Easy Jaggery Tea Recipe: How to Make a Healthy & Delicious Jaggery Tea for a Healthier Teatime by Elisa Schmitz

What is jaggery and why would you want it in your tea? If you've never heard of jaggery, you're not alone. While it sounds like it could be a dance move inspired by Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones, jaggery is actually a coarse, dark unrefined sugar product made from the sap of East Indian palm trees. This natural sweetener is being recognized as a healthier replacement for sugar. According to Sundara Spa, jaggery activates digestive enzymes and pulls toxins from the body.

Photo: Jaggery cane sugar

According to Healthline, jaggery is mostly made in Asia, Africa and India. Jaggery is even called a superfood because it is not spun during processing, thereby retaining its nutritional properties. It contains micronutrients such as iron, potassium, magnesium and B vitamins, and is purported to provide slow-releasing energy and a variety of other health benefits. 

You can harness the benefits of jaggery by making a simple, beneficial tea. I adapted this recipe from one I discovered at Sundara. This recipe makes 2 cups.

Cuisine: Asian, African
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 cups water
• 3 tablespoons jaggery
• 8 leaves holy Thai basil (you also could use cardamom or any loose tea leaves that you prefer)
• lemon juice, to taste
• pinch of salt

Here's how to make it: 

1. In a small pot, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Once boiling, add jaggery and tea leaves. 
2. Add lemon juice, to taste, and a pinch of salt. Mix well and remove from heat. Serve in two cups with lemon slices as garnish.

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