It’s getting colder and colder as the days pass, at least here on the East Coast. I’ve been starting my mornings with either a Spiced Chai Latte or Spiced Chai Oatmeal. Most of the spices I use in this mix are so warming, so they are a great way to start a cold winter day. This recipe will make a little over 1/4 of a cup so you can use it over and over again. Simply add a few teaspoons to your oatmeal before it is finished cooking and add a little honey or pure maple syrup, or add it to your favorite nut milk with a little bit of a sweetener and bring it to a boil to make a spiced chai latte.

The cinnamon, cloves and ginger are the warming spices in this mix. The others are added for flavor but of course have healing benefits as well.

Cinnamon

  • balances blood pressure
  • stops hiccups!

Cloves

  • soothes sore throat and cough

Ginger

  • when combined with cardamom, stimulates appetite and reduces nausea

Maca (Root)

  • increases energy levels and libido
  • has analgesic effect that works as a pain reliever

Cardamom

  • when combined with ginger, stimulates appetite and reduces nausea
  • expels mucus

Coconut sugar

  • natural, vegan, gluten-free, unbleached sweetners
  • high in minerals and nutrients
  • almost neutral pH
  • low on the glycemic index

To make it…

Simply combined the following in a mixing bowl and store in glass container (I like to reuse my old spice jars from Trader Joe’s).

4 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ground cloves

1 tsp ground ginger

2 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp maca

1/2 tsp cardamom

4 tsp cinnamon sugar