Also known as "holy basil," tulsi is a caffeine-free herb that is considered to be one of the most important herbs in Ayurveda and is often grown outside temples and in households in India. It's also a seriously tasty replacement for black tea in chai!

Making tulsi chai is every bit as fun, easy and worthwhile as making masala chai. To make two cups of steaming hot, caffeine-free tulsi chai, you'll need:

• 1 cup freshly drawn / filtered water
• 1 cup whole milk (or milk alternative)
• 1/2 cup fresh tulsi leaves (compressed firmly when measured), or 1/4 cup dried tulsi
• 1 piece fresh ginger about the size of a thumb, sliced thin (peeling optional)
• 3 cardamom pods, crushed
• 3 green or white peppercorns, crushed
• A pinch freshly grated nutmeg (or, if you don't have whole nutmeg, then a pinch of powdered nutmeg or mace will do... though freshly grated really is best)
• Raw sugar, honey or other sweetener, to taste

And here's how to make it:

1. Place the water and milk in a double boiler with a water bath underneath (to keep it from boiler over due to the milk).
2. Add the tulsi and bring it just to a boil.
3. Reduce heat and cover.
4. Simmer for three minutes.
5. Add the remaining ingredients (except the sweetener) and bring just to a boil.
6. Remove from heat and leave, covered, for five minutes.
7. Strain and sweeten to taste.

In case you're interested, here are a few more things you might want to know about this tulsi chai:

• It's naturally caffeine-free.

• It includes ample amounts of tulsi, which is noted for its many health benefits.
• It can be prepared as a vegan or dairy-free drink if desired.
• It can be chilled and then served over ice.
• It's great with simple butter cookies (which are commonly served alongside chai in India) or with a healthier snack, such as dried dates and nuts.
• You can also experiment with other masala chai spices once you get to know the way that tulsi changes the flavor of chai.
• Some tulsi chai recipes also include black tea or green tea. If you want these in your drink, you can add 1-2 teaspoons to this recipe. I recommend an Assam black tea, a hojicha green tea or a mild Gunpowder green tea.
• I got a more complex form of this basic recipe from a healer in Pune, India. She generously shared it with me in her home, and I'm pretty sure the secret ingredient is love. Many thanks go out to her for it!