Don’t give Starbucks all your money, when you can be making your own homemade chai tea lattes using half the sugar, for a fraction of the price.
This simple homemade chai tea concentrate is your answered prayer to saving you quick dollars each week. It is easy to make and crafted with simplicity in mind. The recipe uses only 4 simple ingredients that you probably already have at home. For less than $10, this recipe will make you 10+ chai tea lattes, saving you tens of dollars a month than going to your average coffee shop.
What is Chai Tea?
“Chai” actually comes from the Hindi word for “tea”, which was derived from “cha”, the Chinese word for “tea”. In Hindi it means a mix of steeped spices into a tea-like beverage. Though globally, ingredients might change, the traditional ingredients include black tea mixed with strong spices, like cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger and black peppercorns.
Why You Should Make Homemade Chai?
- Rich and Robust Flavor: This homemade chai boasts a complex and well-balanced flavor profile, thanks to the blend of aromatic spices like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and cloves. Each sip is a symphony of delightful tastes that awaken your senses.
- Customizable Sweetness: One of the perks of making chai at home is the ability to control the sweetness. Whether you prefer a mildly sweet or a more indulgent chai, you can tailor the sweetener to suit your taste buds.
- Made with Real Ingredients: Say goodbye to artificial flavors and preservatives! This homemade chai is crafted with real, natural ingredients, ensuring a wholesome and authentic beverage that you can feel good about enjoying.
- Cost-Effective Indulgence: Enjoying a cup of homemade chai is not only a treat for your taste buds but also for your wallet. Making chai at home is a cost-effective way to relish this beloved beverage without breaking the bank.
- Health Benefits of Spices: The spices used in chai are known for their potential health benefits. Ginger may aid digestion, cinnamon may help stabilize blood sugar, and cardamom is rich in antioxidants. Embrace the goodness of these spices with every sip.
Ingredients in Homemade Chai
- Organic Chai Tea Bags: These tea bags are the heart of the chai tea concentrate, infusing the liquid with a robust blend of spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and cloves.
- Coconut Sugar or Pure Cane Sugar (sugar substitutes listed below): The sugar serves to sweeten the chai tea concentrate, balancing the boldness of the spices. Coconut sugar adds a hint of caramel-like sweetness, while pure cane sugar provides a more neutral sweetness.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: Vanilla extract enhances the overall flavor profile of the chai tea concentrate, adding a sweet and aromatic note that complements the spices.
- Water: Water serves as the base for the chai tea concentrate, extracting the flavors from the chai tea bags and dissolving the sugar. It is essential for creating a concentrated brew that can later be mixed with milk or alternative milk options to prepare a cup of chai tea.
How to Make Homemade Chai Tea
- Prepare the Ingredients: Remove your tea bags from plastic (if necessary). Fill a large pot with 40 ounces of water and boil. Once boiled, transfer pot to an eye that isn’t on and steep organic chai tea bags for at least 20 minutes (covered with lid.)
- Make the Chai Tea: Once chai tea bags have steeped, remove tea bags from pot (squeezing/pressing firmly on tea bags to extract remaining flavor). While still hot, add organic pure cane sugar and pure vanilla extract to stock pot. Stir until well combined.
- Store Chai Tea: Once chai has completely cooled, transfer chai concentrate to a pitcher and store in the fridge for up to 10 days.
- How to Make Chai Tea Latte: In a saucepan, heat 1 cup of non-dairy milk (oat or soy is best, as they are the creamiest). Be cautious not to bring it to a boil; you just want it to be hot. Pour chai tea concentrate (using this recipe) and our chai tea into the warm milk. Stir well to ensure the flavors are evenly distributed. Pour your homemade chai latte into your favorite mug and savor the aromatic blend of spices and warmth.
Sweetener Substitutes for Homemade Chai Tea
This recipe is insanely versatile, making it super easy to swap out coconut sugar for almost any sweetener of choice. I personally prefer to use granulated sweeteners, as they dissolve very well in the concentrate while it’s still hot prior to cooling.
If you choose to use any of the liquid sweeteners, be sure to follow this substitution ratio: for every 1 cup granulated sugar substitute for 3/4 cup liquid sweetener. If you want your concentrate sweeter, feel free to add more sugar, noting that the calorie count will vary.
The following list includes substitutions, if you don’t have maple syrup:
- Honey
- Agave
- Date Syrup
- Maple Syrup
- Date Sugar (granulated)
- Cane Sugar (granulated)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How Long Does the Homemade Chai Tea Last? A: The chai tea concentrate used in this recipe will keep for up to 10 days. Though this may not seem like a long time, just remember that this concentrate does not have any added fillers, preservatives, or gums to maintain its shelf life, like store bought brands. Trust me, your body will thank you!
Q: Where can I buy organic Chai Tea bags? A: Personally, I like the brands Tazo, Teatulia, FGO, and VAHDAM. Try not to buy tea bags that contain ingredients like natural flavors.
DID YOU MAKE THIS HOMEMADE CHAI TEA?
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Homemade Chai Tea Concentrate
Equipment
- Stock Pot
Ingredients
- 8 cups water
- 12 tea bags organic chai tea bags
- 1 cup organic cane sugar see sugar substitutes in notes
- 4 tsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Remove tea bags from plastic, if necessary. Pour water in stock pot and heat until boiled.
- Once boiled, transfer pot to an eye that isn't on and steep organic chai tea bags for at least 20 minutes (covered with lid.)
- Once chai tea bags have steeped, remove tea bags from pot (squeezing/pressing firmly on tea bags to extract flavor).
- While still hot, add organic pure cane sugar, cinnamon, and pure vanilla extract to stock pot. Stir until well combined.
- Allow chai tea concentrate to cool and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and tag @kleanlivingwithkole on Instagram and TikTok and hashtag it #kleanlivingwithkole.