Chai tea benefits have been known since the ancient times. This morning beverage is known to have cures for various ailments if its brewed with a dash of spices. Find out how...

Nothing beats the warm cup of chai after burning the midnight oil for an exam. Chai, is the quintessential Indian beverage and an answer to the 'cuppa coffee' of the West. In tautological sense, tea, is called chai tea. Indians are known to have a stronger immune system, which in an indirect sense, is attributable to their early morning cup of chai tea.

Both Ayurveda and Chinese Traditional Medicine have recorded innumerable benefits of consuming chai tea, which is made with black tea and a certain amount of spices and herbs. Let's see what are some of the greatest chai tea concoctions that render in the much talked about chai tea benefits.

Cinnamon is a typical south Asian spice, which is known to cure common cold, nausea, control of diabetes, lowering cholesterol, preventing balding and colon cancer.

Brewing the normal chai tea, with a dash of cinnamon and sweetening with sugar or honey, works perfectly to start your day. Cinnamon is also known to act as an aphrodisiac, know what I mean?!

Cardamom is a fragrant Indian spice, that lends the lingering flavor to every culinary delight. Cardamom helps in improving digestion, stimulating metabolism, relieving flatulence, bad breath, depression, impotency and oral disorders.

Grind a few pods of this spice and add it to your brew of hot chai tea. The zesty flavor will not only act as a stimulant, but also help you cure many problems.

Cloves are antifungal in nature. However, the strong flavor of cloves, can be a big deterrent. Hence, begin with brewing small amounts of cloves. Clove tea is the best for getting rid of a Candida infection. Moreover, clove tea is best for getting rid of fungal growth on skin too.

Black pepper improves blood circulation and clearing the lungs. Black pepper also improves metabolism and can help in alleviating chronic cold.

Black pepper also induces sweating, which can cool down the body and relieve all the fever symptoms. Add some ground black pepper to your tea and drink it hot to get the best results.

Since the ancient times, nutmeg is used to curb the problem of sciatica. Nutmeg also helps in curing digestive tract problems.

A few studies claim that nutmeg helps in treating the kidneys and lymph issues too. Grate a bit of nutmeg and add it to your daily brew of chai tea to derive maximum health benefits of chai tea.

Ingredients:

• Water, 2 cups
• 1 tbsp, tea powder or tea leaves
• ½ cup, milk
• Sugar or honey, as per taste
• ½ tsp for desired spice

Directions:

1. Bring the water to boil in a skillet.
2. Add the tea leaves or the powder to the water.
3. Now, add the sugar and bring the mixture to boil.
4. Add the desired spice and let the concoction brew for 10 minutes.
5. Finally, add half a cup of milk and once again bring the mixture to boil.
6. Strain the mixture in a cup and drink it hot to get the best of it!