Description
A simple, pantry-friendly homemade chai concentrate that allows you to make rich, spiced chai lattes in seconds. This foolproof recipe uses basic spices and black tea to create a cozy, customizable drink that beats coffee shop versions.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4–6 black tea bags (or 2 tablespoons loose black tea)
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar (white, coconut, or brown)
- 2 tablespoons chai masala blend OR whole spices (1 tsp cinnamon stick, 1/2 tsp cardamom pods, 1/2 tsp ginger, 1/4 tsp black peppercorns, 1/4 tsp cloves)
- 1 inch piece fresh ginger, sliced (or 1 tsp ground ginger)
- 4–5 cardamom pods, crushed (if using whole spices)
- Milk for serving (dairy or plant-based)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions
- Combine water, sugar, tea bags, chai masala (or whole spices), and ginger in a medium saucepan. Stir to dissolve sugar.
- Place pot over medium-high heat and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat to low, cover with a lid, and simmer.
- Steep the mixture on low heat for 10-12 minutes until the liquid is dark and fragrant.
- Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
- Strain the concentrate through a fine-mesh sieve into a mason jar or glass bottle, discarding tea bags and spices.
- Let cool completely to room temperature, then seal and refrigerate. Keeps for up to 2 weeks.
- To serve, heat milk until steaming (do not boil). Stir in 2-3 tablespoons of concentrate per cup. Adjust sweetness or spice to taste.
Notes
[‘Use strong black tea like Assam or Ceylon as it will be diluted by milk.’, ‘Fresh ginger provides a brighter flavor than ground powder.’, ‘Do not boil the milk when serving to avoid scalding.’, ‘The concentrate can be frozen in ice cube trays for long-term storage.’, ‘Spices lose potency after 6 months; ensure your chai masala is fresh.’]
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (made with 1 t
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 14
- Sodium: 40
- Fat: 4
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Protein: 6
Keywords: chai concentrate, homemade chai, fall recipe, chai latte, spiced tea, cozy drinks, autumn recipes, easy chai