Easy Homemade Chai Tea Recipe (For Iced Chai Tea or Hot)
This easy mixture makes for a slightly concentrated chai tea recipe can be served hot or cold. The bold warming and cozy spices of chai tea are amplified with pinches of ground ginger, clove, and cinnamon for an extra layer of warm spiced flavor.
Ingredients
- 2 pouches Chai Tea - such as Twinnings Chai Tea
- 1½ cups Water
- ⅛ tsp Ground Ginger
- ⅛ tsp Ground Cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp Ground Allspice
- 4 to 5 whole Cloves
- Your Favorite Creamy Milk - for topping off to desired creaminess (about 2 to 3 tbsp)
- Your Favorite Sweetener OR Simple Syrup - (if serving hot)- loose powdered sweetener such as white sugar, brown sugar, stevia, splenda, etc. (if serving cold) - stir in simple syrup or vanilla syrup
- 1 twirl Whipped Cream - optional for topping off an iced chai tea
- 1 whole Cinnamon Stick - optional for stirring in with hot chai tea or cold iced chai tea
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, bring 1 1/2 cups of water to a simmer.Once simmering, cut the paper tabs off of two pouches of chai tea. Drop them into the already simmering saucepan of water. I’m using 2 tea bags of Twinnings Chai Tea.
- Once the chai tea bags are in, I would recommend not walking away as they’ll only steep for a short time, and if left unattended, will turn the mixture bitter due to the presence of the black tea.
- Let the tea bags cook in the low simmering (not boiling) water for one and a half to 2 minutes. Adjust the heat as needed to maintain a light simmer.
- When cook time is up, remove the chai tea bags from the water. To remove tea bags, use tongs to squeeze the bags gently of any excess water and discard from the simmering water.
- Bring the heat down to low while you add in some extra spices to deepen the chai tea flavor. With heat on low, add in 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice, 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 4 whole cloves.
- Bring the water back up to a simmer and continue simmering the chai tea and spices mixture for another 3 to 4 minutes to deepen the flavors. The color of the liquid should be a deep and dark amber brown color now.
- Pour the concentrated spiced chai tea through a fine mesh strainer to remove the whole cloves and any excess sediment from the spices.
- Strain it into a mason jar with a screw top lid. Let cool completely before covering, sealing, and adding to fridge. You can now use this unsweetened concentrated chai tea recipe to make iced chai tea or hot chai tea.
- If serving (hot) right away, pour the desired amount into your favorite mug or tea cup and top off to taste with your favorite creamy milk. Sweeten to taste as desired with your favorite loose powdered sugar such as brown sugar, white sugar, stevia, splenda, etc.
- If serving (cold) as an iced chai tea, chill the strained chai tea and spices mixture in a mason jar. Wait for the mixture to cool completely then add ice to a tall glass and pour in the desired amount of (already chilled) brewed chai tea. Top off with your favorite creamy milk, nut milk, oat milk, or half & half and sweeten to taste with simple syrup or vanilla syrup. Top off with whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon. Enjoy cold.
Notes
Makes about 1 cup of concentrated chai tea (for drinking as hot chai tea with creamer and sweetener or using in an iced chai tea drink
2x - If doubling, convert 1/8 teaspoon measures to 1/4 teaspoons
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