Super Immune-Building Chai Recipe

The weather is starting to shift to the cool raininess of autumn. The kids have started their back to school activities, and there’s a buzz in the air this year about illness. What can we do to help our kids as they head back to the classroom with more exposure to germs and illness? How can we help their bodies transition from the warm dry summer, through the cool damp autumn and into cold winter? I asked my kids, “What are your favorite herbal medicine remedies?”

The first one out of both of their mouths was “chai!” They LOVE my herbal chai recipe. There’s nothing like homemade chai, even hot chocolate! I kept a pot of an immune-boosting, herbal homemade chai brewing throughout the winter last year, and they loved it. What a wonderful feeling to be nourishing them with medicine they enjoy.

This year, I’m starting the chai recipe early — using it as a fall tonic to nourish our immune systems and to warm our bodies on chilly fall days.

Most often homemade chai is made with strong black tea, but I am not interested in that large dose of caffeine and make my chai recipe with herbs alone. It is delicious!

Ready for the chai recipe?

Super Immune-Building Chai Recipe

What you’ll need…

• 3 1/2 cups water
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
• 1 whole nutmeg, chopped
• 1 tablespoon cardamom seed pods
• 5 tongues of Astragulus root
• 1 tablespoon dried burdock root
• 1 tablespoon dried dandelion root
• 1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns
• 1/2 teaspoon anise seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon whole allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon Echinacea root
• Need herbs? Visit Mountain Rose Herbs.

What you do next in this homemade chai recipe…

Simmer the spices in the water for about 15 minutes. (If you’d like to add black tea, add 1/8 cup after removing from the heat and steep for not more than 3 minutes.)

Strain out the herbs, add warmed milk (I suggest at least 1/4 cup) and honey to taste.

Enjoy this delicious fall tonic, and the wonderful feeling of giving your kids a tasty, nourishing treat!

P.S. This isn’t just for the kids, you know. John and I love this super immune-building chai recipe too!

Written by Kimberly Gallagher

Kimberly Gallagher, M.Ed., CCH is author of Aphrodisiac, the Herb Fairies book series and creator of the Wildcraft! board game. She is also co-founder and co-CEO of LearningHerbs. Kimberly is parent to two amazing grown kids and is passionate about sustainable living, cultural transformation, healthy cooking, and storytelling.