I recently re-discovered this recipe while I was cleaning out my recipe organizer. A broken down, accordion-style piece of plastic, typically used for receipt organization, that has lived with me for (at least) the past 10 years. Through 3 different countries, countless home moves, and is currently being held together with a series of rubber bands. Every few years I’ll go through all the printed off recipes, random bits of paper with scribbled notes, and torn magazine pages removing anything that I know I’ll never get to or has been replaced with a newer better recipe. At the back, I came upon a note card with a handwritten recipe for a Homemade Chai Concentrate. Which I very clearly remember making on a weekly basis when we briefly lived in Sao Paulo, Brazil. And as soon as I saw it, I knew I had to make it again and post it here! So perfect for these warmer months ahead!
This chai concentrate has all the flavors you’d expect from a good chai blend steeped in black tea. This homemade chai has its fair share of ingredients that I feel are essential for achieving the flavor complexity that is so unique to chai tea. And I promise it’s worth the potential spice purchases, because once you make this you’ll definitely be back for more. I love that you can control the strength of the caffeine, level of sweetness (or lack there of), and as an added bonus, it’s eco-friendly since you’re storing it in a reusable container rather than the single-use packaging you’d get from the store or to-go cups from your favorite coffee/tea spot. And extra eco-points if you use loose leaf black tea!
paleo friendly (gluten/grain/dairy free), sugar free, keto
If you make this, I’d LOVE to see your creation! Please tag me on Instagram @freshlydafna and use #freshlydafna.
Homemade Chai Concentrate
Easy and delicious homemade chai with the deep flavor complexity you'd expect from a good chai tea. Make it hot or iced and sweeten as you please! I left this unsweetened so everyone can enjoy it as sweet (or not sweet) as they like!
paleo, keto, vegan
Ingredients
- 4 1/2 cups water
- 10 cloves
- 7 cardamom pods
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 star anise
- 1 in piece ginger, rinsed and smashed slightly
- 1 tsp orange zest
- 1/2 tsp freshly zested nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp black pepper freshly ground, if possible
- 9-10 black tea bags caffeinated or decaffeinated
- 1/2 tbsp vanilla extract
Instructions
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In a medium pot, bring the water to a boil.
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Once boiling, add the spices and tea bags and remove pot from the heat. Use less tea bags if you want the concentrate to be weaker.
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Let steep for 15-20 minutes. The longer the steep, the stronger the tea.
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Pour the contents of the pot over a bowl or large measuring cup topped with a strainer to remove all the tea & aromatics. Then stir the vanilla extract into the concentrate.
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Let cool and pour into reusable container before storing in the fridge.
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Pour over ice or drink hot by mixing with boiled water, add milk and sweetener as you please!
Recipe Notes
This will keep in the fridge for about 1-2 weeks.
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