On yogi tea

I first made this yogi tea for the first time last week and have been making it a nightly ritual since--mostly because it fulfills my sweet tooth + it warms me up and it's relaxing.  I was surprised at how mild-tasting and delicious it was given the combination of strong spices.  It tastes a lot like a warm, spicy chai.

Here's the recipe:

For each 8oz. cup, start with 10 oz. of water.  For convenience, make at least 4 cups at one time.

For each cup of boiling water, add:

• 3 whole cloves
• 4 whole green cardamom pods
• 6 whole black peppercorns
• 1/2 stick cinnamon
• Optional: 1 slice of fresh ginger root

Boil for 20-30 minutes, then add 1/4 tsp. any black tea. Let sit for one or two minutes and then add 1/2 cup milk and reheat. Strain and serve with honey to taste.

Black pepper is a blood purifier, cardamom is for the colon (gas), cloves are for the nervous system and cinnamon for the bones.  Ginger is helpful when suffering from a cold, recovering from the flu or for general physical weakness.  The milk aids in the easy assimilation of the spices and avoids irritation to the colon.  The black tea creates a synergy for all of the ingredients.

(Original recipe by Yogi Bhajan via Culinary Herbalism)