Herbal Joy in Winter and a Chai Tea Adventure

What is Herbal Joy in Winter to you?

I began my herbalism studies in the winter. 

Winter evenings are long and dark here in Tennessee.

I was looking for a way to stay connected to nature and to keep my mind positively focused.  

For years, I had resisted the cold, darkness of winter, with its longer nights and shorter days. 

I complained. I stayed indoors. I accepted depression as a necessary evil.

In recent years, I have said “No More” resisting winter!

I have asked instead, “What is winter inviting me to receive?”, and I fell in love with the smell of the pine trees and the sound of the river on long walks up mountain roads that led me to discover old cabins, schoolhouses and cemeteries.

The history of these spaces invited me to wonder about the lives of the women who lived there, before electricity and air conditioning, when wood stoves warmed houses, and mothers and grandmothers cooked meals lovingly made from food that the families grew themselves.

Now winter is for me…

• the warmth of a fire in the morning as my hands enjoy holding a hot mug of coffee spiced with cinnamon and honey;

• the invitation of a cozy kitchen with simmering pots on the stove as tantalizing smells of herbs and spices fill the air;

• time for winter hikes and adventures in the mountains where I find the beauty of a winter wonderland after the snow falls on the pines

and I believe that,

The coldest winter day is made warmer when friends gather, when food is shared, and that finding herbal joy is as easy as boiling water for a cup of tea.

So, here I am, inviting you to join me in choosing Herbal Joy!

Herbal Joy In The Kitchen is a seasonal class that I offer in person in Tellico Plains, Tn. I teach about herbs as food and share recipes that include seasonal herbs. Every body is different, and I invite you to include your body’s awareness as you choose herbs to add to your recipes and your life.

This winter’s Herbal Joy In The Kitchen class was a Chai Tea Adventure.

I am happy to share it here with you, so you can have a taste of an Herbal Joy In The Kitchen class where we acknowledge

-that as the seasons change, new herbal friends invite us to play

-that working with herbs adds life and sparkle to food

-and that for each of us, our body is our best guide as we learn to choose herbs for support

A Chai Tea Adventure

This year, as winter approaches, my body is asking for Chai tea.

Not just for a cup of Chai tea, but for an adventure with Chai tea!

What fun can we have exploring and playing with Chai?

Chai has a rich history in India, where it is a daily beverage. Some of you may already have a deep friendship with Chai. I did not happen to grow up in a family that drank chai tea.

So, in my early 40s, chai tea was something I ordered at Starbucks. That might be where you are today.  And what if that’s ok?  And what if that Starbucks chai beverage is an invitation to herbal possibilities?

When you taste chai tea, listen to your body.

• How does it smell? 

Sit a moment before drinking and breathe in the aroma.

• What individual scents can you identify?

• How does taking the time to enjoy the aroma make your body feel?

Take a sip, and savor all the flavors in your mouth.

• Which flavors does your body desire more of? 

• Which could your body do without?

What if your body is inviting you to more awareness and adventure with herbs?

When I tasted my first chai tea at Starbucks, my body said -  hey! There’s something here that I love. And how can I have more of that in a way that works for me without all the sweet?

For me, Starbucks was too sweet, and my body asked for more chai, but less sugar please.  So, I searched the supermarket shelves for chai tea bags.  I began making chai tea at home – no sugar no cream - instead of coffee in the morning.

Then, a friend served me chai tea with homemade whipped cream, and I smiled.  My body does not desire whipped cream every day, but it is a wonderful treat that I enjoy.  And it was an invitation to play further with Chai.

I found that my personal sweet spot when drinking Chai is to add a splash of heavy cream, just enough to soften the color and the flavor.   

A fun thing about herbs is that there is no one right way to enjoy an herb or a tea blend. Each person can enjoy the adventure of discovering which herbs make their body smile!

This year, my adventure with chai tea began with collecting recipes from other herbalists.  I found several from Rosemary Gladstar and Rosalee De La Foret to play with. (See links and references below.)

Next, I collected the ingredients – high quality dried herbs for blending.  Local organic herbs are wonderful.  When they are not available, I often order from Mountain Rose Herbs.

Rosalee’s recipe encouraged me to invite in a new herbal ally - astragalus. You might not have met Astragalus yet. 

I had already ordered some astragalus for the winter to add more nourishment to broths.  So, adding the herb to chai tea was an easy yes for me.

Astragalus is a root that comes to Western herbalism from Traditional Chinese Medicine, where it is an important qi tonic.  Qi is vital energy, and astragalus is considered to be an immune-building and supportive herb.

There are some cautions on taking astragalus if you are acutely ill or on certain medications.   As always, please work with several trusted resources and listen to your body when working with herbs.

Do you have a favorite chai tea blend? The smell of chai tea simmering on the stove in the kitchen is a winter delight!

Thank you for joining me on this chai tea adventure. My friendship with chai tea has deepened as I have chosen the herbs, enjoyed their aromatics, tasted them individually and savored them as a blend.

Studying and working with chai tea and astragalus has been a fun way to accept the invitation to make new winter herbal allies.

In Spring, I will offer another Herbal Joy In The Kitchen class.  As the days grow warmer, the plants will again offer us new herbal allies and nourishment for our bodies.

Please keep an eye out on Substack for Spring Herbal Joy In The Kitchen, or join us in person in East Tennessee.

If you enjoyed this article, please like, subscribe, and share it with friends. As always please note that this article is for educational purposes only.

Links:

https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/chai-tea-health-benefits.html

https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/benefits-of-chai-tea.html

https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/courses/4-keys

Books:

Alchemy of Herbs by Rosalee De La Foret, p. 311

Forage, Harvest, Feast – A Wild-Inspired Cuisine – by Marie Viljoen

The Savory Way –  High-Spirited, Down-to-Earth Recipes from the Author of The Greens Cookbook – Deborah Madison