Easy & Delicious Homemade Chai Latte Concentrate
This easy homemade chai latte concentrate is delicious and simple to make. With simple ingredients, you can easily to make a warm, spicy chai latte whenever you want! It’s a great fall (or year-round!) treat!
Chai is one of my favorite teas, especially during the fall and winter when a warm cup of milk and spice is so comforting! Since coffee shops can get pricey, and since we spend our days at home, I decided to make my own concentrate. Now we can have chai lattes whenever we desire!
Why make homemade chai
If you’ve read this blog or followed along on Instagram, you know I love making things from scratch (or mostly from scratch!). There is so much I love about making things myself.
When you make homemade chai concentrate and chai lattes, you can control the ingredients! No weird fillers or thickeners needed. You can also make it just how you like — extra vanilla, the right amount of sweetener, a little extra spice.
Making things yourself also saves you money! I do love going to the farmer’s market with a local coffee shop chai in hand, but it just isn’t sustainable. Making homemade chai concentrate is a much more affordable way to enjoy a delicious chai latte!
Homemade chai concentrate ingredients
One of the best parts of this recipe is that is uses such simple ingredients to make such a delicious result! I prefer to buy the spices in bulk from Azure Standard or Thrive Market. If I have extras, I store them in airtight jars on the shelf, and they look so lovely sitting there.
- Cardamom pods
- Whole black peppercorns
- Whole cloves
- Fresh ginger: Make sure to use fresh ginger. If you buy it and won’t use it all, store it in an airtight container in the freezer. Then you can grate whatever you want whenever you need it!
- Whole cinnamon sticks
- Whole allspice (optional): Sometimes the allspice is a bit pricier, so I have made this concentrate without them. They do add another layer of depth and spice but are not absolutely necessary
- Star anise
- Maple syrup or hone: You can also use brown sugar, coconut sugar or sucanant as desired.
- Water
- Whole vanilla bean
- Ground nutmeg
- Black tea bags: I like to make my chai concentrate with rooibos, but any black tea you like will work just fine.
How to make a chai latte at home
To use this homemade chai concentrate to make a latte, simply mix equal parts concentrate with water or milk. You can pour this combination over ice or heat it gently on the stove for a warm tea!
I personally love to add my concentrate to a mug, then froth some milk in an electric frother and warmer. I then pour the milk over the concentrate, stir a bit, and top with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar!
Homemade Chai Latte Concentrate
This easy homemade chai latte concentrate is delicious and simple to make. With pantry staple ingredients, you can easily to make a warm, spicy chai latte whenever you want!
Ingredients
- 8 cardamom pods, gently crushed
- 10 whole black peppercorns
- 10 whole cloves
- 5-inch piece of fresh ginger, sliced
- 6 cinnamon sticks
- 4 whole allspice (optional)
- 2 star anise
- 1 vanilla bean, sliced down the middle
- 1/8 tsp. nutmeg
- 6 cups water
- 2 Tbsp honey or maple syrup (more or less to taste)
- 6 black tea bags
Instructions
- Using a mortar and pestle or the side of a knife and a cutting board, gently crack the whole spices -- cardamom pods, peppercorns, cloves, and allspice.
- Slice about 4-6 inches of ginger and peel if desired. (If not peeling, simply scrub the piece before using.)
- Slice your vanilla bean down the middle to expose the insides.
- Place the cracked spices, cinnamon sticks, ginger slices, star anise, vanilla bean, ground nutmeg, black tea bags, and 6 cups of filtered water in a stock pot.
- Bring the spices, tea bags, and water to a boil, then cover and allow the mixture to simmer lightly for about 20 minutes on medium-low.
- Remove the pot from the heat and allow the tea to steep for 5-10 minutes covered (a longer steep time with result in stronger tea).
- Pour the tea mixture through a small-weave strainer or cheesecloth to remove the spices and herb sediment.
- Mix in the maple syrup or honey or other sweetener and allow the mixture to cool.
- Pour the concentrate into an airtight glass containter and store in the refridgerator for up to a week or so.
- To make a latte, simply mix the concentrate with waarmed milk. Top with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar and enjoy!
Notes
- To use the concentrate, simply mix equal parts chai concentrate and either milk or water (we like milk!). You can do this over ice, or heath te mixture on the stove for a warm chai latte!
- To make a spicier latte, use less milk or water and more of the concentrate.
- You can choose whatever sweetener you like for this recipe -- honey, maple syrup, brown sugar, sucanant, coconut sugar, etc.
- Store the chai concentrate in a glass, air-tight container in the refrdigerator for up to a week.
I’ll give this recipe a try and let you know what I think. Thanks for sharing!