Winter Miracle Tea
There’s nothing cozier than a hot drink on a cold winter’s night, preferably curled up on the sofa or your favorite comfy chair. Tea is the most popular hot drink in the world and can be taken in any number of ways: with milk, plain, with a slice of lemon, etc. Today, we’re going to look at a winter miracle tea recipe that is sure to warm you on those dark nights.
It also has many health benefits thanks to the black tea and the other ingredients that go into this drink: star anise, clove, cinnamon, honey, and almond milk (optional). I’m going to let you know what these benefits are first and then share the quantities and how to prepare it.
Medicinal Benefits Of This Winter Miracle Tea
Black tea comes from the ‘Camellia Sinensis plant and can have other plants added for flavor. I’m going to use Earl Grey tea today which is blended with bergamot. The bergamot orange trees are commonly grown in Italy and this blend is one of the strongest-tasting black teas, I find. Feel free to use any black tea of your choice in this recipe.
Medicinal Benefits Of Black Tea
Black tea contains antioxidants called flavonoids which are good for your heart health. Studies involving drinking black tea daily have shown that it lowers the risk of developing heart disease by reducing risk factors including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and obesity.
Black tea also contains other antioxidants known as polyphenols. These help fight free radicals which in turn helps prevent or slow the formation of some types of cancers. Polyphenols also help to maintain a healthy gut by encouraging good bacteria growth and stopping bad bacteria growth. This leads to a stronger immune system and better health overall.
Another incredible benefit that comes from drinking black tea is that it reduces the risk of having a stroke. It also lowers blood sugar levels which reduces your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, kidney failure, obesity, and depression.
Medicinal Benefits Of Star Anise
Star anise has long been used to fight the flu and viruses. That’s because it contains shikimic acid (which is so powerful it’s used in the production of a drug to treat bird flu). It also helps relieve cold and flu symptoms like chills, a headache, muscle pains, and fatigue.
Star anise can also improve the symptoms of menopause. It mimics estrogen and studies have found it’s highly effective at reducing hot flashes. Bone loss is another potential side effect of menopause and star anise helps keep bones healthier and protects against osteoporosis.
Medicinal Benefits Of Cloves
Cloves
are one of those spices that ooze warmth and are often used in food and drink recipes to add a bit of heat and boost the flavor. They also have some surprising health benefits. For example, cloves can help to protect your liver. They can keep the liver healthier by improving liver function, reducing inflammation, and decreasing oxidative stress.
The antioxidants in cloves that reduce oxidative stress also help protect against chronic diseases.
Medicinal Benefits Of Cinnamon
Medicinal Benefits Of CinnamonCinnamon has been used in medicine for thousands of years. It is anti-inflammatory which lowers your risk of disease and helps the body fight infections which is so crucial at this time of year. Cinnamon also lowers bad cholesterol levels and blood sugar levels.
It might even help protect against neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease.
Medicinal Benefits Of Honey
It’s the season to catch a cold or flu and honey is commonly used in hot drinks to soothe a sore throat and coughs. Honey is even used by many to treat upper respiratory tract infections. If you suffer from hay fever or allergies, honey has also been reported to reduce symptoms if taken daily ahead of allergy season.
Related: Allergies No More! Allergies and Asthma Support Bundle (Learn More)
Honey is also high in antioxidants which can help prevent any number of conditions including type 2 diabetes. Not only that, it can help keep your heart healthier by lowering blood pressure, regulating the heartbeat, and stopping healthy cells from dying.
Medicinal Benefits Of Almond Milk
Almond milk contains several minerals and vitamins and is especially high in vitamin E. It is often enriched with calcium too, making it great for the bones and a good source of calcium for those who are lactose intolerant.
Using almond milk is optional in this recipe. You can add any plant-based or animal milk that you prefer, or leave your winter miracle tea black; it will still be warming and beneficial.
How To Make This Winter Miracle Tea
There are approximately 21 calories in one teaspoon of honey. This drink will also contain added calories if you use milk and will vary by type and brand.
Ingredients
- 1 Cup of black tea ( usually 1 teaspoon black tea leaves per cup of water)
- 1 Star anise pod
- 1 Dried clove
- ½ Teaspoon of cinnamon powder
-
1 Teaspoon of honey (or sweetener of your choice)
- A splash of almond milk (or milk of your choice / or leave it black)
Utensils
- Kettle
- Teapot
- Mug
- Teaspoon
Method
- Boil your water
- Add your black tea leaves (usually 1 teaspoon per cup of water), 1-star anise pod, and 1 dried clove to your teapot then pour in your water
Let it steep for 10 minutes then pour your tea into a mug
Stir in ½ teaspoon of cinnamon powder and 1 teaspoon of honey
- Add milk if you’re choosing to use it and stir one final time
Let it steep for 10 minutes then pour your tea into a mug
Stir in ½ teaspoon of cinnamon powder and 1 teaspoon of honey
Your winter miracle tea is now ready. Enjoy it as soon as it’s not too hot to drink. You can have up to two cups of this each day.
If you want to add more water because you find the spices strong at first that’s fine and a great way to get more water in your diet. Just keep the rest of the quantities the same. Remember, while honey has many beneficial medicinal qualities, it is still high in calories and causes an increase in blood sugar.
Also, black tea contains caffeine and the amount varies by type and brand so most people are better off having this a couple of hours before going to bed. It’s also a great hot drink to have in the morning to gently wake you up and heat you up from the inside.
You may also like:
The 6 Best Bedtime Teas To Help You Sleep
1 Cup Before Bed Shrinks Belly Fat All Night (Video)
Get Rid of Headaches Right Now With This Tea
My #1 Go-To Herb for Avoiding Influenza, Colds, and Severe Respiratory Illness
Very interesting will try as winter is here
Would you please compare Ceylon cinnamon with Saigon cinnamon? My friend said one is “fake” cinnamon. Thank you.
Go with Ceylon cinnamon
Ceylon cinnamon is considered the true cinnamon because it tends to be purer than other types. Saigon comes from Vietnam.
Hello Dr.Apelian, I also would like to know your answer to this question.
Thank you
Hi,
Ceylon cinnamon is considered healthier than Saigon cinnamon (cassia) because it has more medically-established health benefits, and negligible levels of a toxic compound that’s high in Saigon cinnamon. So Ceylon is called “True” cinnamon for a reason: it provides users with all of the cinnamon benefits without any of the risks.
Saigon cinnamon is known for its high concentration of essential oils, which accounts for it having a more complex and pungent flavor. Saigon cinnamon is intensely peppery and warm with a slight bitter note that can be unpleasant when the spice is used in excess. Because of these oils, Saigon cinnamon is considered good in terms of flavor. Ceylon cinnamon’s flavor is more subtle.
I hope this helps!
Ceylon is the REAL cinnamon. Saigon is not.
I would also like to know about the differences in cinnamon that we can find in our grocers. 🙏🏼🌞
Ceylon or rather Sri Lankan cinnamon is famous is the best. I’ve never heard of Saigon cinnamon.
Also known as chai
chai means just tea, any tea, including herbal infusion in many languages, such as Bulgarian (чай), Russian, Turkish, Farsi, etc. Tea is the English translation of chai.
Love this tea blend. Please clarify or correct your Ingredients list above to say One cup brewed black tea. As it reads now, you would need a cup of black tea leaves. The instructions below say one teaspoon of tea leaves to one cup of water, added to the anise, cloves and other ingredients. This may sound trivial but I know some folks who would get confused by the instructions given.
What kind of teapot is best? Cast Iron, ceramic or glass?
Hi Claire,
Picking the best teapot can be challenging.
Cast iron teapots are not only beautiful objects that you can display with pride in your tea corner, but they’re also a simple and functional way to brew up a tasty cup of tea. Made of solid cast iron, these pots are known for their excellent heat retention, so your tea will stay hotter for longer after you brew it.
However, they all come with their own advantages and disadvantages.
Please check the articles below for more details about each teapot and how to choose the best one:
https://www.nisbets.co.uk/how-to-choose-a-teapot
https://kitchenkite.com/blogs/kitchenkite-brew/picking-the-perfect-teapot-cast-iron-vs-ceramic-vs-glass-teapot
Many blessings and good health!
I have a question concerning black tea. My understanding is that if you have thyroid issues that you should not drink black tea, also I was told that black tea tends to leach iron from your system, is this info correct and if so, what tea can you use instead?
Kellie, go (back) to your medical professional/specialist, who monitors blood lab work (e.g., iron in blood). Let this one evaluate your labs, then ask your questions; and experiment as you may because if a problem exists it will likely show up in lab work. Iron is amply present in most foods, and especially processed foods using flours (its added to the flour before the bready item is made). Overload of iron is not good, as is under-load of iron. By the way, viruses and bacteria in the body LOVE iron and tend to travel in a body to where iron is readily available (e.g., reproductive organs). Plenty of MDs believe or suspect that cancers are caused by any combination of: virus, bacteria, parasite, fungi and toxins. Dr. Thomas E Levy, MD, JD (Juris “attorney” doctorate) offers a free download pdf-book, about 330 pages called “Rapid Virus Recovery” and written with a view towards Covid and general health. It is written to convey understandings to the non-medically trained (like me). Do a search. You can still get a free download of Rapid Virus Recovery at this link: https://riordanclinic.org/staff/thomas-levy-md-jd/
I have to try this!
Is there a tea that is low in oxalates. My Nephrologist has told me not to drink black tea because it increases kidney stone formation.
Hi Linda,
Peppermint, chamomile, rooibos, hibiscus are all good options for tea drinkers looking for low oxalate teas.
Many blessings and good health!
I’ll have to make it more often. I never knew it actually helped with HBP!
So, say you wanted to make 6 cups. Obviously you’d increase the water amount but would you then use 6 tsp of tea , 6 cloves, 6 anis pods, etc?
Having a cup, as we speak and love it! But, is any anis in any form okay or doesit have to whole be ‘star’ anis?
For anyone interested you can buy a large bag of star anise from nuts.com and it isn’t expensive
Having a cup, as we speak and love it! But, is any anis in any form okay or does it have to be whole,’star’ anis?
Hi Kathleen,
The major difference between anise and star anise is that anise seed is potent, with an almost spicy flavor, while star anise is subtly milder. They can be used interchangeably in recipes, but amounts must be adjusted. For 1 whole star anise, use ½ teaspoon anise seeds.
Many blessings and good health!