Yogi Tea & Some Seriously Expired Spices

When was the last time you cleaned out your spices? Seriously.

Here’s the thing. I thought my spices were organized.  I really did. I keep my spices in mesh baskets and have them organized by categories like baking spices, savory spices, Italian herbs, Mexican spices, etc.  And I thought they were all well within the ‘best if used by’ dates.  Let’s just say when I started packing up the spices today I found myself laughing out loud at how organized I really am. Which apparently is NOT.

We moved into The Schell Cafe in 2005.  We moved out of our kitchen in 2007 for a pregnancy induced mini-kitchen renovation. (Please don’t remind Husband of this.) Then in 2008 we moved out for the current whole house project.  (Please don’t remind Husband of this one either). The point of all this random Cafe trivia is that I’ve packed, unpacked and repacked my kitchen enough times that I have absolutely no excuse for all the expired spices I just unearthed.  I’m telling you, I found spices that expired before our third grade son was even born!  Surely someone snuck into our rent house and secretly put all their old spices in my cabinets just to play a very funny trick on me?!?!  Riiiight.

To calm my frazzled nerves and ease the pain and embarrassment of throwing out a decade worth of aged spices, I decided to brew up a batch of Yogi Tea.  Please note if I croak in the next 24 hours it’s because I used peppercorns that were in a bottled dated best if used by 1998.

I fell in love with Yogi Tea during my yoga days. After one of the babies was born I went on a yoga binge and twisted and stretched my way back into shape, and eventual back into pregnancy again.  Aside from the apparent fertility perk, the best part about Yoga Yoga was the amazingly delicious yogi tea they serve after each class.  This tea is seriously worth the head stands.  Ok, so I never actually did a head stand, but the tea is still really good.

Yogi Tea (from the Yoga Yoga website)

Yogi Tea is a health-promoting beverage and a tonic for the whole body. It strengthens the nervous system, energizes the body, clears the mind, and is both a remedy and preventive measure for colds, allergies, and other illnesses. Yogi Tea is best made two quarts at a time. It can be stored in the refrigerator or even frozen. Simply heat tea and add milk and honey when you’re ready to drink it.

To make two quarts:

• 2 quarts water
• 15 whole cloves
• 20 black peppercorns
• 3 sticks of cinnamon
• 20 whole cardamon pods (split the pods first)
• 8 ginger slices (1/4″ thick, no need to peel)
• 1/2 teaspoon black tea leaves (we use decaf)
• Milk and Honey to taste