Coffees, teas, toddies and tisanes

Be infused and enthused with my delicious concoctions of coffees, teas, toddies and tisanes. If you’re hankering for a herbal, you’ll love the sweet simplicity of my Chamomile and Lavender Tea, or the comforting effects of Soothing Sage, Mint and Ginger Tea. Sleep tight with a Nutmeg, Saffron and Cashew Nightcap or enjoy the benefits of a Curative Coffee.

◁ ANTI-INFLAMMATORY TODDY

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SERVES 1

Inflammation lies at the root of many chronic illnesses, and a majority of them start within the gut as an autoimmune reaction that develops into systemic inflammation. This tea is your drug-free weapon of prevention, laced with creamy cashew milk and perfumed with healing spices.

1 cup (9 fl oz/250 ml) cashew milk

1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric

1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon freshly grated ginger

pinch of vanilla powder

pinch of freshly cracked black pepper

6 drops liquid stevia

Heat the cashew milk in a small saucepan over medium heat for 2–3 minutes or until just warmed. Add the spices, ginger, vanilla and pepper, then stir to remove any lumps.

Remove from the heat and pour through a fine sieve to remove the grated ginger. Add the stevia and enjoy warm.

◁ AROMATIC CURRY LEAF TISANE

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SERVES 1

Curry leaf tea is a South Indian natural remedy used for centuries to cleanse and treat the digestive system. The smell and taste of fresh curry leaves stimulate salivary secretions, which in turn set off the secretion of digestive juices. To control indigestion and flatulence, add the ginger and a spoonful of dried and ground curry leaves.

Curry leaves can be purchased from your local Asian grocery store.

12 curry leaves, crushed with your hands to release the oil

1 teaspoon grated ginger (optional)

1 cup (9 fl oz/250 ml) warm filtered water

juice of 1/2 lime

liquid stevia or stevia powder, to taste

Put the curry leaves and ginger, if using, in a teapot, pour over the water then add the lime juice and stevia. Infuse for 5–10 minutes, then strain and drink immediately.

◁ NUTMEG, SAFFRON AND CASHEW NIGHTCAP

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SERVES 1

This spicy nightcap will warm up your insides and flood your digestive system with anti-inflammatory medicinal spices. This is also a great one to serve when entertaining friends.

The first step is to prepare a masala powder, which you can then keep in a sealed container and use each time you make this tea.

MASALA POWDER

1/2 cup (2 3/4 oz/80 g) natural cashews

1/4 cup (1 1/2 oz/40 g) natural almonds

1/4 cup (1 1/4 oz/35 g) unsalted pistachios, shelled

1/8 teaspoon saffron threads

6 cardamom pods, seeds only, pods discarded

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

NIGHTCAP DRINK

1 cup (9 fl oz/250 ml) cashew milk

1 tablespoon (7 g) masala powder, or to taste

To prepare the masala, pulse all the ingredients in a food processor until finely ground. Don’t over-process or it will become a paste.

To make the nightcap, put the cashew milk in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the masala and heat until warm. Don’t let it boil.

Pour into a favorite drinking vessel and relax.

TURMERIC TEA

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SERVES 1

Turmeric is one of the most thoroughly researched plants in existence, with more than 5600 peer-reviewed biomedical studies indicating its preventative and therapeutic applications, particularly the role of its wonder ingredient curcumin in decreasing inflammation. This gorgeously golden tea is a wonderful way to savor its medicinal benefits.

1 cup (9 fl oz/250 ml) almond milk

2 teaspoons ground turmeric

1 teaspoon grated ginger

6 drops liquid stevia

Heat the almond milk in a small saucepan until it reaches room temperature. Put the turmeric and ginger in a mug. Pour a small amount of the warm milk over the spices in the mug and stir to create a liquid paste, ensuring there are no lumps. Add the remaining milk, stirring well, and sweeten with the stevia.

◁ CHAMOMILE AND LAVENDER TEA

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SERVES 2

The combination of these two delicate and calming herbs will settle your nervous system and relax your digestive system, especially if you’re feeling stressed or tense.

2 teaspoons lavender buds

2 teaspoons chamomile buds

2 cups (17 fl oz/500 ml) boiling filtered water

1 tablespoon (20 ml) lemon juice

Put the lavender and chamomile in a teapot. Pour over the water, then add the lemon juice. Infuse for 10 minutes, then pour into mugs or glasses (or strain it if you prefer) and serve.

◁ CHOC MINT HOT CHOCOLATE

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SERVES 1

Don’t drink this too late at night, as the cacao may give you a buzz and keep you awake. It’s best drunk in the morning and as an occasional treat.

2 teaspoons raw cacao powder

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon alcohol-free peppermint essence

1/2 cup (4 fl oz/125 ml) almond milk

1/2 cup (4 fl oz/125 ml) additive-free coconut milk

7 drops liquid stevia or 1/8 teaspoon stevia powder

Put the cacao powder, cinnamon and peppermint essence in a small heavy-based saucepan. Add 2 tablespoons of the almond milk and stir over medium heat until thoroughly mixed. Add the remaining almond milk and the coconut milk, then stir frequently until warmed through. Stir through the stevia and drink immediately.

CURATIVE COFFEE

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SERVES 1

Bulletproof your digestive system with the healing powers of coconut oil. This coffee (pictured here) is so thick, rich and creamy, you won’t even notice you’ve given up your regular caffeine fix.

1 cup (9 fl oz/250 ml) Swiss-water-processed decaf coffee made with hot filtered water, then cooled slightly

2 teaspoons unsalted raw butter (omit if lactose-intolerant)

2 tablespoons (40 ml) extra virgin coconut oil

Pulse all the ingredients in a blender for 30 seconds or until well combined and frothy. Pour into a mug and sip slowly.

◁ SPICED ALMOND CHAI

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SERVES 4

Traditional chai is known within Ayurvedic medicine to have myriad health-promoting properties. Drinking chai regularly will increase what Ayurveda refers to as digestive fire and we would call metabolism. This means it will soothe and relax the digestive tract, increase the release of toxins and curb a raging appetite.

4 cups (35 fl oz/1 L) almond milk

1/2 teaspoon alcohol-free vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus extra to serve

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon garam masala

1/4 teaspoon stevia powder

Mix the almond milk, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and garam masala in a heavy-based saucepan over medium heat until just simmering. Remove from the heat, stir in the stevia, pour into mugs and top each with a pinch of cinnamon.

◁ SOOTHING SAGE, MINT AND GINGER TEA

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SERVES 2

This warming mixture is the ultimate tummy-soother. Refreshing sage and mint leaves combined with the anti-inflammatory, anti-emetic and appetite-reducing effects of ginger make this brew perfect during phase one of the gut-healing protocol.

1 inch (2.5 cm) piece of ginger, peeled and sliced

1 handful of mint leaves

1 tablespoon (2 g) roughly chopped sage leaves

2 1/2 cups (21 1/2 fl oz/625 ml) boiling filtered water

squeeze of lemon juice

liquid stevia or stevia powder, to taste

Put the ginger in a warmed teapot or jug and add the mint and sage leaves. Add the water and lemon juice, cover the lidded teapot or the jug with a tea towel and infuse for 15 minutes.

Pour into a mug (straining it, if you like), add stevia to taste and serve.

Curative Coffee (left); Dandy Chai Latte (right)

◁ DANDY CHAI LATTE

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SERVES 2

There’s no need to miss out on steamy sweet drinks while healing your gut. This dandy darling is a tummy-friendly take on the conventional refined-sugar and dairy variety. Dandelion is also a brilliant anti-inflammatory, gut-detoxifying replacement for black tea or coffee.

3 cardamom pods

1 star anise

4 cloves

2 cups (17 fl oz/500 ml) almond milk

5 drops liquid stevia

2 lactose-free dandelion tea bags

2 inch (5 cm) piece of ginger, peeled and thinly sliced

1 cinnamon stick

pinch of grated nutmeg, to serve (optional)

Lightly crush the cardamom pods, star anise and cloves with the back of a spoon. Put in a small saucepan and add the almond milk and stevia. Place over medium heat and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes.

Remove from the heat, add the tea bags, ginger and cinnamon, and stir gently. Cover the pan and infuse for 3 minutes.

Strain, then allow to cool slightly. Serve as is or sprinkled with nutmeg.

NOTE: If you have a hand-held milk frother, now’s the time to get frothing.