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Chai Spice Mix and Chai Concentrate
5 from 27 votes

Chai Spice Mix and Chai Concentrate

This recipe provides a chai spice blend combining cardamom pods, cinnamon, cloves, and peppercorns with optional fennel and ginger, used to create both single servings of chai and a concentrate for multiple servings. The chai preparation includes loose leaf tea and non-dairy milk, delivering a spiced, aromatic beverage with adjustable sweetness and freshness from grated ginger.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 25 kcal
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

For the Chai Spice Blend
  • 3 tablespoons green cardamom pods
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon or 2” cinnamon stick, or more to preference
  • 2 teaspoons clove whole
  • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
  • 5 fennel seeds optional
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger optional - omit if using fresh ginger
For 1 Serving of Chai
  • 1 cup water
  • ½ teaspoon chai spice mix or more, to taste
  • ½ inch ginger grated or chopped, fresh
  • 2 to 3 teaspoons loose-leaf tea
  • ½ cup non-dairy milk like barista oat milk, creamy
  • sugar optional, or sweetener to taste
For the Chai Concentrate (4 Servings)
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 teaspoons chai spice mix or more, to taste
  • 1 inch ginger grated, fresh
  • 1½ tablespoons loose-leaf tea
  • sugar or sweetener to taste

Instructions

Make the chai spice blend.
    Cup of Yum
  1. Combine all the chai spice blend ingredients in a coffee grinder or small blender. Blend until the mixture is evenly powdered. Depending on your blender, if might not do a good job of breaking up the cardamom pods completely. If you think that might happen, remove the husks before blending and use only the seeds.(This will make a more concentrated chia spice mix and you might need to add a bit less per serving). Store the spice mix in an airtight container away from direct sunlight. The spice will stays fresh for 6 months.
Make 1 serving of chai.
  1. Heat the water in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the chai spice mix and grated or thinly sliced ginger and bring to a boil. Add the loose-leaf tea and boil again. Stir in sugar to taste, then pour in the non-dairy milk slowly. (Do a very slow pour that will bring the temperature of the saucepan down and reduce chances of non dairy milk separating). Bring the mixture to a boil again, then turn off the heat. Strain into a cup and enjoy!
Make the chai concentrate.
  1. Heat the water in a saucepan and add chai spice mix and grated ginger. Bring to a boil. Add the loose-leaf tea and sugar (if using). Boil for 1 minute. Turn off the heat and let the mixture steep for a few minutes. Strain the concentrate, let it cool, and store it in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to 7 days. Or freeze into ice cubes and use later!
  2. Use the chai concentrate: add equal parts chai concentrate and non dairy milk and heat up for hot heat or serve over ice for iced tea!

Notes

  • Including green cardamom husks in the blend adds flavor if they can be ground finely; otherwise, use only the seeds for a cleaner spice mix.
  • Store the chai spice mix in an airtight container away from light to preserve freshness for up to six months.
  • The nutritional information provided applies to the dry spice blend without added milk or sugar as these can vary.
  • To make spiced loose tea, blend the chai spice mix with loose leaf tea, but note the spices may settle at the bottom over time.

Nutrition Information

Calories 25kcal (1%) Carbohydrates 6g (2%) Protein 1g (2%) Fat 1g (2%) Saturated Fat 0.1g (1%) Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g (1%) Monounsaturated Fat 0.2g (1%) Sodium 4mg (0%) Potassium 100mg (2%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 0.05g (0%) Vitamin A 10IU (0%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 46mg (5%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 25

% Daily Value*

Calories 25kcal 1%
Carbohydrates 6g 2%
Protein 1g 2%
Fat 1g 2%
Saturated Fat 0.1g 1%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g 1%
Monounsaturated Fat 0.2g 1%
Sodium 4mg 0%
Potassium 100mg 2%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 0.05g 0%
Vitamin A 10IU 0%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 46mg 5%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.