Saffron has been used in traditional medicine for generations and has been shown in some studies to help alleviate anxiety and improve mood. This tea has an intense aroma and flavour. We use a rooibos teabag, which is caffeine-free – chai is a nice alternative, though it does contain caffeine. I find drinking the tea from a favourite cup makes all the difference. As Oscar Wilde said, ‘I adore simple pleasures. They are the last refuge of the complex.’

– Serves 1 –

150ml water
1 cinnamon stick, or 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 cardamom pods
3 cloves
Pinch of saffron
200ml almond, oat or cow’s milk 1 rooibos (or chai) teabag
Pinch of turmeric powder
1 dessertspoon maple syrup or honey

1. Place the water, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves in a pan and simmer gently for 5 minutes.

2. Turn off the heat, add the saffron and leave it to steep for 5-10 minutes or longer if you aren’t in a rush.

3. Then add the milk, teabag and turmeric, and heat gently through without boiling for 1-2 minutes, or longer if you want the tea flavours to be stronger.

4. Remove the teabag, add a dessertspoon of maple syrup and pour the tea into your favourite mug. You can strain it first, but I prefer to leave the spices in, avoiding the cloves, cinnamon and cardamom as I drink but enjoying the odd saffron strand.

Recipe from my book The Happy Kitchen: Good Mood Food

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Uplifting Spiced Saffron Tea – Good Mood Food