Chamomile Apple Chai

Fruits belong in the realm of herbalism, too! Apples are nourishing fruit that support gut health, provide much needed vitamins and minerals, and soothe digestion. They also happen to provide one of the coziest, brightest flavors and are a natural compliment to all our favorite comforting, grounding, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory spices. 

I won't knock the concept of “pumpkin spice” at all—it is just shorthand for said spices! But I also personally gravitate toward chai—similar spices but a different mix and context. The earthy complexity of South Asian masala blends are the ultimate hearty, healthy, homey basis for the best teas. 

Beyond the health benefits, incorporating apples and chai spices into your routine help impart spiritual wellbeing, too. Apples are symbols of beauty and enchantment, love and luck, knowledge and power. Chai spices like cinnamon, ginger, and cloves have ties to healing, prosperity, and luck, too. 

And then there’s chamomile. I love pairing chamomile with apple because the two complement one another so well - chamomile has that sweet honey flavor and a scent that is so reminiscent to apple, the actual origin of its name in ancient Greek is the phrase “ground apple.” Chamomile adds oomph to the digestive benefits of apple, aids in calming the nerves and relaxing the body and mind. It adds comfort like a golden beam of light that can penetrate any dark mood. 

All these elements combine into one of my favorite tea blends I have created - it’s one that I always keep a big jar of on hand, and need to refill that jar frequently. I am a stickler for seasonal traditions, including this one: I begin sipping this tea in August and enjoy it right through late summer and all of autumn. But if I am missing autumn’s magic during other parts of the year, I can conjure up a bit of it with a mug of this favorite potion!

Here is my recipe for Chamomile Apple Chai - let me know if you enjoy it!

Ingredients

Dried apple pieces (dry your own or buy them dried)

3 parts Chamomile

2 parts Rooibos or black tea

1.5 parts Ginger

1 part Cinnamon stick pieces

1 part Cloves

.5 part Fennel

.25 - .5 part Cardamom

(Use tsp as your base "part" if you're making one mug; use a bigger base like 1 cup if you're making a large batch to store in jars for the season!)

Instructions

To make a single cup of tea, add 1 tablespoon to a tea strainer, eco-friendly tea bag, or French press. Pour 1 to 1 ½ cups hot water over the tea and steep for 3-5 minutes. Sweeten to taste, if desired.

This chai blend is stress busting, immune boosting, digestion enhancing, and extremely tasty. It's a great blend to take you through the autumn! And most of the ingredients are easy to source from the grocery store, so it's a pretty easy tea blend to diy.

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