What is India’s beloved beverage? No wild guesses here – it’s chai! And chai (tea) comes in many different colours (green, black, white, etc.) and flavours. But amongst the various types, masala chai holds special importance. Masala chai pampers your taste buds like no other. And it’s easily available too – you can find delicious masala chai in almost every other street corner in India. 

But is masala chai more than a comfort drink? Read on to find out!

What ingredients are used to make masala chai?

You may be a fan of masala chai, but do you know what it contains? A standard cup of this brew will be made from these ingredients-

• Tea leaves (usually Assamese tea)
• Water 
• Milk
• Cinnamon pods and cinnamon sticks
• White pepper
• Cloves
• Ginger
• Jaggery

So, the highlight of masala chai is the variety of spices. And as we all know, spices like ginger and cloves are very good for our health.

Health benefits of masala chai –

 1. Relief against cold and flu

Is a runny nose or a blocked nose bothering you? Just get yourself some masala tea. You can rely on the goodness of spices in masala chai to immediately improve the symptoms of a cold or the flu. The spices also have antifungal, antibacterial, and antiparasitic properties that kill invading pathogens like viruses. That is why masala tea is also effective against minor fungal or parasitic infections. 

If you drink this tea regularly, you will reduce your likelihood of coming down with cough, cold and allergies.

 2. Reduces inflammation

Do you have nagging pain due to joint inflammation? You can say goodbye to pain caused by inflammation with some masala tea. Some of its ingredients like clove, cinnamon, and ginger have very powerful anti-inflammatory properties that act as natural painkillers. Read more about anti-inflammatory foods that help fight inflammation. 

 3. Improves digestion

Tea is acidic in nature and can trigger stomach problems. But when you add ginger to it, it balances out the acid content of tea. Moreover, ginger and the other spices improve digestion by increasing the amount of saliva your mouth produces and by enhancing the passage of food through your digestive tract.

Also Read: Barley Tea: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects & More!  

 4. Your heart will love masala chai

How can tea boost your heart health? One of the chief masala tea health benefits is that the black tea that is generally used in masala chai is a powerhouse of antioxidants that can fight free radicals responsible for heart inflammation. Clove and elaichi do not allow plaque to accumulate along your blood vessels and enhance blood flow in the heart. 

 5. Keeps diabetes in check

The cinnamon and clove in masala chai increase your body’s sensitivity to insulin. This is what keeps your blood sugar levels under control.

Also Read: Mullein Tea Benefits: A Deep Dive into Its Research-Based Health Attributes

 6. Helps in weight loss

Want to achieve your weight loss goals? Take the help of masala chai. It speeds up your metabolism and makes you burn more calories, and shed the extra kilos.

 7. It is good for the brain

Masala chai can do wonders for your mental health. It can slow down psychological degeneration and prevent the onset of mental illnesses like dementia or Alzheimer’s. Read more about foods that are good for the brain. 

Masala chai is beneficial for your overall health. So, next time you feel like sipping on some warm invigorating beverage, opt for some spicy tea to enhance your body and mind.

Also Read: 4 Health Benefits of Green Tea

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