Go Back
+ servings
Recipes
No primary category found.

Chai Concentrate Recipe

4.69 from 35 votes
prep 10 minutes
cook 45 minutes
total 55 minutes
Serves 6 servings
Easy homemade chai concentrate recipe to make your kitchen feel like your favorite coffee shop!
Author: Bernice Baran
Servings 6 servings

Equipment

  • 1 large pot

Ingredients

  • 12 green cardamom pods
  • 1 tsp whole cloves
  • 2 tsp whole allspice
  • 1/2 tsp peppercorns
  • 1/4 tsp fennel seeds
  • 5 cinnamon sticks, chopped in half
  • 4 inches dried ginger root, roughly chopped
  • 1 whole nutmeg, chopped
  • 3 cups water
  • 2 star anise
  • 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped (put the whole thing in)
  • 1 tsp orange zest
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
  • 2 bags black tea

Method

  1. Place the cardamom pods, cloves, allspice, peppercorns and fennel seeds in a mortar and pestle and crush them until the cardamom pods crack open and the rest look somewhat crushed (or you can also place them on a cutting board and smash them with the side of a large knife).
    12 green cardamom pods, 1 tsp whole cloves, 2 tsp whole allspice, 1/2 tsp peppercorns, 1/4 tsp fennel seeds
  2. Dump the crushed spices, cinnamon sticks, ginger and nutmeg in a bottom heavy pot. Over low-medium heat, toast the spice for 2 minutes. Add the water and turn the heat up to high to bring the water to a boil.
    5 cinnamon sticks chopped in half, 4 inches dried ginger root roughly chopped, 1 whole nutmeg chopped, 3 cups water
  3. Remove the pot from the heat, add in the star anise, vanilla bean, orange zest and brown sugar and cover the pot with a lid. Allow the water to steep for 20-30 minutes. You can taste it and if you want it spicier, let it steep for another 10 minutes or so.
    2 star anise, 1 vanilla bean split and scraped (put the whole thing in), 1 tsp orange zest, 1/4 cup light brown sugar lightly packed
  4. Once you like the spice level, bring the water back to a boil and then remove it from the heat again. Add the two tea bags, cover with a lid and let it steep for another 5-10 minutes (if it steeps longer, the tea will get bitter).
    2 bags black tea
  5. Strain the water into a clean jar and use as desired. I recommend equal parts concentrate and milk.

Notes

If you use fresh ginger instead of dried, I would use just 2 inches and add it in after the water has already boiled and is only steeping.
If you use vanilla extract, use 2 tsp and add it at the end after you strain everything out. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 42kcalCarbohydrates: 10gSodium: 10mgFiber: 1gSugar: 7g
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chai, chai concentrate, chai latte, chai tea latte, homemade chai concentrate