Homemade chai concentrate is the easiest way to enjoy spiced tea whenever cravings strike. This bold, flavorful blend makes a perfect base for homemade chai, so you can skip the coffee shop and have your next cup ready anytime!
A Note From Kristen
I can never say no to a great cup of chai! However, getting one every day can get expensive really fast, and every café seems to have its own version, too. That’s why I started making my own concentrate at home. It gives me complete control over both flavor and budget. I played around with many different spice combos when developing this recipe and finally settled on one that I think is both unique and well balanced. I can add extra vanilla or honey one day, then enjoy it hot or cold the next, depending on my mood. Every chai latte feels like it’s made exactly the way I like it. I hope you love it, too!
~Kristen
Ingredient Notes
Please keep in mind that this is just a quick overview. Visit the full recipe for amounts and instructions!
How to Make Chai Concentrate At Home
01
SIMMER
Bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan, then lower the heat and add the cinnamon stick, cardamom, cloves, star anise, peppercorns, fennel, and ginger. Simmer uncovered for 15 minutes to infuse the spices.
02
ADD TEA
Add the tea bags and let them simmer for 5 more minutes.
03
ADD SPICES
Remove from heat, then stir in the nutmeg, allspice, vanilla, and maple syrup or honey. Taste and adjust sweetness to your liking.
04
STRAIN
Strain the mixture into a glass jar or container and let it cool completely.
05
ENJOY
Use as desired and enjoy!
How to Use Chai Concentrate to Make a Chai Latte
Once you have your chai concentrate ready, it’s easy to turn it into a cozy chai latte at home!
- Mix ½ cup chai concentrate with ½ cup milk or dairy-free milk. This 1:1 ratio of concentrate to milk makes the perfect balanced chai latte.
- Heat in the microwave or gently on the stove, or serve over ice cubes for an iced chai latte.
Serving Ideas
- Top with a light dusting of ground cinnamon or nutmeg.
- Serve with cinnamon sticks as stirrers.
- Add to overnight oats.
- Add a shot of espresso to your chai latte made with this concentrate for a dirty chai twist.
- Pour the concentrate over a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Mix into with hot chocolate for warm twist.
Kristen’s Top Tips
- You can toast whole spices like cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom in a dry pan before using them if you want to unlock even deeper, richer flavors.
- Avoid a too strong a boil on the spices and tea to keep bitterness at bay. Let them gently simmer to release their flavor without scorching.
- Using strong black teas ensures that their flavor will hold well against strong spices, making your chai concentrate taste more balanced.
- Use a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove spice debris when straining.
- This chai concentrate is gently sweetened. If you want a sweetness level similar to store-bought concentrates you will want to add a few additional tablespoons of sweetener.
More Delicious Drink Recipes You Might Enjoy
Chai Concentrate Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 6 whole green cardamom pods lightly crushed
- 6 whole cloves
- 2 star anise pods
- 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
- 1 ½ teaspoons fennel seeds
- 1-inch piece fresh ginger root sliced
- 6 black tea bags preferably strong Assam or English breakfast tea, if using loose leaf tea use 6 teaspoons
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup maple syrup or honey adjust to taste
Instructions
- In a saucepan, bring the water to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, cloves, star anise, peppercorns, fennel seeds, and ginger. Simmer uncovered for 15 minutes to let the spices bloom.
- Add the tea bags and then simmer for another 5 minutes.
- Remove from the heat, and then stir in the nutmeg, allspice, vanilla, and maple syrup or honey. Taste and adjust the sweetness level if needed.
- Strain the concentrate into a glass jar or bottle and let cool completely.
- Store refrigerated for up to 7 days.
- To serve: Mix ½ cup chai concentrate with ½ cup milk or dairy-free milk (or any 1:1 ratio). Heat gently on the stove, or serve over ice for an iced chai.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Storage
Keep the chai concentrate in a mason jar, a bottle with a lid, or your choice of an airtight glass container. Store in the fridge for up to 7 days. If you plan to keep the concentrate for more than a week, you can freeze small batches in ice cube trays or freezer-safe containers. When ready to use, melt the cubes in the microwave, then enjoy with hot milk or pour over ice to make an iced chai latte.
How much does this make?
What is the amount of 1 serving?
If I’m using loose tea, how much do I use?
Hi, Carol! Thank you for visiting. If using loose leaf tea, use 6 teaspoons. 1 serving is approximately 1/2 cup concentrate. I appreciate these questions! I will update the recipe card to reflect this as well. I hope this helps and I hope you enjoy the recipe! 🙂
Thank you!