Sip of health: Rainy day beverages to warm you

Strap: The city is preparing for the monsoons to hit, and these warming drinks should be at the top of your list

If you are a Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory) fan, you know a hot beverage is the perfect drink to cheer up someone. It is also a good accoutrement for a rainy day and doubles up as a healing potion for various aliments like cold, fever, nausea and more. A mug of piping hot tea or coffee to sip while gazing out of the window, breathing in the petrichor and taking in the pitter patter of raindrops is just the recipe for a perfect day. Add a good book or a plate of steaming bhajjis with friends and family around, and it makes a core memory for most of us.

This season also brings with it a host of aliments, and Ayurveda lists many natural ingredients that can help cure them without having to turn to modern medicine. Here are five warming drinks which can help you enjoy both good health and the beautiful weather.

Chukku kaapi

This is a type of coffee that originates from Kerala and has several health benefits. Sukku malli coffee/chukku Kaapi is a soothing drink perfect for Mumbai’s monsoons. Sukku is dry ginger and malli is coriander seeds and are common ingredients that are available in any Indian kitchen. It boosts immunity and offers relief to those suffering from congestion, fever, sore throats and running noses as well as stomach issues and digestion. It can be prepared by adding milk or without milk too.

Kashmiri kahwa

This tea is infused with cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, and served with saffron and almonds. Traditionally drank on cold winter days, it can be consumed on chilly rainy days as well. Kashmiri kahwa is a traditional green tea with immunity-boosting qualities and helps reduce stress and anxiety.

Haldi doodh

Golden milk or haldi doodh in India is an age-old beverage that our grandmothers and mothers have subscribed to heal a cold. Turmeric tea, another popular drink made using haldi, is made by steeping fresh or dried turmeric in water. Haldi doodh is simply made by adding the powder to warm milk. It is high in manganese, iron and copper. Turmeric tea also has no caffeine and pairs well with camomile, which is good to sip on before bedtime. Sometimes, people also add kesar to the drink to add more flavour. It also contains antioxidants, has mood-improving qualities and helps with destressing.

Matcha tea

This drink has gained popularity in recent years as a superfood. A type of green tea that is grown in the shade in tea plantations, matcha plays an important role in the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. The leaves are ground into a fine powder and whisked into hot water instead of the usual steeping method. This extracts the most benefits out of the tea. Matcha tea is high in natural antioxidants and helps protect the liver, which is the main organ that detoxifies the body.

Lemon tea

It is made by steeping black tea and then adding a squeeze of lemon and honey, lemon tea is a fan favourite that is made for a quick pick-me up when that mid-afternoon slump hits. This citrusy fruit is anti-oxidant rich and cancer-fighting properties. It also regulates sugar levels and is recommended by doctors to deal with post-Surgical swelling or edema.

Adrak chai

Ginger infused tea better known as Adrak wali chai in India is a classic hot beverage that has many beneficial effects for your health. Similar to Chukku kaapi, ginger tea is good to treat the common cold, cough and helps with arthritis, diabetes, and to relieve nausea. Ginger tea is made by either grating it into the chai or by boiling it in water to extract all its good benefits. This root contains key phytonutrients known as gingerols which have an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect.

Recipe

Ingredients

8 – green cardamoms

6 – cloves

1 tsp – fennel seeds (saunf)

2 pcs – cinnamon

1 tsp – black pepper corns

1 tsp – ginger powder

2 cups – milk

2 cups – water

4 tbsp – tea leaves

Sugar to taste

1 tsp – grated ginger

Method

Grind all the spices together.

Boil milk and water, add the tea leaves and sugar.

Simmer for two minutes.

Add 1 tsp of the masala, grated ginger.

Remove from heat, cover and allow to stand for 3 to 4 minutes, to infuse.

Strain and serve.

Recipe by chef Pankaj Bhadouria

Medicinal benefits of herbs and spices

Turmeric: Fights inflammation

Cinnamon: Adds flavour and boosts immunity, helps with sore throat

Nutmeg: Mixed in milk or tea helps boost metabolism

Holy Basil: Provides relief from congestions, body aches and indigestion

Asafoetida: Soothes stomach problems

Black Pepper: Great for asthma and sinus

Inputs by chef Nishant Choubey and chef Reetu Uday Kugaji