Author Archives: Dawn

There’s something I want to share with you. The secret recipe for my addiction. I love tea. Love it. There is a very special tea, which I suppose could be classified as a Chai, that you drink at the conclusion of Kundalini Yoga classes. The recipe is of the Great Yogi Bhajan. It is my favorite tea in the cosmos. I know that my sisters want this- and thought I should put it in a place where it can be easily found… It will always be in the pages to the side as well so that you don’t have to sift through the wordpile to find it. Enjoy. It’s delicious hot or cold, and will keep you happy.

As a note– I sometimes change the mix to suit specific things…add fenugreek and/or dill. And tumeric since my knees have become so kvetchy. It’s good. It makes your house smell delicious! When it is finished you just pour it through a strainer and enjoy.

(Thanks to Alexia for giving me the gift of this tea and yoga.)

Yogi Tea

Make at least 4 cups of Yogi Tea at a time. It’s a good idea to make large batches at a time, and store it in the refrigerator without milk; then add milk when you want to drink it. It can stay fresh in the refrigerator for about a week.

For ONE cup, the measurements are:
10 oz. water
3 whole cloves
4 whole green cardamom pods (cracked open is best)
4 whole black peppercorns
1/2 stick cinnamon
1 slice ginger root
1/4 tsp. black tea (optional)
1/4 cup milk

Boil the spices for 10-15 minutes, with the top on the pot(just leave it open a crack to let a little of the steam out). Add black tea and steep for 2 minutes. Add milk, then bring to a boil. Remove immediately from the stove, and strain. Add honey to taste.

For 2 quarts use:
20 cardamom pods
20 peppercorns
15 cloves
5 or more slices of ginger root

1 tbs. black tea

Boil at least 30 minutes. Add 1 qt of milk.
Yogi Tea is also available in pre-mixed packages, and in tea bags. (See References for address of Ancient Healing Ways.) Yogi Bhajan says about Yogi Tea: “If you take a really a good amount of Yogi Tea, it will keep your liver very well. It is said to help the liver. And when we started in the sixties, people who had drug habits, who couldn’t even move, we put them on Yogi Tea.” Yogi Tea is actually a combination of foods. It is a tonic to the nervous system. It can help to balance your system when you are feeling out of balance. It has been used often as a remedy and preventative measure for colds, flu and diseases of the mucous membranes. Black pepper is a blood purifier. Cardamom is for the colon. Together they support the brain cells. Cloves help support the nervous system. Cinnamon is good for the bones. Ginger helps strengthen the nervous system and is very good if you have a cold, flu, physical weakness. It can help women when they are experiencing menstrual discomfort, such as cramps or PMS symptoms. You can try making Yogi Tea with extra ginger when you are feeling a cold or the flu coming on. If a man takes a cup of Yogi Tea after intercourse, it can help to replenish his body. In addition, Yogi Tea diluted with milk, can be very helpful to a child who is experiencing the pains of teething.

Here’s the Yogi’s specific tea for joint health.

It is very yummy too.

Golden Milk

1/8 tsp turmeric
½ cup water
2 Tbsp. almond oil (cold pressed)
8 oz (1 cup) whole dairy milk
honey to taste
Optional: seeds of 4 cardamom pods (boil with turmeric)

Boil turmeric in water for 8 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the milk and almond oil and bring to a boil. When the milk is boiling, turn off the heat. Add the turmeric mixture to the milk and serve with honey to taste. The turmeric should completely surrender to the water. The cardamom seeds may be cooked with the turmeric for added flavor, but they are optional. The oil provides lubrication and energy to the system, while turmeric makes the bones and joints more flexible.

If desired, add sweetener (honey or maple syrup) to taste. You can also make it frothy by putting it in the blender – use the lowest setting. Drink warm. It’s a great bedtime drink.