Tip of the Day: 01.06.2022

We love the idea of making a ritual of brewing chai, as a punctuation mark in a busy or stressful day. ‘When you approach the task with focused attention, it’s good for concentration, memory and mood. It’s a meditation in motion,’ says Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa, author of books including Food as Medicine. His simple recipe is to put four black peppercorns, four whole green cardamom pods, a half-inch slice of fresh ginger, half a cinnamon stick and three whole cloves in a pot filled with just under 300ml of water. Smell each ingredient as you add it to the water. ‘Each one is healing,’ he explains. ‘Black pepper purifies the blood; cardamom and ginger promote digestion; cinnamon supports bone health; cloves calm the nervous system.’ Boil the mixture for 10 minutes and add a bag or an infuser of black tea, then steep for five minutes. Take a moment to enjoy the aroma, and breathe deeply. ‘Remind yourself that you are a spiritual being having a human experience. That way you can transform your stress into bliss.’ Sip – and enjoy…