“Yogi Tea” – The Yummy Healthy Tea That I Grew up on.
When Yogi Bhajan came to the USA in the late 60’s and taught yoga classes he would prepare a blend of tea containing cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger and black pepper which the students later dubbed “Yogi Tea”. Most people (myself included) have fond memories of this hot, yummy, spicy, healthy tea. This tea has become a part of the 3HO/Sikh Dharma culture. At any home you will find a batch of “Yogi Tea” in the refrigerator. It is an energizing and healthy tea which which can help your overall health.
“Cloves take away pain, cardamom aids digestion, cinnamon is good for the bones, black pepper stimulates the digestive process, and ginger is an Ayurvedic panacea, giving strength and energy. And the synergistic effect of all the herbs is more than the sum of its parts”
At any of our camps or events fresh yogi tea is always served. When you come to visit Espanola check my fridge to make sure I have a stock of tea! (I have to make some more tomorrow). In the summer I mix it cold with apple juice and it is like a great spicy apple cider. Everyone makes it a little different. I personally like it with loads of ginger which makes it spicier and gives me lots of energy. I drink lots of the tea especially if I get a “cold” or am not feeling well. I prefer natural healing methods rather than drugs, which in many cases just mask the symptoms, rather than dealing with the cause.
I prefer to stay away from caffeine and other stimulants, so this tea gives me the energy that I need to keep going. I am already so energetic that if I have caffeine I’ll bounce off the walls and go nuts!
So…now that I have raved all about it, you have the chance to make a batch of this tea and try it for yourself. Everyone I know seems to make it a little different (some people make it better than others). It’s one of those things that people perfect to their taste.
The Yogi Tea Recipe – Yield 2 Quarts
Yogi Tea comprises a specific combination of spices, mild and black tea. Health-promoting, delicious, soothing, and great coffee substitute. Yogi Tea is easy to make from scratch.We like to make a big pot-full (without adding milk), store in the refrigerator. To make a cup of tea just fill your cup three-forths with tea, add milk and heat (stove or microwave oven).
In the science of Ayurveda the spices are said to have the following properties: Black Pepper: blood purifier; Cardamom: digestive aid; Cloves: nervous system and generate heat in the body; Cinnamon: bones; Ginger root: for colds, flu, physical weakness, digestions, increased potency. The milk helps in the easy assimilation of the spices and coats the stomach lining to avoid irritation there. A pinch of black tea gives just a touch of “pick up”.
These spices can be purchased at most health food stores (US/UK/Europe) or an Indian grocery store.
2 Quarts of Water (1.89 liters paani)
15 whole cloves (Long)
20 green cardamom pods (Elaichi)
20 black peppercorns (Kala Mirch)
3 Sticks cinnamon (Dal chini)
8 slices of gingerroot (Adarakh)
1/2 tea spoon black tea (Chai patti)
3 cups of milk (Dood)Bring water to boil in a 3-4 quart pot. Add cloves and boil for 1 minute. Add cardamom pods (to better release flavor, crush or split pods), peppercorns, cinnamon sticks and gingerroot. Cover and boil gently for 20-30 minutes. Add black tea.
At this point, you can let the tea cool, strain it and refrigerate. Or, add the milk, return to boil, and immediately remove from heat (or else it will boil over). Add sweetener to taste…and enjoy!
Recipe from the cook book “From Vegetables with Love” by Siri Ved Kaur Khalsa
The Yogi Tea was so popular that in the 80’s it was packaged and sold commercially. This has grown over the past 20 years to become one of the most popular herbal/health teas in the USA and Europe. They now have expanded way beyond the classic “yogi tea”. You can see their website online at – http://www.yogitea.com/ and Europe: http://www.yogitea.nl/
18 Responses to ““Yogi Tea” – The Yummy Healthy Tea That I Grew up on.”
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GURUMUSTUK SINGH i was gonna do a post on my blog about Yogi Tea!! Evertime i think of a subject for my blog you come up with something similar, its scary! So stop stealing my thoughts!! LOL! Im running out of blog ideas. Anyhoo im a Huggggge fan of Yogi Tea, i found a shop here that sells nearly every variety, its Yogi Tea heaven. :D:D:D:D To those who havent tried it, go buy some, theres so many varities that you will definitely find one to suit your taste. And they really help with colds and sore throats.
Hahaha Yeah…I’m just doing mind reading to steal ideas. Seriously though…a few days ago I was meditating and all these ideas for the blog came through and I wrote them all down. I guess I picked up your thoughts (unknowingly though).
I had to delete your last comment because the long web address was messing up the page layout.
Here is the message you posted:
“i forgot to add.. CHUG A LUG CHUG A LUG MUG OF YOGI TEA yogi tea!! Yes there’s even a yogi tea song!”
This is a funny song…by a friend Guru Trang Singh.
Ps. You broke the no-comment streak. Lots of people have been visiting the blog (more than normal)…but all are quiet. I guess the regular 5 commenters are taking a break :)
Oh yeah…. I personally like the tea best fresh and home made (from scratch)….but nowadays there are so man other flavors of the tea commercially available.
Gurumustuk Singh, So you dont need to add Tea Bags, as I dont drink Tea, so no tea bags.
Gurumustuk Singh,
For those of you in west coast, Yogi Tea is available throughout in drug store chain “Longs Drugs” and “Trader Joes”. And I think Whole food also carries it.
Also, Gurumustuk Singh Ji, How about a post on Peace Cereal and Waheguru Chews. My son wants to give Waheguru chews out at school for Valentines Day treats. I think this is great! Any way to help bring awareness about Sikhi and remove ignorance.
SikhRus: I actually already posted something about Wahguru Guru Chews. You can read it here
You can order boxes of them here.
This winter yogi tea rescued me from severe throat problem. Its truely a magical tea.
I forgot to add comment on you being energetic. If i’m not wrong its pitta imbalance. Egyptian licorice flavour of yogi tea is best for you, am i right?
Gurumustuk Singh, Please answer my question about the tea bags. Do you need to add tea bags ?
Please
Hi Anonymous,
you can throw bag in boiling water and make tea that way too(incase you don’t have filtering mechanism). Or you can open the tea bag throw the spices in water for boiling, either way effect should be same i guess.
Anon: I personally do not add black tea to Yogi Tea, though some people who don’t want the caffiene add decaf black tea. I’m not sure how important it is too the “formula”…but the purists generally add some black tea…but it is a very small amount.
It’s up to you…
I dont drink Chai patti, can I make it with out Chai patti ?
Can I just add Black Pepper cloves Cinnamon Ginger, without Chai patti (tea).
Would I need to add milk ?
Thanks for the tips
Yes…you can leave out the chai patti. I don’t use it in my tea.
You could leave out the milk…but I think that buffers the tea and makes it easier on your stomach. I use other milk substitutes like rice/soy milk…and sometimes have the tea cold mixed with apple juice.
Like I said…everyone tweaks the recipe to suit themself.
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Ok… test time. Who made Yogi Tea? Any of you give it a try?
I need some…so please share…. :)
Gurumustuk Singh, Thanks for the advice, This is a purtan tea as lots of Gursikhs dont use chai patti. I use to drink tea like this then some one told me that this will stop me from making babies as its to strong or something is this true ?
Hi anonymous,
Chai won’t stop you making babies. Its a myth that caffience is bad for semen production. There was a show mythbusters and they did try all sorts of experiments to test that myth. Yogi tea is caffiene free anyways!
Gurumustuk ji there’s a spam post on your blog just one of two post above look carefully