Cardamom tea, originally from India, is a fragrant and flavorful tea often mixed with black tea, milk, or sugar. It is believed to have many health benefits, including easing period pains and improving digestion. Cardamom is also used to fight and prevent colon cancer, although these benefits are not yet confirmed.
Cardamom tea is a spice tea originally from India. It is made from the crushed seeds of the cardamom plant mixed with hot or boiling water. Indians and surrounding areas use this tea not only for its aromatic flavors but also for its many purported health benefits. Often referred to as chai, this tea is often harder to find in Western markets.
Cardamom tea alone has a varied and fragrant flavor. Many describe the tea as citrusy, floral and sweet. It also has undertones of smoke and aromatic musk. This exotic flavor makes it a popular choice to mix with other flavors. In fact, cardamom is never the only ingredient in this tea. All of these tea recipes require additional ingredients, usually being a tea leaf. Cardamom is most commonly paired with black tea leaves.
Cardamom tea is referred to as elaichi chaa in India and is also the main ingredient in chai tea. Tea is not usually served on its own; instead, it’s typically mixed with black tea, milk, or sugar. Other popular spices combined with cardamom tea include: licorice, fennel, cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, chocolate and even black pepper. Many tea drinkers also combine almost all of these spices at once with tea.
Many people drink cardamom tea not only for the taste, but also for the many purported health benefits. It is a popular drink among many women, as it is said to ease period pains and discomfort. Since it can also help with nausea and vomiting, many pregnant women prefer drinking tea during their first trimester. Other health benefits of cardamom also include relief from flatulence and improved indigestion. Tea is also said to be a detoxifier, especially for excessive caffeine use. Many also believe it helps relieve heartburn.
As with many herbs and spices, some medical benefits are associated with cardamom tea. One such use of the drink is to fight and even prevent colon cancer. Some studies suggest it may even help people with lung disease. While some research suggests there may be truth to these benefits, they haven’t been confirmed.
Cardamom is an evergreen plant in the ginger root family. It has thick rhizomes and pointed leaves. This plant typically has three pods, with about 15-20 cardamom seeds found in each. The seeds are harvested in October and dried before being crushed for teas.
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