Chai tea is one of my favourite things, the spices invigorate me and fill me with a sense of wonder of far off places and of something special and comforting.

It evokes the senses and livens up my morning, smelling the spices and taking that first sip, warming me up from head to toe..watching the steam rise up out of the cup as the day begins, relishing in the stillness of the morning..

Something about making chai from scratch feels both rewarding, earthy and healing, connecting to the spices and the plants and the elements of nature, smelling each spice and the different aromas they afford, thinking about where each spice has come from and how it was harvested..it really is a lovely ritual.

This rooibos chai has been a go to when I feel I need to step off the caffeine train for a while and rest my weary nerves and opt for something a little more soothing…still with all the delicious warming spices of masala chai..just more subtle. Perfect for before bed.

Rooibos or Aspalathus linearis, also called Redbush tea, is native to South Africa, its filled with antioxidants, and it goes really well with chai spices, and you can drink it with or without milk. Delicious either way.

You can also make an iced version in the warmer months, but for now cozy up with this delicious subtle but soothing rooibos chai.

You can read further here about tea, with an iced chai recipe as well.

Here’s the rooibos chai recipe, enjoy!

Rooibos Chai

Caffeine free spice filled delicious chai tea

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Servings 2

Ingredients

2 Rooibos Tea bags or 1 tbsp loose leaf rooibos
1 Cinnamon stick
3-4 Cardamom pods, crushed
2 Star anise
2cm Fresh ginger root
1 tsp Fennel seeds
1 tsp Cloves
Pinch of black pepper (optional)
1 cup Plant milk of choice
1/2 tsp Vanilla powder (optional)
1 tsp Honey (optional)
Pinch of rose petals (optional)

Instructions

Place all the spices and rooibos tea in a medium saucepan with 2 cups of water, bring to the boil and then reduce heat to a simmer for 5mins or so
Add the milk and vanilla powder if using, once the rooibos and spices have simmered for a while and heat until the milk is warmed up, try not to boil the milk.
Remove from heat and strain into 2 cups
Add honey and rose petals to garnish if desired.