Fall is beginning to wind down, and the door is starting to open for winter weather, sooner than some would like.  I’m not much of a cold weather person myself so anything that helps warm the body sounds good to me.  What better to do the job than what I call a Fireside Chai.   

Fireside Chai has the typical chai spice ingredients but is made with whole or fresh spices.  Chai means tea to those from India, and alive or living to those with a Hebrew background.  I decided my journey through winter this year would be adorned with Fireside Chai in apple, cherry or cranberry juice, in oatmeal or cream of wheat and an accompaniment for baking fruit.  I may even try making my homemade bread rolls with a little Fireside Chai added to the dough.  

Make your Fireside Chai as you would the Spice Water recipe posted October 2024 under Spicing Up October.  For the first batch of Fireside Chai, I used apple juice to simmer the whole spices for about 30 minutes.  Strain the whole spices off using a mesh strainer.  I made the batch potent with spices and used the apple juice-based liquid to add to other juices for a warm drink, or a ¼ cup for adding the chai flavor to hot cereal or pancake batter.  I recommend using whole spices and fresh ginger root. The ginger root and black pepper add a twinge of heat making this spice mix a perfect fit for cold weather.  I advise not to consume chai spice during the warmer seasonal months when the internal heat of the body should not be heated through the consumption of foods/drinks made with peppers or other heat elevating ingredients and spices.  

A quick internet search and I found there are approximately 69 references to spice(s) in the Holy Bible, depending upon the translation.   Spices include such things as cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and ginger. Those spices that you might put in your pumpkin pie or other favorite baked dish, not spicy hot items like chili peppers.  

Spices were a valuable commodity in the past and often given as gifts to those in positions of authority.   The Queen of Sheba delivered spices to King Solomon as referenced in 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles.  This picture tells me there is something important about the spices we often keep in our kitchen.  There must be a chemical reaction produced or initiated by spices that is valuable to the blood.  A chemist would need to provide that detailed information.  For now, I consider spices important for health and use them nearly every day.  

Cheers to the Fireside Chai! 

To Your Health, 

Jill