With the fall and winter seasons, we are more isolated in our homes due to the drop in temperatures and the earlier arrival of night. At these times, it becomes very pleasant and comforting to have a hot drink in the tranquility of the house. In this article, we recommend these hot drinks – which are neither coffee nor tea – which are easy to prepare at home.
These are recipes that come from other cultures and that we begin to drink more every day because of their unique properties and wonderful flavor.
Chai Latte
He chai It is one of the oldest tea drinks in the world, originating in India thousands of years ago and spreading throughout the world. The traditional version is made with black tea and spices like ginger, cloves, cinnamon, star anise and pepper.
When preparing it, we heat the water without boiling it. We pour the water into a cup up to half its capacity, add black tea with ginger and anise and let it sit for three or four minutes. Then the milk or vegetable drink is heated and, using the frother, we create a light layer of milk cream. Finally, we mix the milk or vegetable drink with the infusion that we prepared previously. Finally, we add the foam or milk cream that we prepared previously and we finish the preparation by sprinkling a little cinnamon and adding a piece of anise.
The spices used can be purchased at a cafe. In some stores they create their own blends, while in others they use a syrup of chai sweetened or a powder that allows you to quickly prepare the drink.
pumpkin latte or pumpkin coffee
He pumpkin latte or pumpkin coffee arrived as a trend to stay on our palates. This delicious coffee can be prepared at home and easily. Pumpkin coffee contains cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves. Although the main ingredient is coffee, pumpkin gives it a unique flavor.
To prepare it we need pumpkin puree, coffee, spices and our favorite vegetable drink. First of all, put the pumpkin puree in a bowl and mix it well with the sugar and spices. Then you have to place it with the cow’s or vegetable milk in a saucepan and heat it without boiling. After that, freshly ground coffee is added to the milk and mixed. When serving it, you can use a strainer in case any impurities remain and add a little whipped cream and ground cinnamon, if desired.
Golden milk or golden milk
Golden milk, golden milk In English, it is a very healthy drink traditionally used in India and composed of ginger and turmeric, among other spices, which give it that yellowish or “golden” appearance.
To prepare it, heat milk in a saucepan with a cinnamon stick, cloves, opened cardamom, peppercorns and chopped or ground ginger. Then lower the heat before reaching the boil, add the turmeric, stirring well, and cook over very low heat for at least five minutes. You can also beat it with a mixer. cappuccino to make it soft or serve it with a splash of milk.
This drink should be drunk freshly prepared and hot. You can adjust the sweetness level according to your taste as well as the amount of spices. If we add almond drink we get even more flavor.
Matcha latte
Matcha has all the benefits of green tea, but multiplied by ten. The Japanese discovered it centuries ago, but it only arrived in the West a few years ago. When prepared with the ground leaf, it is ingested whole and not just with water, as in the case of conventional green tea.
This tea is rich in antioxidants. Green tea contains L-theanine, which contributes to a feeling of relaxation and, of course, without the effect of other caffeinated drinks.
To prepare it, heat the water and the vegetable milk. Then pour the hot water, matcha tea, syrup and cinnamon into a bowl and stir. The next step is to pour the milk into a cup, add the matcha tea mixture and stir until completely incorporated. Matcha tea powder can be found in health food stores, some supermarkets and online stores. To make it richer, you can add vanilla extract and ground cinnamon.
mulled wine
Mulled wine, known in Germany as Glühwein wineis synonymous with Christmas celebrations in northern European countries. As the name suggests, the wine is heated and seasoned with a series of spices and sometimes fruit. Although the exact ingredients may vary from location to location, most recipes include cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and citrus peels.
To make this recipe, gently heat the wine and spices in a saucepan, but do not let it boil as the alcohol will evaporate. Next, heat a bottle of red wine over low heat with a sliced orange, eight or ten cloves, two cinnamon sticks and three or four tablespoons of sugar. You should let the wine cool a little before drinking so that the aromas blend well. Just drink it and celebrate Christmas.
