Chow down on Chai!

If you haven't tried them before, Chai seeds are being hailed as the new 'super-food' and are fast becoming a go-to nutritional additive for many people's diets. I absolutely love them - they are easy to add into your meals and because of their delicate taste they won't overpower other ingredients. As they are a grain they will soak up any liquid added to your meal adding weight and texture in the process.

I'll admit the texture that they add to a meal can take a bit of getting used to but for me they add interest to plain breakfasts - I add mine to gluten-free porridge made with coconut milk or even natural yoghurt with berries. They are, believe it or not, one of the healthiest foods on the planet and are loaded with nutrients (one of the best sources calorie for calorie) which can have an important benefits for your body and brain function.

Chai seeds are a whole grain food - usually grown organically - are non-GMO and naturally free of gluten (so they beat that bloat!). Despite their tiny size, they are packed full of protein, fibre, Omega-3 fatty acids and are loaded with antioxidants.

On the plus side; chai seeds are widely available and are really easy to find in the supermarkets - usually stocked alongside nuts and seeds. Tesco stock a great label called 'The Chai Co' - their 'Chai Shots' 10 pack are good for gauging how much to add to meals and include shots of both the black and white seeds (both white and black seeds have absolutely no nutritional difference but the white seeds tend to work better aesthetically for sweetened puddings and breakfasts). 

Quick Chai Facts...

Chai seeds are the tiny black seeds from the plant Salva Hispanica (which is related to the mint) and grows natively in South America. The ancient Aztecs and Mayans prized chai seeds for their ability to provide sustainable energy - 'chai' is in fact the ancient Mayan word for 'strength'! 

Quick Chai Breakfast...

I usually sprinkle a few chai seeds on my porridge or yoghurt in the mornings to give my first-start to the day a bit of oomph! Here's another alternative; 'Strawberry Chai Shake'. It isn't the sort of grab-and-go breakfast that many of us need on busy days but it is worth trying once in a while! 

(Note; this serves 4 so divide where necessary for single portions as it does need to be made fresh)


Serves 4 (GF, DF)

5 tbsp chai seeds
400ml almond milk
1tsp vanilla extract or paste
1 tsp of ground cinnamon
12 strawberries
a few mint leaves
1 x 250g carton of coconut cream

1. Put the chai seeds into a large lidded jar. Pour over the milk, add the vanilla and ground cinnamon. Put on a tight-fitting lid and shake well. Leave to stand for 10 minutes; shaking occasionally. 
2. Meanwhile slice a few strawberries and put to one side. With a hand blender, blend the strawberries with the mint leaves until smooth.
3. Spoon the soaked chai seeds and liquid into 4 glasses. Spoon a layer of coconut cream on top followed by a layer of the strawberry puree. Top with the strawberry slices and a few small mint leaves. Enjoy!

272cals; 20g fat (12g sat fat); 5g protein, 8g fibre; 19g carbs; 6g total sugars; 0.2g salt

Recipe accreditation: Amelia Freer's fabulous recipe book - Eat. Nourish. Glow.