Cinnamon tea is usually a combination of black tea from China with cinnamon added to it in the powdered form. It is regarded as a comforting beverage and is usually consumed during the winter chill across South Asia. The Europeans especially the British prefer to have this spiced tea with apple based deserts.
The best quality cinnamon is obtained from Sri Lanka and other parts of the Indian subcontinent . The aroma of the cinnamon laced tea is particularly famous and it is often served as an after dinner drink. Apart from the sweet and spicy aroma, drinking the tea can be very effective in getting rid of certain ailments. Both the ancient Chinese medicine as well as the book of Indian medicines, Ayurveda recommend the cinnamon as a healthy spice.
Cinnamon sticks along with the powdered variety are used to prepare the tea. Ready to make tea bags containing the spice are also available at stores across the world now.
History Of Cinnamon Flavored Tea
The British East India company tried to market their tea aggressively in India and its surrounding areas. Cinnamon, a sweet aromatic bark was already grown in parts of Ceylon, the present day Sri Lanka, and the southern parts of India. Cinnamon tea provided an interesting alternative to the Indian palate which was already used to spices. Consumption of spiced tea spread to Europe and America with the Western countries preferring to drink cinnamon tea as opposed to a mixture of spice infused beverage known as “masala chai” in India and the rest of the subcontinent.
Cinnamon Tea Recipe: Commonly Used Ingredients and Preparation
Black tea leaves and cinnamon sticks are the ingredients used to make this deliciously aromatic tea. Addition of milk and sugar to the tea is common among the Asians although the British and Americans prefer a sweetened tea without the addition of milk or cream.
Boiling the cinnamon sticks for a minute or two before adding it to the tea leaves or tea bags is the usual method of preparing the cinnamon tea. Some people prefer to sprinkle powdered cinnamon on the scalding tea just before serving it. While this may be an easier way of making it, it is not considered to be as healthy.
Serving Suggestions for Maximizing Cinnamon Tea Benefits
- Hot, sweetened tea infused with cinnamon sticks.
- Powdered cinnamon added to the hot tea along with a dash of lemon.
- Scalding hot tea laced with cinnamon tea and honey.
- Chilled tea prepared with cinnamon and ginger powder, served on ice cubes.
- Masala chai containing an assortment of spices which includes cinnamon.
Common Cinnamon Tea Benefits
The bark of cinnamon contains calcium, iron and manganese which are considered to be healthy. Consuming cinnamon tea on a regular basis can help in:-
- Relieving digestive problems.
- Increasing appetite.
- Relieving symptoms of common cold.
- Reducing inflammation of the joints due to arthritis.
- Lowering blood sugar levels.
- Improving memory and attention span.
Trivia
Coffee laced with the spice is also being touted as an alternative to cinnamon tea across the United States.
