African tea (Kenyan Chai) recipe
African tea, infused with spices like ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and turmeric, offers a rich blend of flavour and health benefits.
The black tea base provides polyphenols that support heart health and boost immunity. Ginger aids digestion and improves circulation, while cardamom helps detoxify the body, and reduce triglycerides and inflammatory markers.
Cinnamon is known to help balance blood sugar levels, promoting steady energy throughout the day and lowers LDL cholesterol. Turmeric, a powerful anti-inflammatory spice, supports joint and overall body health, including decreasing blood glucose and insulin resistance. Cloves add antibacterial properties for oral and gut wellness.
Together, these ingredients make African tea a nourishing, aromatic drink that warms the body, soothes the mind and promotes healthy body functions.
Ingredients (serves 2–3 cups)
2 cups water
2 cups whole milk (or your preferred milk)
2–3 teaspoons black tea leaves (or 2 tea bags — strong ones like Kenyan or Assam. I like Kericho Gold Black Kenyan Tea)
1-2 tsp of sugar or honey (adjust to taste)
1 small piece of fresh ginger (about 1 inch, grated or sliced)
1 tsp turmeric powder
2–3 cardamom pods (crushed slightly)
(Optional): 1 small cinnamon stick or 2–3 cloves for extra spice
Instructions
Boil the spices:
In a saucepan, bring the water, ginger, cardamom, and any other spices (like cinnamon or cloves) to a boil.
Let it simmer for about 3–5 minutes to infuse the flavours.
Add the tea:
Add the black tea leaves (or bags) to the boiling water and simmer another 2–3 minutes until it turns a deep amber colour.
Add milk and sugar:
Pour in the milk and add sugar.
Bring the mixture back to a gentle boil. Let it simmer for about 3–5 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent boiling over.
Strain and serve:
Pour the tea through a strainer into cups or a teapot.
Serve hot, preferably with mandazi (African doughnuts), chapati, or bread.
☕ Tips & Variations
For a stronger flavour, use more tea leaves or let it simmer longer.
You can add black pepper or nutmeg for a bolder spice mix (common in Swahili coastal chai).
To make Chai ya tangawizi (ginger tea), increase the ginger amount and skip other spices.