It’s teatime folks!

Try sipping some healthy herbal teas to keep those sinuses clear this monsoon, advises Naini Setalvad

- Naini Setalvad

From scorching heat to sudden rainfall and being slapped in the face with cool breeze, we are certainly adapting to the monsoon, the rainy season. As we shift from, shorts and tank tops to rain gear, to weather the season,. we also need to alter our diet and choice of beverages. All types of foods are available to us throughout the year. However, we must eat local and seasonal as much as possible because the nutritional value of non-seasonal fruits and vegetables is significantly lower.

This time, I will focus on some delicious hot and healthy teas you can make in the comfort of your home to keep your immunity strong and your temperature right in this damp weather. Out go the cold beverages and in come the hot ones that include antioxidants and vitamins, which can help fight sickness and infections.

Masala chai: Firstly, in this weather, your partner in crime should be a spicy cup of the trusted masala chai. What an excellent excuse to have a good old ‘cutting chai’! Ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, tulsi, and other Indian spices are used in this concoction. A cup of masala chai will soothe your throat and protect you from germs during the cold and flu season. This tea has a distinct flavour that is sweet with a bit of fire from the spices. Another plus is that it reduces inflammation, contains antioxidants, boosts immunity, aids digestion, prevents certain cancers, and stabilises energy levels. My recommendation is to replace the sugar with jaggery.