Immunity Booster Herbal Tea / Kadha

Kadha is a traditional homemade medicinal drink used as a remedy for cough and cold and as an immunity booster. It is basically an Ayurvedic herbal tea that is a beverage made from the infusion or decoction of herbs and spices. It is used in India for over hundreds of years, though it might have come into limelight currently owing to the Corona Virus Pandemic of 2020. Apart from strengthening the immune system,  drinking antioxidant rich kadha regularly, keeps many seasonal and chronic diseases at bay, improves the skin quality and works as a natural anti-ageing agent. 

What is a Kadha ?

Kadha is an anti-oxidant rich herbal tea that is considered as a potent immunity booster. Kadha originated in India and is one of the oldest forms of medicine as per Ayurveda. Kadha is a spice and herb mixture that is obtained from dry ingredients that cannot be juiced and hence boiled in water to extract its health benefits. It is a beverage that is made from the infusion or decocotion of variousmedicinal herbs and spices. I am sure every household in India has its own version of kadha that is used as a home remedy against flu, common cough cold, especially during monsoon and winter season.

What goes into my Kadha ?

My version of kadha is a simple decoction of few herbs and spices that are natural immunity boosters. It is not bitter or tasteless as is usually thought about any Kadha. It is on the contrary a flavorful and aromatic drink that is approved by my 11 year old son who has been having it daily since the outbreak of Corona Pandemic. Whichever recipe you follow, the key to making an effective kadha is to allow the ingredients (spices and herbs) to boil in water for at least 10-12 minutes or until it reduces to half its original volume. Also one should not forget that since it is prepared from whole spices, kadha should be taken in a small quantity when consumed on daily basis. Consuming large quantity of kadha may generate heat in the body. So let's quickly have a look at all the ingredients of our daily dose of immunity booster.

• Cinnamon: Rich in anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and lends an appealing aroma and mildly sweet taste to the Kadha.
• Black Peppercorn: Black peppercorn contains piperine a compound that improves digestion and metabolic performance. Laboratory studies suggest that black pepper may improve cholesterol levels and control blood sugar.
• Clove: Cloves are loaded with strong anti-oxidants. Consuming cloves regularly helps boosts immunity.
• Turmeric: Turmeric has curcumin that gives turmeric its characteristic yellow color.  It is proven to have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral and immune boosting properties. Dry turmeric powder can be used if fresh root turmeric is not available.
• Ginger: Ginger aids in digestion and helps treating cold and flu infections. Dry ginger or fresh root ginger can be used.
• Lemon Grass: Lemon grass is full of anti-oxidants, heals cold and flu, boosts metabolism and burns fat. Regulates high blood pressure and good for digestion. It gives a fresh lemony aroma and citrus flavor to the kadha.
• Green Cardamom: Has cooling effect on the body and known to relieve sore throat.
• Black Currants: Black currants are rich in Vitamin C, have plenty of anti-oxidants and anthocyanins. These can help strengthen immune system, soothe sore throat and ease flu symptoms.
• Holy Basil / Tulsi: Basil leaf is a healing herb that helps in treating cold, nasal congestion, cough and flu. These leaves are also great for improving digestion and contain a range of anti-oxidants that can strengthen the immune system.
• Jaggery: A small quantity of jaggery balances the spices. It is optional though.
• Water: All the spices and herbs are boiled in water until it reduces to half its original volume to extract all the nutrients.

Related Event:

Herbal and health is the theme for 263rd week on our Facebook Gourmet group, Foodie Monday Blog Hop where in a group of like minded bloggers share their food creations on pre-determined themes every Monday. Aruna who blogs at Vasu's Veg Kitchen was our hostess for this week and among the two themes she proposed, herbal / medicinal tea , theme won with maximum votes. Aruna suggested that we share any herbal tea or medicinal decocotion other than the regular Masala chai or turmeric milk. This immunity booster kadha is my contribution towards the theme. Meanwhile do check out Aruna's space for many delicious authentic south Indian recipes. I have bookmarked her Dates and Nuts Ragi Malt and Sabja masala buttermilk recipes to try out soon.

                                            

Dietary Notes:

• Dairy free
• Gluten-free
• Herbal and medicial drink
• Heathy 
• Detox beverage

Preaparation Time: 2 minutes

Cooking Time: 10-12 minutes

Serves: 2

Ingredients: Measurement used 1 cup = 240ml

• 2 cups water
• 1 inch stick of cinnamon
• 2-3 black pepper corn
• 2-3 cloves
• 2-3 stalks of lemon grass
• 4-5 black currants
• 1/2 inch root ginger or 1/4 teaspoon dry ginger powder
• 1/2 inch turmeric root or 1/4 teaspoon dry tutmeric powder
• 2 green cardamom
• 5-7 holy basil / tulsi leaves
• 1 small piece of jaggery (optional)

Method:

1. In a mortar and pestel pound the dry spices, cinnamon, black pepper, cloves, and cardamom.

2.  Heat 2 cups of water in a sauce pan. Add the pounded spices to it followed by basil leaves, chopped lemon grass stalks , grated ginger and turmeric powder.

3. Allow the mix of herbs and spices boil vigorously. Now simmer for 8-10 minutes or until the liquid reduces to half its original volume. Your house will be full of sweet smelling aroma from the spices and herbs.

4. Before putting off the flame add the jaggery piece and give it a good stir. The jaggery will melt in the hot liquid almost instantaneously.

5. Strain the herbal tea and serve in indiviual small cups or shot glasses and consume it while it is warm.

Recipe Notes:

• Whichever recipe you follow, the key to making an effective kadha is to allow the ingredients (spices and herbs) to boil in water for at least 10-12 minutes or until it reduces to half its original volume. 
• This herbal drink is prepared from whole spices, hence should be taken in a small quantity when consumed on daily basis as it may generate heat in the body.
• Addition of jaggery is optional but it balances the spicy flavors and makes the kadha palatable. Do not add refined sugar to the kadha. You may add little honey if you wish instead of jaggery.
• Ideally a herbal tea should be made fresh daily for best results.
• Pregnant ladies should consult their doctors before consuming such herbal tea daily as it generates heat in the body.
• I am not a nutritionalist and do not recommend this herbal tea as a remedy to any specific ailment. It is a home remedy to common cold and cough my family has been following from ages.

I hope a few of you would love to try out this recipe. If you do so, feel free to share your feedback with us in the form of likes and comments in the comment section below this post. All your suggestions are also more than welcome. If you like my work and feel it is worth following, do hit the follow button at the top right corner of this blog. Your appreciation means a lot to me. For more recipes and new updates follow us on social media.

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