Discovering Chai’s Medicinal Properties

Some link Chinese Emperor Shen Nung in the period of 2700 BCE, as the first person to drink tea - by accident. While he was waiting for his servant to bring him a cup of hot water, he happened to be sitting under a Camellia Sinensis (Black Tea) tree. Despite the leaves from the tree dropping into his chalice, the emperor couldn’t be bothered to remove them. As he sipped, his mood dramatically improved, and that is the story of how tea was first sipped. The drink continued to grow in popularity and was ultimately a building block of Chinese medicine.

Health Benefits 

With its origins establishing itself as a healing beverage, chai evolved again once the people of India added spices, milk and sugar to it. Here’s how a cup of chai can improve your health: 

Blood pressure

The cinnamon in chai helps in regulating blood pressure. Adding fresh ginger or ginger powder also helps to manage blood sugar levels. A dose of masala chai also contains anti-inflammatory properties and antibacterial properties - helping fight disease at every level. 

Heart health

Black tea, the main ingredient in a cup of chai, is packed with flavonoids, which stop any type of plaque from being built up in your arteries. This immediately lowers the stress on your heart health.  

Digestion

Chai can help you digest better. Studies on Black tea reveal that it aids in digestion and helps keep stomach problems at bay. 

Simply put, making a cup of chai in the morning can have transformative effects for your daily life.

Builds your immune system

The key immunity boosting ingredients in chai are black tea (ours is organic and from the Assam region of India), green cardamom and ginger. Here’s how each of them work to regulate our body and keep us healthy:

• Black tea - Black tea contains Polyphenols, which are a type of antioxidant that can provide protection against the onset of chronic disease, decrease inflammation and improve cell health.

• Green Cardamom - Rich in antioxidants and minerals, cardamom contributes towards a healthy gut which helps fend off colds and viruses.

• Ginger - High in Vitamin C, ginger is an excellent source of antioxidants. It’s also a diaphoretic which warms the body within and can be an excellent way to fend off colds and infections.

Helps your mental wellbeing

L-theanine is an amino acid that is found specifically in black tea (including the organic Assam tea that we use in our chai mix), and may be able to increase relaxation by reducing stress and anxiety levels.

L-theanine has been shown to positively alter brain waves and the neurotransmitters involved in mood, focus, and memory. This happens because L-theanine is able to release the caffeine from chai in a slow, controlled manner instead of the typical hit you get after a cup of espresso.

Cleanses your oral microbiome

The verified presence of antimicrobial properties in cardamom can help decrease the bacteria known to cause cavities.

Helps your respiratory health 

Evidence shows inhaling cardamom oil can increase blood circulation and oxygen intake, and we proudly pack more cardamom in our chai mix than anyone else out there.