Kenyan Tangawizi Chai - Ginger Tea with Milk

Tangawizi is a Swahili word that means ginger, in English. This flavorful Kenyan Tangawizi Chai (ginger tea with milk) is the perfect comfort drink and will definitely have you asking for more!

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites, at no extra cost to you.

I am encouraged to share more recipes from East Africa, seeing how well you guys are loving my East African Kuku Paka and Pilau Masala recipes! This healthy African tea is so full of flavor and a wonderful drink to enjoy during cold evenings and winter months! Love enjoying a good cup of tea? Then certainly try this Strawberry Milk Tea.

what is tangawizi chai?

Tangawizi is the Swahili word for ginger and chai means tea. Put these two word together and you have ginger tea. Normally, ginger powder or fresh grated ginger is used to make it. For those of you who do not know, the average Kenyan family drinks black tea for breakfast, daily. As a child growing up in Kenya in the 80s, I remember already drinking black tea from around the age of three (things have certainly changed now and parents know better - no caffeinated drinks for children)!

health benefits of ginger tea

Tangawizi (ginger) tea has numerous health benefits. Some of these include:-

• Helps reduce nausea and vomiting - contains gingerols and shogaols which help relieve symptoms from nausea and vomiting.
• Pain relief - Tangawizi has anti-inflammatory effects which means it aids in pain reduction. A recent study has even shown that ginger can aid in reducing menstrual pain.
• Weight-loss - a study has also shown that ginger may aid in weight loss by controlling the appetite, suppressing the metabolic process that contributes to the storage of fat as well as lowering intestinal fat absorption.
• Ginger and testosterone - A study conducted in 2018 showed that ginger supplementation enhances the production of testosterone in males.

I could go on and on but I think these are a few good enough reasons for you to drink your tangawizi chai or ginger tea! Well, not to forget the taste, of course!!

ingredients

Here is what you will need to make this ginger tea with milk recipe. Find the exact measurements on the recipe card provided at the bottom of this page.

• Black tea leaves - I would advise you to choose strong-tasting black tea leaves. We traditionally use chai black tea in Africa for this recipe but you can also use Assam tea or black smoked Lapsang Souchong tea. I would not recommend using Earl Grey, since most varieties have a weaker black tea taste.
• Ginger - use fresh or ground (powdered) ginger.
• Milk - you will also need some milk. For a vegan, paleo, and low carb option, use plant-based milk alternatives such as coconut, soy, or almond milk.
• Water - to dilute the milk.
• Sweetener (optional) - use regular or paleo sugar alternatives, or a suitable sugar-free alternative if you like your tea sweet. I personally do not like my tea sweet and like to skip the sweetener altogether.

how to make Kenyan tangawizi chai (ginger tea with milk)

Here is a step-by-step breakdown of how to make this sooting East African tea. A video showing you how to make it has also been provided on the recipe card below.

1. Add water and sliced ginger pieces or ginger powder to a medium-sized pot and set it on the stovetop, under medium heat.
2. Allow the water to come to a boil, then add the milk. Allow this to come to a boil as well. You want to keep an eye on the water-milk mixture to make sure it does not spill.
3. Next, reduce the heat to a low, stir in the black tea leaves, then allow this to also come to a boil.
4. Once boiled, switch off the heat, set the pot aside, and pass the ginger tea through a sieve to separate the tea leaves, into a thermos flask or a pot.
5. Pour into cups and serve hot.

storage and recipe variation

Storage - there are some things that do not work so well with refrigeration and this tangawizi (ginger milk with tea is one of them)!! The best way to preserve this tea is to keep it in a thermos flask and consume it within a day!

Recipe Variation - use your favorite plant milk substitutes (almond, coconut, or soy milk) for a vegan alternative. I love to use milk to water ratio of 1:1, but feel free to use more or less, depending on how creamy you like your tea. I have used fresh ginger to make this tea. You can substitute this for a tablespoon of ground ginger.

more delicious recipes to try!!

• Mahamri
• Red Velvet Coffee
• Strawberry Pineapple Smoothie with Banana
• Pina Colada Smoothie with Coconut Milk
• Blue Spirulina Smoothie Bowl

📖 Recipe

Kenyan Tangawizi Chai - Ginger Tea with Milk

Kate Hahnel

Tangawizi is a Swahili word which means ginger, in English. This flavorful Tangawizi Chai (ginger tea with milk) is the perfect comfort drink.

5 from 14 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 2 mins

Cook Time 5 mins

Total Time 7 mins

Course Breakfast, brunch, Drinks

Cuisine African, Asian

Servings 3

Calories 25 kcal

Equipment

cooking pot - to make the tangawizi tea

sieve - to strain the tea leaves

thermos flask - optional, in case you would like to serve the tea later. This basically keeps the tea warm.

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 tablespoon black tea leaves
• ▢ 1 piece fresh ginger - sliced alternatively, a tablespoon of ground ginger
• ▢ 2 cups of your preferred choice of milk (plant milk or dairy)
• ▢ 2 cups water
• ▢ sweetener or sugar to taste optional

Instructions

 

• Add water and sliced ginger pieces or ginger powder to a medium-sized pot and set it on the stovetop, under medium heat.
• Allow this to come to a boil, then add the milk. You want to keep an eye on the water-milk mixture to make sure it does not spill-over.
• Next, reduce the heat to a low, stir in the black tea leaves, then allow this to also come to a boil.
• Once boiled, switch off the heat, set the pot aside and pass the ginger tea through a sieve to separate the tea leaves, into a thermos flask or a pot.
• Pour into cups and serve hot.

Video

Notes

Storage - there are some things that do not work so well with refrigeration and this tangawizi (ginger milk with tea is one of them)!! The best way to preserve it is to keep it in a thermos flask and consume it within a day!

Recipe Variation - use your favourite plant milk substitutes (almond, coconut or soy milk) for a vegan alternative. I love to use the milk to water ratio of 1:1, but feel free to use more or less, depending on how creamy you like your tea. I have used fresh ginger to make this tea. You can substitute this for a tablespoon of ground ginger.

Nutritional information does not include sweetener or sugar because this is an optional ingredient. 

Nutrition

Calories: 25kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 1gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 225mgPotassium: 13mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 205mgIron: 1mg

Tried this recipe? I would love it if you could leave a rating by clicking on the stars above on this recipe card.or simply PIN on Pinterest for later!!