Chai tea latte

[shelmybell]

Chai is a wonderful subsitution for coffee drinkers that like to join their fellow friends at Starbucks. You can also purchase this at Kroger or Walmart, most grocery stores carry this item.
You simply buy:

OREGON CHAI
The original
Chai Tea Latte
Concentrate
(Do not use powder or tea bags)
Contains black tea, vanilla, spices and honey.
(32oz purple/yellow box)

I mix:
1 cup of concentrate Chai with 3/4 cup of skim milk, can use soy or other milk substitute, even use water if you wish.
Pour in a sauce pan and use a wire wisk to froth the milk as it heats up. If you mix it quickly just as it warms then again for about one minute once it is heated you will gain a good froth. I personally do not eat/drink the froth- for some reason it gves me indigestion.

The Chai itself it wonderful to the stomach and smells fantastic. :smile tee

(I have also heated 1 cup of chai concentrate for 1 min 30 sec in microwave and added 1 scoop of frozen vanilla yogurt and strirred. Delightful!)

I do only recommend once/ twice a week, it is rich and a little fattening for me if I drink every night. May leave you feeling bloated if you over do it.

A definite must try for the holidays and for the winter months.
Pour over ice for the summer months.

Enjoy!

[Goldfinch]

In those long-ago pre-IC days I used to go through Oregon Chai phases, and it's a great product BUT BUT BUT I would not suggest it as an IC friendly drink. It is very much as you say, made from BLACK TEA and therefore it has both acid and caffeine in it. Bottoms up!

[shelmybell]

Thanks for you input but I must disagree with you.
I have had IC for 7 yrs now and have been on the "Elmiron Diet" for well over 2 yrs. I don't drink any canned soda, I don't touch coffee, the only juice I drink is 100% blueberry pomegranate from Minute Maid and I drink skim milk. That is it!! So once a week this is a wonderful treat.
When I wasn't allowed to eat before surgery I was able to drink this Chai with water to give me something else other than broth in my system. Everything in moderation of course and you must know your body. That is why I can't drink the foam. But I like to visually see it on top of my treat.:)

[Goldfinch]

No disrespect intended, nor would I ever deny that any given ICer might be able to tolerate chai or black tea at some point. I myself can drink small quantities of white tea. Everyone's different.

I meant my remarks as cautionary, since most on the boards do not tolerate any type of black tea or caffeinated drinks. I wouldn't want anyone who is newly diagnosed to assume they could drink chai. If you are at all diet sensitive, it's best to have your symptoms under control before trying anything that is typically problematic. You are lucky you can tolerate strong black tea and caffeine.

[shelmybell]

I understand your concern but this recipe is for one of the contest rules: (4) recipes using other commercial products... i.e. white chocolate milk and the like. Chai can be used with any type of milk subsitute or diluted wtih water and still tastes great. Used in moderation will not cause a flare up. Buy or make a small cup to start and go from there.

I don't drink coffee, I dislike the flavor, I ususally don't drink caffeine either. I don't want anyone to be afraid to try something because it may have caffeine and black tea in it.

But...FYI they do make this prdouct caffiene free. They also have sugar free and Chai in pepperment.

I have fought hard to learn new things with the small diet I am allowed to have, all new IC patients should obviously learn your body first because everything you once knew is no longer accurate. I remember a time when I couldn't eat or drink anything without feeling like garbage...at least now I have learned to experiment within the perimeters given. I hope others
will try to do the same.

I hope you will to be able to enjoy things again.
Take care

[shelmybell]

I forgot to mention this product is certified ORGANIC!! A portion of the proceeds of each Chai concentrate sold also goes to support www.SOLV.orq (Saving Oregon's natural resources)

[jvr]

Wow Shelmybell, how do you tolerate the MinuteMaid Blueberry Pomegranite?! I'm impressed. I have to agree with Goldfinch though, I would list some of these various ingredients as cautionary -ESPECIALLY for a newly diagnosed patient navigating and learning about diet. Sounds really good though:)

Jill