Jorga Hoya, Renaissance Man and Licensed Acupuncturist likes to experiment with food, both eating and cooking it.

From his blog: The other day I wanted to make some pancakes, and the idea of doing chai spice pancakes came to my mind. Chai is typically a mixture of spices and black tea, but I just happened to have some good quality powdered green tea, so I decided to use that instead.

They came out a lovely shade of greenish-tan (the look on my girlfriend’s face when I served them to her told me she was fearing another of my food experiments, but fortunately they were delicious). 

Medicinal Food

In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), food is looked at as the most important form of medicine. Medicinal herbs are frequently added to foods to improve their preventative qualities. All the spices used in this recipe and in traditional chai are also used in Chinese herbal medicine. The ones here facilitate digestion and help the body’s qi flow in a harmonious way. Most of these herbs are also useful for pain and act as natural, mild anti-inflammatories. The green tea is full of healthy phytochemicals and is considered useful for controlling weight, hyperlipidemia, and heart disease. 

Recipe:
Ingredients:

• 1½ cups All Purpose Flour
• 3½ tsp. Baking Powder
• 1 tsp. Salt
• 4 Tbs. Sugar
• 1¼ cups Milk
• 1 Egg
• 3 Tbs. Melted Butter
• 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
• 2 Tbs. Matcha Powder
• 1 tsp. Powdered Ginger
• ¼ tsp. Nutmeg
• ¼ tsp. Cinnamon
• ¼ tsp. Ground Cloves
• ¼ tsp. Ground Cardamom
• Pinch Black Pepper

Directions:

Sift flour and baking powder together.
Add salt, sugar, and spices and mix.
Add egg, vanilla extract, and melted butter.
Add milk and quickly whisk together before the milk solidifies the melted butter.

Pour batter into hot, greased frying pan.
When bubbles begin to appear on the upper side of the pancake, flip it over.
Serve with your favorite pancake toppings (I prefer a little butter and maple syrup, but use whatever floats your boat.)

Bon Appetite!

In addition to a Bachelor’s degree from UCLA and a Master’s Degree from Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine, Jorga Houy is licensed by the California Acupuncture Board and has studied shamanism, massage, and has been a student of movement arts such as dance, yoga and martial arts for more than three decades. 

When asked why he became an acupuncturist, Jorga answers, “I’ve always had a desire to help people and I’ve always been amazed at the human body, as a child spending hours marveling at anatomy charts... When someone walks into my office in pain and walks out without that pain, it is a pretty amazing experience for me; to be able to assist someone in eliminating that suffering is a true gift I am thankful for every day.”

Jorga Houy's practice, LA Sports Acupuncture, is located in Atwater Village, where he specializes in orthopedics, pain management, and sports medicine. 
3215 Glendale Blvd | Los Angeles CA 90039

Note: Silver Lake Star content is intended for educational purposes and is not to diagnose or treat illness.