Art and yogi tea

For years, I have been making yogi tea. I don't know where I first learned about it, but I've seen variations of the recipe many times over. The version below is my favorite. This delicious tea is full of purifying spices, according to Ayurveda.

Typically, I make and enjoy this tea at night, after an evening yoga practice. Yesterday, however, I was in the mood for it about mid-day.

My son was napping and my daughter was happily painting at the kitchen table, so the odds looked good for a slice of uninterrupted time to myself.

The ritual of grinding the cloves, cardamom and black pepper in a mortar and pestle and then blending in the cinnamon and ginger is as wonderful as the tea itself. I never tire of it.

As it turned out, sipping tea and watching my daughter lost in creativity and color was the highlight of my weekend—a quiet, simple moment.

Yogi Tea

1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon cardamom
4-5 whole peppercorns
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
2 cups filtered water

In a mortar and pestle, grind the cloves, cardamom and peppercorns to a very rough consistency. Blend in the cinnamon and ginger. Transfer the mixture to the basket of a tea press. Boil water. Pour water into the tea press and allow to steep for 15 minutes. Press the spices and enjoy!