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I drink one cup of coffee in the morning. It’s the same — strong coffee with lots of cream. Occasionally, I will have a second cup, but that’s rare. Usually I drink tea.
I like all kinds of tea, but I have like a good chai. You can get tea bags, of course, but a chai concentrate is usually more flavorful, and isn’t diluted as much when you add milk. Most chai concentrates you can buy have too much sugar for me, so instead, I make my own.
This recipe is totally customizable, and I urge you to make it based on your personal tastes. I like lots of cardamom, vanilla and ginger in my chai, and just a touch of honey, but if you want more spice, add more peppercorns. It’s really adaptable, just make a note of what you add so that you can redo it again. I use a mortar and pestle to crush up the spices; I find grinding them makes them to fine and leaves you with spices in your drink.
Once you’ve made it, store it in a jar in the fridge and mix with your favorite milk, about 1 part concentrate to two parts milk. Coconut, almond, or whatever you have and like. It should last a week or two in the fridge.
Chai Tea Concentrate
Ingredients
- 6 cups water
- 2 inch piece fresh ginger smashed
- 6 black tea bags
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 star anise pod
- 2 teaspoons cardamom pod smashed
- Pinch grated nutmeg
- 1 bay leaf
- 4 peppercorns crushed
- 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- For serving:
- Milk
- Honey or sweetener of choice
Instructions
- Put the water, ginger, tea, cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, nutmeg, bay leaf, and peppercorns in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Remove tea bags, simmer for 20 more minutes. Add the vanilla and orange juice.
- Strain into a jar, let cool and store in the fridge.
- To serve, mix with 2 parts milk, and honey to taste.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
