Turmeric Chai

Typically when I think of turmeric, my mind goes to curry, or mustard, or flavoring other savory dishes. I hadn't considered the possibility that it could be used as a sweet, warming beverage. However, I found myself in need of turmeric's healing anti-inflammatory properties and was looking for a way to increase my turmeric intake.

I came across this post at Mark's Daily Apple and decided to use it as inspiration for modifying one of my already favorite beverages. Chai. As it turns out, this may very well be more useful than just making one feel warm and cozy, or healing an inflamed body.

Turmeric Chai

Ingredients:
16 oz of milk
2 bags black tea
3 cardamom seeds (crushed)
1 thumb-size piece (or more) of ginger, peeled and crushed
1 tsp turmeric
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1 Tbsp honey

Warm milk in a saucepan with tea bags, cardamom and ginger. (I like my chai very strong in ginger, so I add more.) Stir regularly to keep it from scorching. When milk becomes steamy, add turmeric, cinnamon, and nutmeg, and whisk until completely blended. Add the honey, serve hot.

The great thing about this chai is that, not only is it full of healthful spices, but it has some lovely magical properties as well.

Cardamom is a feminine herb, ruled by Venus and is powerful in lust and love. The seeds are often used in lust potions, love sachets, and incense.

Ginger is opposite to Cardamom, in that it's a masculine spice, ruled by Mars. Its main influences are love, money, success and power. Eating ginger before performing spells lend them additional power, thus enhancing the strength of other herbs in this chai and ensuring their success.

Turmeric is a purification herb, long used in Hawaiian magic.

Cinnamon is a very magical herb. Masculine like Ginger, but ruled by Venus, it's useful in spells ranging from power to protection, to love and lust. It's also healing and cleansing like Turmeric.

Nutmeg too is a Masculine herb. Ruled by Jupiter it is concerned most with luck and money, but also lends its power to health and fidelity (tying it in with uses in love and lust magic.)

Honey is a known aphrodisiac, and is useful in many types of love spells.

I don't know why I was surprised that this might be a useful magical "potion" and does have all the trappings of a quite powerful one. If you're especially looking to fresh, cleansing, healing love (or lust) potion for you and your lover, this might just be the one you need.