Raia wakes up in the morning. Her eyes are barely open but she can still prepare her favorite wake-up drink – tea. She prefers her tea with black tea leaves, milk, water, and sugar – nothing else. While tea is a good habit, milk in her tea can prove detrimental to her health. Also, the first drink in the morning should always be water. Experts suggest that milk in tea diminishes its benefits. What if Raia gets some options to her regular milk laden tea?

Are you a tea or coffee person? I am questioned this umpteen number of times, especially when I visit someone. The problem arises when I say that I am neither. I never had milk-tea in my life. In fact, I have not yet tasted it. So, what should the conversations with guests happen over, especially during monsoon and winter? My husband suggested me to find out different types of tea that can be served to guests. I was pleased with this suggestion as I could drink such teas with them and they could even turn out as good conversation starters!

Besides starting conversations, I also need something warm, detoxifying and refreshing to start my day. So, I researched some options and have zeroed in on 5 Milk-free teas that will charge you up in the morning. They are even beneficial for your health. And if you are a lazy soul like me, then let me tell you these are easy to prepare and ingredients are available right in your kitchen! While each tea mentioned here is prepared using a single ingredient, you can add other ingredients depending on your culinary knowledge.

1. Coriander Tea – A Summery Concoction Good for Digestion

Coriander Tea sounds so refreshing and light. I heard about this tea recently. It can be prepared using coriander leaves or cilantro or the coriander seeds. My friend suggested a better option as well. She asked me to use the stalk of the coriander leaves that is generally discarded. The tea is a good option to serve during summers.

Let’s learn how to prepare

• Be ready with a cup of coriander leaves / a spoonful of coriander seeds and 250 ml water.
• To prepare this tea, you need to boil the water in a pot.
• Add crushed coriander seeds or coriander leaves along with stalk to the boiling water.
• Now, turn off the flame and cover the pot for some 5 minutes. Let the water absorb the flavor of the coriander.
• Filter the tea using a sieve. Have this tea lukewarm for best results.

Benefits of Coriander Tea

Coriander is known to have a cooling effect on the body. Drinking coriander infused tea in the morning helps the body in a number of ways. Those suffering from digestive problems should have this coriander tea. People with skin problems benefit from this tea as well. It is even good for the healthy growth of hair. This concoction with antibacterial properties is beneficial for diabetics. It treats cold, flu and conjunctivitis and is known to prevent menstrual problems. In addition, many people around the world drink coriander tea to shed off extra kilos and become healthier.

2. Fenugreek Tea – Boost your immunity with this tea

Who would not want to sip some tea for immunity! This tea is prepared using the whole fenugreek seeds. The seeds are quite popular in kitchens as they impart a peculiar flavor to meals and even make meals easier to digest. If you have never seen fenugreek seeds, then visit a grocery store today to take stock of them.

Let’s learn how to prepare

• Be ready with a spoonful of fenugreek seeds and 250 ml water.
• To prepare this tea, you need to crush the fenugreek seeds using a mortar and pestle. Please do not make a powder out of them using mixer grinder.
• Meanwhile, keep the water to boil.
• Once it starts boiling, add the crushed fenugreek seeds to the water.
• Switch off the flame.
• Let the water absorb the flavor and essence of fenugreek seeds.
• Once the temperature comes down to lukewarm, it is ready to be served. But before serving, remember to sieve the tea. You can use honey to mellow down the bitterness of the seeds.

Benefits of Coriander Tea

Fenugreek is warm in nature. Hence, the tea is best had in the winter season. People with constant immunity related issues like cold and cough should have this tea to generate heat in their body. Since ages, lactating mothers have been fed fenugreek water to aid the production of milk. Fenugreek tea helps regulate blood sugar. Being an antacid, it helps strengthen digestion and aids in losing weight. A rich source of magnesium, this tea is known to relieve stress.

3. Turmeric Tea – The Healing Tea for your Health

Turmeric has been a household name. The mustard yellow color, a peculiar taste and lots of benefits make this spice a great add-on to any meal. I remember that I used to rub the whole turmeric on a stone with some water to give it to my little one once she was over 6 months. It helped her fight a cough and cold.

Let’s learn how to prepare

• First of all, be ready with a spoonful of turmeric powder or a cup of diced fresh turmeric and 250 ml water.
• To prepare turmeric tea, you need to boil the water in a pot.
• Add a spoon of turmeric powder to the boiling water. You can alternatively use chopped fresh turmeric when available during the season.
• After adding turmeric, let the water simmer on a low flame for about 8-10 minutes. Strain the tea if required.
• You can add honey or lemon to balance the taste of turmeric.

Benefits of Turmeric Tea

Turmeric is known to boost immunity as it packed with endotoxins. It helps fight the symptoms of cold and flu as well. Further, this spice even aids in digestion and helps lower the level of cholesterol in the body. Being an antiseptic, it helps in healing cut, scrape or pain in the body. Turmeric is also known to relieve stress and anxiety. People suffering from inflammation should have turmeric tea. It is also known to ease the pain in the joints. Diabetics can have turmeric to process high sugar in their blood. Turmeric tea helps in flushing out the toxins and cleanses skin problems. It is even known to improve complexion and prevent premature aging by getting rid of free radicals. Regular consumption of tea keeps ailments like Alzheimer’s at bay.

4. Cinnamon Tea – Benefit out of this Weight-Loss Tea

Cinnamon has been my favorite spice. I use it to flavor cakes, sweets, and vegetable preparations. It lends a distinct strong flavor to dishes. But I love it the most in coffee and tea concoctions. Cinnamon can be used as whole i.e. in the form of a stick or even as the powder. This spice is packed with calcium, iron, Vitamin K, manganese, and fiber as well.

Let’s learn how to prepare

• Be ready with an inch of cinnamon stick or cinnamon powder and 250 ml water.
• Boil the water in a pot.
• Add the cinnamon stick to it. You can use cinnamon powder as well. However, the cinnamon powder does not dissolve properly.
• Let the water simmer on low flame for 10-12 minutes.
• Cover the pot and let the water absorb the nutrients and flavor of the spice.
• When the water is lukewarm, strain it and enjoy. This tea does not need honey or lemon as it is refreshing in itself.

Benefits of Cinnamon Tea

Cinnamon tea is said to reduce overall fat in the body, thanks to its components that speed up the metabolism. Further, this tea is known to regulate the levels of blood sugar and even cleanse the intestines while aiding digestion. Cinnamon tea is also said to reduce cholesterol levels in the body. People consume this tea to boost their immune system as well. Rich in antioxidants, this powerful tea helps in taming free radicals in the body and preventing premature aging. If you suffer from loss of appetite, then this tea can be quite useful. Cinnamon tea is also said to strengthen the functioning of the brain. Regular consumption helps minimize the effects of inflammation and also treat menstrual disorders.

5. Fennel Tea – The Wake-up tea to Cool Down your body

Fennel seeds are the coolest seeds I know. They smell good and taste even better. I add them to various meals I prepare, but strategically, because they can enhance or mar the taste of the food. Fennel seeds are best had in summer to beat the heat naturally. Add them to the tea, prepare sherbet using them or just chew the fresh bulbs that are available. Let us prepare the tea and relish it.

Let’s learn how to prepare

• Be prepared with a teaspoon of fennel seeds or fresh fennel bulbs and 250 ml water
• Begin by boiling the water in a pot. In the meanwhile, crush the seeds or the fresh fennel bulbs in a mortar and pestle.
• Add them to the boiling water along with the water released while crushing.
• Switch off the flame. Cover the pot and let the water absorb all the nutrients.
• Sieve if required. You can alternatively add the crushed fennel seeds to a cup and pour boiling water in the cup.
• Cover the cup for around 5-7 minutes. Enjoy this tea when it cools down slightly.

Benefits of Fennel Tea

Fennel tea has cooling effects on the body. It helps calm down the stomach and reduce the signs of inflammation. People suffering from an upset tummy can benefit out of this tea. Fennel tea even aids digestion and minimize the effects of bloating after a heavy meal. It is known to boost immunity as fennel seeds are antifungal, antiseptic and antibacterial as well. People drink this tea as a preventive measure against viral and flu. In addition, this tea is also being drunk to lose weight as it boosts metabolism. People suffering from urinary problems should have this tea. A perfect detox drink, this concoction helps in balancing the hormones in the body.

There are so many types and varieties of tea around the world. Each culture has its own recipe for tea, quite peculiar in taste and also in terms of preparation. The ingredients used are mostly local to keep the authentic flavor intact. However, the internet has diminished the boundaries and with this, recipes of different kinds of tea are now available at the press of a click. Choose that tea that awakens your senses and benefits your body and immune system as well. So begin your day with a glass of warm water and a cup of spice-infused tea to have a great day ahead. Happy mornings!