DIY Chai Concentrate – No More Store-Bought Mixes!
Homemade Chai Concentrate: A spiced black tea base simmered with cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom, sweetened lightly and stored for endless chai magic.
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1- inch fresh ginger sliced (or 1 tsp ground ginger)
- 10 whole cloves
- 10 green cardamom pods lightly crushed
- ¼ cup loose black tea leaves or 6 tea bags
- ¼ cup sugar or honey/maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract optional, but so good
Instructions
Step 1: Wake Up The Spices
- In a pot, combine water, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and cardamom. After bringing to a boil, simmer for 15 minutes without a lid.
- Tip: Crush the cardamom pods with the back of a spoon to release their floral aroma.
Step 2: Tea Time
- Remove the pot from heat. Add tea leaves (or bags) and let steep for 5 minutes. Don’t oversteep! Longer = bitter tea. Stir in sugar until dissolved, then add vanilla.
Step 3: Strain & Store
- Strain into a jar using a fine-mesh strainer. Let cool, then refrigerate.
- Pro tip: Save the spices! Toss them in oatmeal or smoothies for extra flavor.