This is a little story of one of the most inspiring days that my Dad and I experienced while staying at our family home in India.

Let me start by sharing a bit of the history of our village and the area…Karadi is our village, located 7km from Dandi, on the coast of the Arabian sea.

walking along Coastline at sunset

This is where Gandhi’s famous Salt March (aka Satyagraha) took place and he broke the salt laws on April 6, 1930 – it was an act of civil disobedience by producing Salt without paying tax.

It was in Karadi that Gandhi was arrested while sleeping in a cot in a mango grove on May 4, 1930. The mango grove and the cot still remain and you can still feel that something significant occurred in this space.

life size Memorial of the events April 6, 1930

That is a bit of our proud history of the region. There are some family members that were involved in the movement but let’s keep that for another day. Now, on this particular day, Dad and I were working in our Garden when we were paid a visit from a carpenter from the village across the highway who was working on a Vastu Chai mandala for us.

our Vastu Chai Mandala

We started talking about Gardening and he invited us to visit his Garden. That afternoon, in the midday heat, Dad and I set off on a 20min walk to our carpenters home.

We were both so delighted to find a Thriving Food Forest that is so well designed and able to feed his family and then some.

rigth is fellow gardener (permaculturist) as well as a carpenter!

drinking the most refreshing coconut water in his home!!

Happy Chickens!

They start their day with coconut water straight from the tree and eggs from Happy Chickens!

The most inspiring part of his story is that over the course of 10 years, he has built soil using home grown compost and slowly changed the make up of the soil from ‘salt soil’ (due to the proximity to the ocean) to ‘sweet soil’!!!

SWEET SOIL!!

It was great to visit a fellow Organic Gardener and what felt like a fellow collaborator in this global food movement! I hope the life of our carpenter friend inspires you as much as he did us.

Peace,

Avni

volunteer mustard seed, enough for the family!

Last year, our holiday message was about the idea of taking time to yourself during the holiday buzz, which, let’s face it, can get to be C R A Z Y to say the least. It’s so important to find some quiet time, to rest into stillness and stay balanced when things get hectic.

This year, we wish you those quiet moments dispersed among the loud and joyous ones. We also send you light.

Light that grows brighter and stronger after the Winter Solstice. Light that penetrates and heals the cracks in our souls and psyches. Light that warms the heart and the belly from the inside. Light that is buoyant and helps you float when things get heavy.

So here’s to a warm and radiant holiday season and to a New Year that is illuminated beyond your wildest dreams.

Love and light to all,

Avni, Erin & the Vastu Chai family

Please shop Fair Trade this holiday season.

First of all, ENORMOUS thanks to everyone who participated!

It’s so important for us to create awareness around fair trade and organics and to stay connected to all of you.

Now, what you’re all waiting for…

Siobhan Laughlin!

Congratulations! Siobhan, please contact us as soon as possible to claim your prize. Simply email erin@vastuchai.com with your mailing address. If we don’t hear from you in the next 24 hours we will select another winner.

Thanks again everyone and happy holidays!

It’s the time of year to celebrate and no matter what it is you’re celebrating an integral piece is GIVING.

We have so much to be thankful for this year and we want to celebrate it:

• the return of our Traditional chai with a brand new look,
• the winding down of November which is Fair Trade tea month,
• the enormous support we receive from all of YOU,
• and the upcoming holidays where we all get to intentionally connect with family and loved ones.

Avni’s recent trip to India and Sri Lanka has really driven home the concept and impact of Fair Trade and Organic. The farmers and families that she’s visited are incredibly positively impacted by the ethics of manufacturing tea and spices and the consumers that choose them (there’ll be more on that posted soon!).

Tea pickers in India that benefit from fair wages

So, we’ve chosen a suite of giveway items, mostly Fair Trade, from wonderful companies that help lead the way to social change. You can click on their names to learn more:

• Dr. Bronners Fair Trade Organic Peppermint Soap

• Level Ground Fair Trade and Organic delicious dried Mango

• Divine Chocolates Fair Trade chocolate advent calandar

• A Libre travel tea glass

• An assortment of Fair Trade and Organic Vastu Chai

And a few more little surprises! All going to one lucky winner.

All you have to do is:

• Go to our Vastu Chai Facebook page and “like” us (www.facebook.com/VastuChai)
• Then “like” and “share” our contest post/ link where the contest rules are outlined to spread the word
• Finally, write “I love fair trade!” in the comment field below the same contest link on Facebook

So easy! We can see who’s done the sharing and commenting and we’ll enter you into the draw to win. Contest ends at midnight PST Monday December 3rd.

The winner will be announced on Tuesday December 4th at 12 pm (PST) here, on our web site blog.   We’ll post a link to it on our Facebook page as well. You can directly check our blog or our Facebook page for results.

Open to Canadian residents, shipping within Canada only.

Best of luck to you all and happy holidays!

Today, we had the privilege of visiting a few members of SOFA (Small Organic Farmers Association) in Sri Lanka who made our latest Traditional Masala blend possible. For me the highlight of the day was walking onto these Small Farms and immediately experiencing the effects of a healthy ecosystem – a variety of birds, fruit, plants, insects, vegetation for water retention, vegetation for nitrogen addition to the soil…I could go on!

lush green on a SOFA farm!

time with Mr. Bernard!

This shows lush green land but it is only after time with Mr. Bernard, did we see the Pepper Vines growing up Taller Trees in amongst the Tea Bushes. The Taller Trees are an example of the very well thought out land design

• provide a structure for the Pepper vines
• provide shelter for Tea Bushes
• contribute to the water retention in the Soil
• the leaves add nitrogen to the soil,

I have to also mention that around the Tea Bushes are planted a variety of other crops such as Ginger, Lemongrass and Marigolds! I truly feel that this wonderful intention contributes to the flavour of our latest Traditional Masala blend!

picking Tea with Pepper Vines behind us!

Thank you SOFA farmers and Mr. Bernard for spending the day with us!

thank you SOFA

We’ve all been waiting for it…

At long last we’ve received a new shipment of our flagship blend:             Traditional Masala Chai

Our new packaging is sleek, darker and more compact.

We adjusted the volume to contain 80g instead of 100g of chai, but don’t worry you can still brew at least 25 cups…

The new container is %100 recyclable cardboard. No need to separate the lid or the bottom, you can either re-use it to store trinkets or whatever your heart desires, OR it can be recycled whole.

You’ll continue to enjoy the same traditional recipe passed down from Avni’s great grandmother. The spices in this blend have been ground a little more so that the flavour is even more robust. We are currently working with the Small Organic Farmers Association (SOFA) in Sri Lanka to produce this and future blends.

SOFA is a dedicated farmer co-operative that grows teas and spices using certified organic farming principles all under the fair trade concept. This relationship is facilitated through BioFoods (biofoodslk.com), a processor and exporter of organic teas, herbs and spices.

Watch for Traditional‘s appearance on shelves very soon…Please enjoy!

* make chai, not war *

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Sweet, tart and spicy, all in one!

We love Thanksgiving weekend! Getting together with friends and family, reflecting on what we are thankful for in this life, and, of course, dreaming up creative recipes to make the eating part really special.

Last week we posted our pumpkin pie recipe. This weekend, and just in time, it’s a simple one: cranberry sauce. But not just any cranberry sauce…this one has personality!

You’ll need:

4 cups of fresh or frozen organic cranberries

1 cup of organic maple syrup

1tbsp of organic cane sugar

1 cup of water

1 tsp Vastu Chai Traditional Masala

a pinch of freshly grated ginger

a pinch of cinnamon

Boil the Vastu Chai in a cup of water for 2 minutes.

Wash and pick over cranberries. Strain your chai and then bring it and the sugars to a boil in a saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add cranberries and return to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes or until the cranberries burst.

Add your cinnamon and ginger and stir. Let your creation settle and cool at room temp, then cool in the fridge to thicken. When you’re ready to eat, stir and serve!

Makes about 2 1/4 cups.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Avni and Erin

deeeelicious!

In addition to the changing colours and crisp mornings, one of my favourite things about fall is pumpkin pie.

Last fall I created the chai spiced pumpkin pie and it was a smashing success!

It’s adapted from The Moosewood Cookbook’s “No-fault Pumpkin Pie” recipe, one I’ve used for years.

2 cups cooked and pureed OR canned organic pumpkin

1/4 cup maple syrup

3 tbsp organic agave syrup

2 tbsp organic molasses

1/2 cup almond milk

1/2 cup strong/concentrated Traditional Masala Vastu Chai

- to make this concentrate, boil a double dose of chai in 1 cup of water for 5 minutes, strain the resulting strong tea into a measuring cup.

3 beaten eggs

2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp fresh ground organic ginger

3/4 tsp salt

~ place pumpkin in a bowl and stir until smooth

~ add all other filling ingredients and beat until smooth

~ pour into crust and bake at 400F for 10 min, then 350F for 40 min or until pie is firm at centre when jiggled

This can fill any kind of pie crust so choose your favourite and away you go!

*Vastu Chai Pure White Tea Summer Lemonade*

I made this up last summer and since the sun is blazing, I was inspired to brew it today.

250 ml of fair trade, organic Vastu Chai “Pure White Tea” brewed strong

750 ml of filtered water

Juice from 1 organic lemon (large)

3 tablespoons of organic maple syrup (or honey)

chopped fresh lemon balm (I also made a batch with fresh chopped pineapple mint)

add a bit of ice and chill!

Light. Refreshing. Revitalizing.

~ A bit of white tea offers that extra perk needed on a hot day with the added benefits of MAJOR antioxidants (even more than green tea!).

~ Lemon water is uber-cleansing promoting digestion and detoxification. It’s high in vitamin C and has countless other health benefits.

~ Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), a member of the mint family, is considered a cooling and calming herb. It was used as far back as the Middle Ages to reduce stress and anxiety, promote sleep, improve appetite, and ease pain and discomfort from indigestion. Even before the Middle Ages, lemon balm was steeped in wine to lift the spirits, help heal wounds, and treat venomous insect bites and stings.

Enjoy!

-E

At long last, the white stuff is dwindling and the green stuff is in full view.

Kinnickinnick, the first sign of green

Early morning light, extended bright.

Ponderosa Pine, early morning dog walk in Kelowna, BC

Birdsong and buzzing.

Kelowna Market is hopping!

The crocus comes out of hiding.

Kissing crocus, the first flowers up

Time to start the garden seedlings.

Organic seedlings, Kelowna Farmer's Market

Moving from the still of winter toward the blossoming of summer.

Happy Spring Everyone!