December 2, 2021: A cup of hot coffee or tea is something that everyone craves for during winters. The variety of Indian chai – Masala Chai, Honey, Ginger Tea, Tulsi Tea offers a lot of warmth and health. Traditional Kashmiri tea, Kahwa is also gaining a lot of popularity across the country as a popular warm beverage loaded with health benefits, particularly enjoyed during winters. And of course, Hot Chocolate is an international favourite. Be it a child or an elderly person, who does not like a nice hot cup of Hot Chocolate. Read on to make your own cup of hot beverage this winter and stay warm and healthy.

Tulsi Tea

For one cup of Tulsi tea, boil few (10-15) Tulsi leaves in one cup of water for about 10 minutes. Take the pan off the stove and lemon juice. Add some honey if you want it sweet. Stir and your healthy Tulsi tea is ready.

This tea is good to soothe a sore throat, improves immunity and also helps in weight loss.

Honey, Ginger Tea

For one cup of Honey, Ginger Tea, add ½ tea spoon grated ginger to a cup of water in a pan. Bring the water and ginger to a boil. Let it infuse for couple of minutes. Take the pan off the stove. Strain the tea into a cup. Add honey as per sweetness required. You can add few drops of lemon to this. Stir. Enjoy the tea hot.

This tea has multiple benefits. Ginger acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. Lemon juice adds Vitamin C besides acting as a flavouring agent and Honey with its anti-bactarial, anti-fungal properties acts as a body warming agent and helps soothe a sore throat. If you have a cough and cold, Honey, Ginger Tea with some Lemon is the best harmless, home remedy.

Masala Chai

To make one cup of Masala Chai, to one cup of water add pre-mix chai masala (can be bought from shops) or add 3 cloves, 1 cadamom, 4-5 black pepper balls, one bay leaf, grated ginger and bring to a boil. Let it simmer for a while for the water to get all the flavours from the masala. Add tea leaves and bring it to a boil. Add milk and let it boil. Add sugar and serve hot. You can vary or change the ingredients including the amount of water and milk as per your liking. The aroma and the flavour will make you love winters.

Masala Chai is a favourite not just during the winters but even during rainy days.

 Masala Milk

In case you do not want to have Masala Chai you can have Masala Milk. Use the same masala – cloves, cardamom, bay leaf, black peppers (optional), grated ginger to a cup of milk. Boil. Add sugar. Add finely chopped almonds and a few strands of kesar (saffron) and serve hot. This drink is extremely soothing during winters and helps keep you warm.

Kahwa

Hailing from the picturesque state of Kashmir, Kahwa is an exotic mix of Kashmiri green tea leaves simmered in water with whole spices, crunchy nuts, dried fruits and saffron. This aromatic, orangy coloured beverage is one of the best ways to beat the winter chill. To make a cup of Kahwa, you will need Kashmiri green tea leaves (you cannot make Kahwa without these leaves), cardamom, cloves, cinnamon stick, saffron, finely chopped almonds and sugar to taste. Boil a cup of water with cardamom, cloves, cinnamon. Then add the Kashmiri green tea leaves and simmer for couple of minutes. In the meanwhile, add few strands of saffron to a little warm water and keep it aside. Strain the tea and add the saffron strands and the water to the tea, add sugar and the finely chopped almonds and serve hot.  

In addition to fighting the chill, the warming beverage is also packed with a bundle of health benefits like improving digestion weight loss, and building immunity.

Hot Chocolate

This is a hot favourite among children and adults alike. Very easy to make, for a hot cup of hot chocolate, warm up a cup of milk, add one or two spoons of cocoa powder or drinking chocolate powder available in shops. Add sugar if the cocoa powder is sugar free. You can also add chocolate chips and let it melt to make a creamy, chocolaty cup of hot chocolate. Stir well and serve hot. You can top up the drink with marshmallows while servings.

Hot chocolate beverage can also be made by melting a block of chocolate and adding it to milk.