As the weather turns colder, we naturally turn to warming remedies to give us strength and nourishment…soups, stews, broths, baths…a hot water bottle to warm our toes at night…and of course, a hot cup of something soothing to warm our hands, bellies, and spirits.
This version of a chai latte is full of those warming spices we’re drawn to this time of year, but is also dairy and caffeine free. It resembles the frothy, spicy chai latte you have tasted at your local coffee shop…creamy and delicious…and it’s easy to make in your kitchen.
I use a Bullet blender, and any high-speed blender will work. A regular blender is fine, though you may have a few unblended pieces of cashew at the bottom…no biggie.
I have most of my spices in shakers, so I just shake each one directly into the blender. Otherwise, just guesstimate. If you like to use fresh spices, that’s even better, but you will have to gauge quantities, since fresh spices are generally more intensely flavorful than those from a jar. Let me know how yours turns out!
To Make:
15 shakes of Ginger
10 Cinnamon
2 Clove
2 Nutmeg
2 Black Pepper
1 Cardamom
1/4 Cup Cashews (raw)*
1 Tsp Honey
2 Dates
1 1/2 Cups Hot Water
Boil water and add to blender, then add in the other ingredients. Blend until frothy, about a minute with high-speed blenders, a bit longer with regular ones. Pour into your favorite mug.
To make it extra fancy, add a dollop of whipped cream, or a scoop of cinnamon, ginger or vanilla ice cream, and sprinkle cinnamon on top. A cinnamon stick adds a festive touch and doubles as a straw for kids.
Serve in place of hot cocoa or egg nog; it pairs beautifully with spice cake and other holiday treats.
* Cashews (and all nuts) should ideally be soaked first. This makes their nutrition more accessible and easier to digest. Just cover raw nuts in water and soak for eight hours or overnight. Use within a couple of days or freeze.
Remedy Love 