Chai tea is flavorful and delicious. Its aroma is recognized far and wide, especially by anyone within 500 feet of a tea shop. But why go and buy chai tea when it’s easy to make chai tea recipes from home?
These easy chai tea recipes will get you cozy for the holidays.
1. Masala Chai
Masala chai is incredibly popular in India and is becoming a favorite globally. The unique part of masala chai is the spices that get infused into it. This creates a complex and rich flavor.
You’ll need:
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 6 whole cardamom pods
- 4 whole cloves
- 2 tbsp grated ginger
- 3 tbsp black tea of your choice
- 2 cups milk (or milk alternative)
- Sweetener, to taste
Grind the first four ingredients in a mortar, or chop them up on a cutting board. Add these ingredients to a stove pot and bring to a boil.
Simmer, simmer, simmer! The longer these ingredients stew on the stove, the spicier your chai will be. Let the brew reduce, and then add your milk and sweetener. Enjoy!
2. Apple Cinnamon Walnut Spiced Chai Latte
When you make this one, you may notice that it’s reminiscent of mulled apple cider. It perfectly captures the spirit of fall and is destined to become a classic. This apple spiced chai latte recipe is vegan and made with high-quality tea!
You’ll need:
- 1/2 cup walnuts (or buy premade walnut milk)
- 4 medium apples of your choosing
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 1/4 cup water
- Big Heart Tea Co. Chai
This requires soaking walnuts to extract juice, but if you’re short on time, walnut milk from the store or another milk substitute works great.
Boil the peeled apples, sugar, cinnamon sticks, and water until the moisture burns off. It should have a thick, caramel consistency. Once you’ve gotten that in the pan, add it to your spiced chai tea and prepare your taste buds!
3. Turmeric Chai Latte
Turmeric chai is commonly referred to as golden milk because of its color. Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory that protects you against heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and cancer. Not only are you drinking a delicious fall brew, but you’re also investing in your health.
You’ll need:
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon cardamom
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 black tea bags
- 3 cups of coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons honey, maple syrup, or other sweeteners
Similar to the instructions above, you’ll need to crush or chop the first 3 ingredients and let them simmer on the stove to release their flavor. Add the tea, milk, and sweeteners once the spicy flavor has been released.
4. Cutting Chai
This chai is from the streets of Mumbai. This is perfect if you’re looking for a strong, robust flavor. Bartenders recommend using whole leaf black tea to make this as authentic as possible.
You’ll need:
- Whole black tea leaves
- Peeled ginger
- 3 cardamom pods
- 1/2 cup of milk or milk alternative
You know the drill by now, and this is the simplest recipe yet. Crush and/or chop, boil, simmer, mix, and sip!
5. Spiced Butter Chai
This one has a special ingredient: Pu-erh tea! Pu-erh is from Tibet and has a smoky, mushroom-like flavor that adds a distinct flavor profile to your chai. Traditionally, this is strained and mixed with Yak milk.
You’ll need:
- 4 cups of water
- 3 tbsp pu-erh tea
- 8 cardamon pods
- 6 whole cloves
- 2 star anise whole
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 tbsp ginger
- 1 tbsp fennel
- 2 tsp coriander
- 2 tsp black peppercorn
- 1/2 tsp anise seeds
- 1 tbsp coffee
- 1/4 cup whole milk
Out of the chai tea recipes listed, this is the most complex. But the process is the same, so get to it!
Spice Up Your Life
Cozy up this holiday season with some delicious chai. Be sure to check out more articles on our blog if you want recipes that are tasty and healthy at the same time! There are many paths to get healthy naturally, so browse to find out more!