Staying healthy in winter can be a challenging task at hand, especially when diseases are rampant. Winter weather can make it difficult to ramp up the level of immunity. Including warm fluids can be soothing and helps improve immunity. 

Here are few homemade healthy winter beverage recipes which you can cherish for the season;  

1. Ginger and mint tea – It helps to improve immunity and digestion. It also helps to keep your body warm and reduces inflammation and stress.  

Recipe:  

Ingredients:  

2 cups of water  

10 mint leaves  

1 tsp grated ginger  

A pinch of cinnamon powder to taste 

Method:  

• Take water in a tea pan, add mint leaves and ginger and bring it to boil.  

• Simmer it down for 4-5 minutes when it starts to boil.  

• Add a pinch of cinnamon powder in a serving tea cup. 

• Strain the prepared tea to the tea cup and mix well.  

• You can add a mint leaf to the tea before serving. 

• (optional)- you can add a tsp of natural honey to your tea.  

2. Kashmiri Kahwa – It helps to keep you warm in the super chilly days and boosts the immunity with all the spices added to the beverage.  

Recipe: 

Ingredients: 

2 tsp Kashmiri green tea leaves – you can choose to have normal green tea leaves if it is not available  

4-5 saffron strands  

½ an inch cinnamon stick  

1 pc cardamon, crushed  

1 pc clove  

1 tsp sugar  

1 almond finely chopped  

Method:  

• Add saffron strands in 2 tbsp of warm water. Keep it aside for 2-3 minutes. Mix it well and keep it aside.  

• Bring to boil 2 cups of water in a tea pan. Add all the spices (cinnamon, cardamom, clove) and bring it to boil for 4-5 minutes.  

• To this add Kashmiri green tea leaves after simmering. Boil for 2-3 minutes.  

• Add sugar, saffron water and almonds to this and stir for a minute continuously before switching off.  

• Serve hot immediately.  

3. Masala milk – One of the most common winter beverages prepared in almost every household, masala milk helps to ward off cold and cough. It also helps to keep you warm and healthy.  

Recipe:  

Ingredients:  

1 pc cardamom  

¼ tsp of black pepper  

1 small nutmeg  

4-5 strands of saffron  

A pinch of turmeric powder  

1 small cup of milk  

1 tsp of sugar 

Method:  

• Bring the milk to boil in a pan.  

• Add all the spices into milk. Simmer it for 3-5 minutes when boiling.  

• Add sugar in the end before switching off the flame.  

• Strain the milk before serving it hot.  

4. Tulsi tea – It is helpful in treating a sore throat and helps improve immunity. It has many other medicinal properties too like fighting infections, reducing inflammation and decreasing chances of falling sick frequently.  

Recipe: 

Ingredients: 

5-6 Tulsi leaves  

1 tsp freshly squeezed lime juice  

A pinch of black pepper  

Method:  

• Take a cup of water in a tea pan. Boil water with tulsi leaves for 3-4 minutes. Add black pepper to this.  

• Take off the pan from flame and add lemon juice.  

• You can serve the tea hot with a tulsi leaf.  

5. Bajra tea – It helps to boost overall health and prevents digestion issues and bloating. It is best to serve it hot, as it can get thick after cooling.  

Recipe: 

Ingredients:  

1.5 tbsp. bajra flour  

1 tsp jaggery powder  

A pinch of carom seeds  

A pinch of ginger powder  

Method:  

• Dry roast the bajra flour on a medium flame till the aroma starts to come and the flour slightly turns brown.  

• Let the flour cool down and mix it in a cup of water and jaggery without forming lumps. Stir continuously and cook this on a medium flame for about 2-3 minutes.  

• Add a pinch of carom seeds and ginger powder and cook it for another minute on medium flame.  

• Switch off the flame and serve this immediately.  

References:  

https://www.healthshots.com/healthy-eating/recipes/5-winter-drinks-to-keep-your-body-warm-and-boost-your-immunity/ 

https://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/19818/seasonal/winter/drinks/ 

https://www.ndtv.com/health/choose-these-healthy-drinks-to-stay-warm-this-winter-2327052 

https://www.tarladalal.com/top-10-indian-hot-drinks-for-winter--143 

https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/nutrition/8-healthy-hot-drinks