The Only Chai Recipe You’ll Ever Need
I’m a chai addict. There, I said it. I love the stuff. I’ve tried dozens of recipes, and this is by far my favorite. It’s rich and creamy, with just the right amount of spice.
Ingredients
- 1/2 whole star anise
- 10 to 12 whole cloves
- 6 to 7 whole allspice
- 1 heaping teaspoon (or 2 short sticks) cinnamon bark
- 6 to 7 whole white peppercorns
- 1 cardamon pod, opened to the seeds
- 1 cup water
- 4 cups whole milk
Instructions
- In a 2-qt saucepan, add spices to 1 cup of water and bring to a boil.
- Remove from heat and let steep for 5 to 20 minutes (depending on how strong you want the spice flavor).
- Add 4 to 6 cups whole milk (or non-fat/low-fat milk plus cream) and bring just to a boil.
- Remove from heat, add tea, and let steep for 5 to 10 minutes (depending on how strong you like your tea). Reheat to a simmer if desired at this point and then remove from heat.
- Optionally add sugar before serving or serve unsweetened allowing people to sweeten as they desire. Strain into pot and serve with additional sugar available as needed/desired.
The best chai recipe in the world
There are countless recipes for chai tea out there, but some stand out above the rest. If you’re looking for the best chai recipe in the world, look no further – this is it.
This recipe uses only fresh, high-quality ingredients to create a perfectly balanced cup of tea that is both sweet and spicy. It’s easy to make and can be tailored to your own personal preferences.
How to make the perfect chai recipe at home
- Lightly crush cardamom pods, whole cloves, star anise and peppercorns and place in a small pot with 1 cup of water.
- Bring to a simmer and simmer gently for 5-10 minutes covered.
- Add the tea (do not boil the tea) and let it steep for at least 5 minutes.
What goes into making a great chai latte
A great chai latte starts with high quality ingredients. For the tea, we recommend using black tea bags. Darjeeling, Assam or Ceylon teas work well and produce a nicely balanced flavor. To spice things up, add cinnamon, ginger, cloves and cardamom. A touch of vanilla extract rounds out the flavors nicely. Sweeten to taste with maple syrup or honey.
As for the milk, you have a few options depending on your preferences. Whole milk will give you the richest possible flavor, but 2% works just as well and is a bit lighter in calories. If you’re looking for a dairy-free option, almond or soy milk are both excellent choices that will still allow the spices and Tea to shine through.
Now that you have all your ingredients assembled, it’s time to get brewing! Start by boiling water and steeping the Tea bags for 3-5 minutes until they are nice and strong. Add in the other spices while the tea is steeping if you want them to be more potent – this is entirely up to personal preference so feel free to experiment until you find your perfect blend of flavors! Once everything is combined to your liking, stir in some milk until it reaches your desired consistency then sweeten with honey or syrup if needed before serving hot.
How many pumps of chai do you need for a dirty chai?
Assuming you’re making a 16 oz. dirty chai, you’ll need 4 pumps of chai and 1 pump of espresso. If you like your chai on the sweeter side, then you may want to add an extra pump of chai.
