Spicy Lemon Ginger Tea #CIC

Spicy and Sweet together in each sip!  Honey and chili powder are the ingredients for this month's crazy ingredient challenge.

Banana Chai Smoothie

Do you like Chai? 

 Do you like Bananas?

  How about having them together?

Cinnamon Dolce Chai Latte

I am a big Chai fan.  I have to have at least one cup of chai per day.  I also like to make my own simple syrups and one of my favorite simple syrup is Cinnamon Dolce.  Putting the two together is Awesome!

Red Iced Tea

If you have been following me on any of my social media you know that I love, love teas.  Just about any kind of tea... cold, hot or in between.

Chai Latte from Calmer Sutra Tea

I was given the chance of tasting Calmer Sutra Tea and I have to say that it is wonderful.  I was given Chai Tea, Peppermyntle Tea and a jar of Calmer Sutra Ginger infused Honey.

  I was not asked to do a review and all opinions are 100% mine

Ginger Lemon Rooibos Tea

I go in streaks were I will drink lemon water in the morning before I do anything else.  It happens every once in awhile.  I would like to do it every morning but I don't always seem to remember.  I found a wonderful recipe for a cleansing lemon drink with a punch in Get Naked in the Kitchen by Briana Santoro.  This book has wonderful recipes in it and I love that they give a story behind each recipe.

Belight Tea Review

A couple of weeks ago I received an email Toffler asking me if I would like to try a new tea.   In the email it mentioned that this tea helps with digestion, metabolism and reduces snacking.  I am in and sent back my reply right away.

Passion Tea

Last summer as I was shopping I found this Tazo Passion Tea

I believe that it is the same as they use in Starbucks.

It is perfect for those warm summer days.

Passion Tea

1 Passion Tea Bag

1 qt hot water (1 litre)

1 qt cold water ( 1 litre)

ice cubes

lemon slices

fresh fruit (blueberries, strawberries) ~ optional

Place 1 teabag in container that is safe for hot water.  Pour 1 qt of hot water over tea bag.  Let steep for 5 minutes.  Add cold water.  Cut up lemon into slices and add.  Chill. Optional add fresh strawberries and blueberries.  Serve over ice.

Enjoy!

*** I do reuse the teabag a second time.  The second batch isn't as strong but still is good.  I usually try to add fresh fruit to the second batch. 

Links: Swap N Share

Related articles

• 10 Ways to Reuse Tea Bags
• Mmmmmmm Tea!!

Homemade White Chai Concentrate

I am a big tea drinker... love tea and Chai tea especially...

I have at least once cup a day if not more often. 

I have thought many times to make my own and today was the day..

Maybe because it is -40F degrees out and we have 10 feet of snow outside...

Ok maybe not -40 but at least -7F and we probably only have about 3 feet but it felt like 10 feet when I was shoveling today.

So a cup of Chai just hit the spot.

I decided that I would make my Chai with white tea instead of black.

I found a few recipes that sounded good to make a recipe. 

These are the recipes that I read ~ Tasty Yummies, Tasty Kitchen and Healthful Pursuits

and this is what I came up with...

Homemade White Chai Concentrate

4 1/2 cup water

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp peppercorn

3/4 of fresh nutmeg

7 cardamom

1/4 tsp anise

1 star anise

2 cinnamon sticks

1/2 in fresh ginger

1 tsp orange peel 

1/2 tsp lemon peel

1 vanilla pod

8 white tea bags

1 tbsp honey

Cheesecloth and twine

Place cheesecloth on table and add peppercorn, nutmeg, cardamom, anise, ginger, nutmeg orange peel, lemon peel and vanilla pod (cut in thirds).  Bring up edges of cheesecloth and tie around spices.  Set aside.

In pot place water and brown sugar, bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer.  Add tea bags, spice mixture, star anise and cinnamon sticks.  Simmer for 20 minutes.  Cool and place in jar.  Makes approximately 1 quart.  Can be kept in the refrigerator for up to a week. 

Spices

add teabag, cinnamon sticks and star anise

To make Chai Latte, add chai concentrate to milk of your choice.  Most instructions say to use 1 part chai concentrate to 3 parts milk but I like to do it half and half.  I also like to use French Vanilla Creamer in my Chai... So I used evaporated milk and French Vanilla Creamer.  I did run out of Creamer so used French Vanilla Syrup instead of the creamer and it tasted just as good.  You can always heat the milk if you want, it makes the tea warmer.  Chai can be enjoyed hot or cold.

Chai Latte and Chai concentrate

Enjoy!

Marlys

Related articles

• chai tea - for those long January days when you just can't shake the cold (omamas.com)
• Go On! Have a Cup of Airmieth's Naturals New England Chai (airmeithma.wordpress.com)
• How to Make Chai Tea Powder Without Really Being Prepared (thewellnesskitchen.wordpress.com)

Links:  Foodie Friends Friday, Tutus and Tea party - pinterest party, In and out of the kitchen