In Indian households, tea is more than just a drink! From breakfast to late-night snacking, everything feels perfect with a hot chai cup in hand. But did you know that your beloved tea can also be a reason for bloating, acidity, or disturbed sleep? An AIIMS-trained dietician recently posted about this and stated how you brew your chai can impact your body. Scroll down to know.
Are You Brewing Your Tea Right?
In an Instagram video, Deepta Nagpal (@beyondkilosandinches1), an AIIMS Delhi-trained dietician, revealed how bloating, acidity, or disturbed sleep can occur depending on the way you brew your chai. Many of us have a habit of boiling tea leaves, milk and water together, that too for several minutes. But according to science, it can be a problem.
When you over-boil the tea, the tannins (natural compounds in tea) get concentrated. This can create problems in the gut lining, and in turn cause bloating, and even minimise iron absorption, which is especially concerning for women. Not only this, but it also increases caffeine consumption, and when having chai late at night, it can trigger acidity, jitters, and poor sleep.
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How To Brew Chai Perfectly?
Here’s the perfect way to brew your chai that doesn’t disrupt your digestion and keeps up your energy levels.
1. Begin with spices
Boil water with fennel, clove, cinnamon, ginger, or cardamom for 3–4 minutes. These ingredients support digestion and add warmth and flavours.
2. Add tea leaves
Turn off the heat and then add some tea leaves to the spiced water for just one minute. This is perfect to give you the right flavour without too many tannins.
3. Pour milk
Don’t boil milk with tea leaves. Boil your milk on the side and mix it depending on how many cups of tea you need.
4. Keep it aside
Before you strain your chai, keep it aside for a minute. This step helps the flavour to settle perfectly.
5. Don’t drink chai empty stomach
To prevent acidity, eat something first before having your chai.
Next time, when you’re craving a hot tea, don’t forget to follow this correct way to brew it. Share your experience in the comment section.
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