Maybe it seems odd to be posting a tea recipe here on allergen-friendly Monday. I once thought that all tea was free from major allergens. Alas, it isn’t so. Most commercial teabags have soy lecithin added. Some varieties include gluten (in the form of barley). It seems that not even the simplest concoction of herbs and spices is exempt from allergens.
Not only that, but if you deal with any digestive upset (and if you have food intolerances, I’m betting you do) hot tea made with just the right spices can be a tonic to your sensitive GI tract.
What are the right spices? Well, these ones.
Ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, and fennel all bring to the table their own contributions to good digestion. I’ve linked each of those spices to more information regarding how each one aids the digestive process. If you’re interested, spend some time reading about the fascinating world of spices and how they can stimulate different helpful reactions.
Apart from the health benefits, this tea is super-simple to prepare and it tastes great. It tastes a lot like chai. I like to make a double batch and keep it in a big mason jar in the fridge. I warm up a mug at a time, drop in a generous spoonful of honey, and sip away almost every evening. And yes, I totally notice that it soothes and calms my upset tummy.
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Source: Healing Foods by Sandra Ramacher
Ingredients
- 2 Tbs fresh ginger, roughly chopped
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 tsp cardamom seeds, crushed
- 2 tsp fennel seeds, whole
- 5 cups water
- honey to taste
Method
Place everything, except the honey, into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Strain the tea. Serve hot, sweetened to taste with honey.
