3 Spices You Need To Start Adding to Your Morning Beverage

If you have ever had spiced coffee than you know the power of a true flavored beverage and if you have not, you are missing out on one of the most intense and powerful culinary experiences. Your morning cup of tea or coffee can go from bland to epic. There are many places all over the world that get to experience this mind-blowing sensation. Fresh spices are added to coffees and teas in areas of Morocco, Ethiopia, and India.

 Fresh clove, ginger, cardamom and other spices are added into their daily coffees and teas. So if you are ready to add a boost to your favorite morning beverages, consider starting with these three spices:

Cinnamon:

Calming, sweet, and soothing Cinnamon is perfect addition to help get through those stressful weekday mornings.

Cinnamon is already used to top several favorite lattes and other morning treats. What many people are not aware of is that you can actually add whole Cinnamon to coffee and tea during the brewing process. For tea, simply crush a whole Cinnamon stick and steep with loose leaf teas in a French Press.

Or mix in freshly ground Cinnamon to your freshly brewed tea. To add to coffee simply crush or coarsely grind whole Cinnamon to coffee grounds and brew per usual. Cinnamon will not only bring pleasure to your nose and your taste buds, but it may also benefit your overall health.

Cardamom:

Fresh Cardamom Pods are used when adding to coffee and tea. The flavor of Cardamom is strong and somewhat pungent.

it can be adapted to sweet teas or savory coffees. Cardamom has a strong floral taste with numbing menthol undertones. Boil cardamom pods for 30 minutes careful to not let the water boil. Then use this water to add to the French press as normal. French Press not your style? Then simple grind with other spices like clove, cinnamon, ginger and some black pepper and add to your coffee grounds and brew as normal.

Saffron:

I cannot tell you enough how incredible Saffron is. The unique flavor, taste, and color are all one of a kind. Saffron is perfect for the green tea drinker, someone who likes the natural flavor of raw beautiful flavors. To make Saffron tea simply marinade 4 Saffron threads in a splash of room temperature water for about 10 minutes. Stir the soaked threads and then fill the rest of your tea cup with hot water.

Not only will you have a vibrant yellow tea, but you will also enjoy a natural, earthy tasting beverage. Saffron as an addition to coffee is much more convenient. Simply break 3-4 Saffron threads with your fingertips over your coffee grounds, stir to mix them in and brew per usual. You will get a more subtle taste competing with the bitterness of coffee but you maybe gain some of the antioxidant properties that Saffron carries.

No matter which spice you choose, happy sipping!

Source:

herbsspices.about.com