A cup of immunitea to ward off your monsoon blues
Rains and tea are a match no Indian matchmaker can beat. Every Indian household, anywhere in the world, has their own concoction, matching the rhythm of the seasons. Adrak vali kadak chai for winters, doodh-patti malailaden tea for summers or a power-packed masala chai for monsoon, there is a cup of immunity for every taste bud. The health benefits of tea are widely known, and when brewed with herbs, it can work wonders for the immune system.
Tea connoisseur Nitish Jha advises using homegrown ingredients such as neem, brahmi, rosemary and turmeric for an immunity boost. “While neem helps the body fight infections, rosemary and turmeric have antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties,” Jha shares.
Spices, too, can enhance the health benefits of tea.
“Boil clove, peppercorn, cinnamon, turmeric, cardamom, tulsi leaves and ginger in water. Add it to your tea as it is one of the best ways to fight the flu,” says nutritionist Kavita Devgan.
Here are some easy brews that can be made at home.
■ Brew one sachet of elderflower tea in water and strain. Simmer two skinned red apples with 100ml apple juice, honey, strips of orange peel, cinnamon stick and some cloves. Strain, blend and serve.
■ Boil ½ tsp green tea, 3-4 saffron strands, ½ tsp marigold flowers and 1 cardamom for two minutes. Strain and serve warm.
■ Boil two neem leaves, one rosemary leaf and ½ tsp turmeric in water. Strain and enjoy hot.
(Recipes by chef Nishant Choubey, restaurateur Manali Guha and
Nitish Jha)