And it helps give the chai a kick. It also gives you a nice kick of minerals and vitamins.

Echinacea: Hello White blood cell count! Increase immune system function. You need this to help fend off or truly kick a cold..

Fennel: another herb that is wonderful for the digestive system, it helps with mucus and cough and gets you feeling better.

Here is the full recipe!

Immune Boost Chai Tea

2 Tablespoons, Cinnamon chips (or a couple sticks, I reuse them a couple of times)

2 Tablespoons, dried citrus peel, Or a couple big chunks, dried, from your orange.

1 Tablespoon, Cardamon pods, cracked, I just use the flat side of my chopping knife

1 Tablespoon, Burdock root, dried

1 teaspoon, black peppercorn

1 teaspoon, dried ginger root

5 pieces, astragulus root

10 cloves, (about 1 teaspoon)

1/2 teaspoon, echinacea

1/4 teaspoon, fennel

Add ingredients to 5 cups water and bring to a light boil. Turn down to a simmer and simmer, with cover on, for about 45 minutes. Strain herbs out and compost. Add honey or sweetener of choice. When ready to drink, mix half of the Chai tea with 1/2 milk of choice. Enjoy! Store the rest, if there is any, in the fridge. Kids love this too!

This is just one of my recipes. I have a whole ritual I do when we are have a known exposure to a virus or someone spikes a fever or sore throat. If you want my entire plan, with videos, recipe cards and more, check out my course! It's crazy easy, bullet points and EFFECTIVE to keep you healthy and/or to help resolve the viral ick fast. Course is here!

Categories: : recipes, cold and flu, herbal, tea, immune boosing