The Indian masala tea or popularly known as Chai tea is a traditional Indian tea beverage made by brewing black tea with a wide range of traditional Indian herbs or spices. The popularity of this beverage has since expanded to the whole world and are featured in the menus of Western cafes or coffee shops.
In fact, Starbucks Coffee has made the chai tea a regular item on their global menu. Today, we are going to learn more about other interesting facts of the masala tea as well as discover the health benefits of Indian masala tea.
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Ingredients of Indian Masala Tea
Surprisingly, there is no concrete recipe on the Indian chai tea because most Indian families and producers have their own recipe to it. However, one can agree that all chai tea has these four basic ingredients, namely milk, sugar, cardamom and ginger. Meanwhile, the Indian chai tea versus the western version of it is also slightly different because the Indian version has higher concentration of herbs and spices whereas the western adaptation is lighter and sweeter, often labelled as “chai tea.”
These are the most common ingredients of the Indian masala tea.
- Black Tea (such as Assam or gunpowder black tea)
- Milk (from water buffaloes or cows)
- Sweetener (palm sugar, brown sugar, coconut sugar, etc)
- Ginger
- Cardamom
- Cinnamon
- Cloves
- Black Pepper
Nutritional Facts of the Indian Masala Tea
- Serving Size – 1 cup
- Principals
- Calories – 52.7
- Total Fat – 0.2 g
- Saturated Fat – 0.1 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat – 0 g
- Monounsaturated Fat – 0.1 g
- Cholesterol – 2.5 mg
- Sodium – 63.8 mg
- Potassium – 226.2 mg
- Total Carbohydrate – 8.5 g
- Dietary Fibre – 0 g
- Sugar – 2.1 g
- Protein – 4.2 g
- Vitamins and Minerals
- Vitamin A – 0.2 %
- Vitamin B6 – 2.5 %
- Vitamin B12 – 7.8 %
- Vitamin C – 2.1 %
- Vitamin D – 0 %
- Vitamin E – 0.3 %
- Calcium – 15.1 %
- Copper – 1.2 %
- Folate – 2.7 %
- Iron – 0.4 %
- Magnesium – 3.7 %
- Manganese – 10 %
- Niacin – 0.6 %
- Pantothenic Acid – 4.2 %
- Phosphorus – 12.5 %
- Riboflavin – 10 %
- Selenium – 3.7 %
- Thiamine – 2.9 %
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What are its Health Benefits?
Here are the health benefits of Indian masala tea:
- Indian Masala Tea Prevents Diabetes
Diabetes is the excess of glucose inside the blood content. The ingredients of masala tea help prevent the overloading of sugar in the blood content by increasing the number of insulins and therefore lower blood sugar content. At the end of the day, one could have a better management of blood sugar levels.
- Indian Masala Tea Soothes Menstrual Cramps
For women, menstrual cramps are among the most uncomfortable stages of menstruation. Not many know this, but then masala chai also naturally soothes menstrual cramps, particularly in some women where the cramps or pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) could get very severe. This is so because the masala chai tea provides a natural calming effect on the nerves and muscles as well as an anti-inflammation.
- Indian Masala Tea Reduces Bloating
Bloating is when our belly feels swollen after eating, normally caused by excessive gas content or inefficient digestion. Poor digestion is also caused by the poor nutritional intake. Masala tea has the abilities to avoid this from happening by preventing excess air or water from being carried over into the stomach. This in the long run prevents bloating from taking place.
- Indian Masala Tea Manages Blood Pressure
One’s blood pressure should be at the normal rates in order to stay fit and healthy. Masala tea can help problems related to fluctuating blood pressures. It has an expansive trait on the blood that can also help a better management of blood pressure particularly in dealing with high blood pressure or low blood pressure. On the other hand, it also manages blood pressure by regulating and controlling blood circulation within the body system.
- Indian Masala Tea Halts Cancer Growth
Modern research has observed that the antioxidant characteristics of masala chai tea also halts the growth of cancer cells. This is also supported by three of masala chai tea’s main ingredients that also happen to be anti-cancerous as well, which are cardamom, ginger and cinnamon. The formation of cancerous cells take place as the amount of rebel cells multiply and cause damage to other healthy cells plus the DNA. The distribution of cancerous cells can be minimized at best with the regular consumption of masala chai tea.
- Indian Masala Tea Strengthens the Immune System
The clove and cinnamon also play an important role in the body by being an immune strengthener. They also help the creation of the body’s defence system so that it won’t be easily infected with diseases.
- Indian Masala Tea is an Antioxidant
Masala tea, although containing abundant amounts of spices and herbs, still have the black tea as its base ingredient. The clove in the ingredient list helps the reduction of cholesterol levels and the formation of plaques that cause cardiovascular diseases.
The other spices in the meantime keeps the blood pressure and heart rate in check. That is how the masala chai tea works as an antioxidant.
- Indian Masala Tea is an Anti-Inflammatory
The ingredients, herbs and spices of the masala tea synchronize to make one huge source of anti-inflammation. The largest contributors to this anti-inflammatory effect are ginger as well as cloves
- Indian Masala Tea Rapidly Boosts Energy
Black tea, which is the base ingredient of masala chai tea rapidly boosts energy due to it being a caffeine. Interestingly, despite the known side effects of caffeine, the other herbs and spices present inside the masala chai seem to neutralize the hazardous effects of caffeine from the black tea.
- Indian Masala Tea Cures Common Cold and Flu
Common cold and flu can be treated with masala chai tea thanks to its anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antibacterial properties. With that, coughs and nasal congestions can be avoided too. Regular consumption of masala tea ensures both energy and health everyday. Even when one is already sick, a glass of masala chai could immediately make one feel better.
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