At its most basic, rong cha consists of black tea soaked in warmed water. In many cases, people add their own little twists by adding cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and other common household spices.

“Cha” holds a special place in the Bengali heart. Everyone has fond memories of a rain-soaked evening spent with friends and family, catching up over a cup of chaa.

Here are a few types of recipes which can add spice to the traditional rong cha.

Ginger Lemon Tea

Add ginger and squeeze some lemon juice, with a half teaspoon of tea leaves. Add honey or sugar, if you want some sweetness. Boil the water well and after five to six minutes, add tea leaves with ginger. After heating it, put in the lemon juice. It is guaranteed to clear up those sinuses and ease that scratchy throat if you seem to have caught a cold.

Ginger Lemon and Mint Tea

Take half a cup of very hot water with enough sugar, ginger (chopped), mint leaves (chopped) and lemon. Let it soak in the cup for two or three minutes; the longer you soak, the more flavor you get.

Spicy/Chili Tea

Take your tea liquor and squeeze in some lemon juice, a bit of salt, sugar, and chopped green chili mix and stir it well. Sounds a little out of the box, but chili peppers are very high in antioxidant carotenoids, which prevent cancer, cardiovascular diseases and strengthen the immune system.

Rooibos Cocoa Ginger Tea

Rooibos, an antioxidant-rich herb originating in South Africa, is rich in taste and well-being, mix in cocoa beans, ginger, cinnamon and cardamom, and top it off with a touch of milk if chili is not your taste.

Mango and Peach White Iced Tea

Step up your iced tea game with this delicious blend of mango and peach. Boil water in a large saucepan, and remove from heat. Steep the white tea bags for about 7 minutes, then transfer tea to a large mixing bowl. Allow the tea to cool down for 30 minutes approximately. Mix chopped peaches, mango, and 1 tbsp of honey (to taste) in a smaller mixing bowl. Then transfer the fruits to a large pitcher, and pour the cooled tea into the pitcher. Stir to combine, chill in the refrigerator and serve over ice.