Best Chai Tea Recipe
User Reviews
4.9
Best Chai Tea Recipe
Description
The recipe starts by cracking cardamom pods and boiling them with water, black tea leaves or bags, star anise, and cinnamon, extracting deep herbal and spicy flavors over 8-10 minutes. The liquid reduces to about two cups, intensifying the tea. After straining out the solids, sugar is added to sweeten the brew, and half-and-half or whole milk is stirred in and heated until hot. The use of whole spices rather than ground ones provides a clean, fresh spice aroma.
This chai offers a balanced flavor with rich spices, sweetness, and creamy texture from the milk. Serving is accompanied by placing used cardamom pods in the cup to share warmth and hospitality. The recipe specifies yields of four 8-ounce servings or more than twelve smaller Indian-sized servings, making it adaptable for individual or group consumption.
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 1 star anise whole
- 1 tick cinnamon
- 4 cardamom pod cracked
- 4-5 black tea or 1/4 cup loose black tea, in tea bags
- 2 cups half-and-half or whole milk
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Press the cardamom pods until they crack. Bring the water, tea, star anise, cinnamon, and cardamom to a boil.
- Boil for 8-10 minutes, until the tea is black and has reduced to about 2 cups. Strain and add the sugar. Add the half & half and stir until hot.
- Place the used cardamom pods in the bottom of the cups for good friends.
Notes
- This recipe makes four American-sized 8-ounce servings or over twelve Indian-sized 3-ounce servings.
- Use whole spices cracked just before brewing for best flavor release.
- Boil the tea and spices until liquid reduces and flavor concentrates before adding milk and sugar.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 132 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 132kcal | 7% |
| Carbohydrates | 21g | 7% |
| Protein | 4g | 8% |
| Fat | 4g | 6% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 12mg | 4% |
| Sodium | 60mg | 3% |
| Potassium | 183mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 19g | 38% |
| Vitamin A | 200IU | 4% |
| Vitamin C | 0.4mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 158mg | 16% |
| Iron | 0.5mg | 3% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
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