Only 5 minutes prep for this easy Chai Concentrate recipe. Using tea bags or loose-leaf tea; it’s a delicious cost-saving alternative to store-bought and cafe versions. Enjoy an all-natural chai latte anytime!
I enjoy giving precise details in my recipe posts to lead my readers through any questions. If you’re just here for the printable recipe, use the Jump to Recipe to head straight there!
Reasons to make your own chai tea concentrate
- Better than Store Bought – Other chai recipes use shortcuts, like chai tea bags with a few additional spices. Ours uses real ingredients with natural flavor for the best chai latte recipe.
- Quick —The aromatic spices only take 5 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to steep, making about 8 servings.
- Save $$ – If you are a chai addict like me, this will save you a lot of money! A Starbucks Chai Tea Latte Grande (16 oz) costs about $5.85, and the total cost for this concentrate (making about 8 servings) is about $5.14 (tea .64, honey $2.50, milk and spices approx $2.00)
What is Chai?
Originating in India, Chai, also known as masala chai, and is commonly called ‘chai tea’ in America. Since Chai translates to “tea” when we say “Chai Tea”, we are saying “tea tea”.
Traditional chai is made of black tea and warm spices, like cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg, with a hint of vanilla. It is sometimes sweetened with honey or other sweeteners. It can be mild or have a ginger bite to it and like all recipes there are variations.
Simple Ingredients
- Tea – For the most authentic chai flavor, use organic Darjeeling black tea. You can use loose-leaf tea or Darjeeling black tea bags, regular or decaf. Choose the highest quality tea for the best results, I personally like to use organic teas. Assam or Ceylon teas are also widely used!
- Water – Use filtered water for the best flavor!
- Spices—For a flavorful chai tea, I use organic ingredients; cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, grated fresh nutmeg, and cardamom pods. Star anise is optional, and whole spices are best.
- Ginger – Use real ginger for the best flavor! You may also substitute frozen ginger cubes or minced ginger.
- Vanilla – Add depth and creaminess with vanilla extract, vanilla bean paste, or a whole vanilla bean, sliced and the insides scraped into chai.
- Sweetener – I like using honey, but you may also use sugar or a sugar substitute of your choosing.
Get the full recipe in the recipe card below.
Starbucks Chai Tea Latte
This is the Starbucks description of their chai tea latte — which uses chai syrup versus a brewed chai concentrate. “Black tea infused with cinnamon, clove and other warming spices is combined with steamed milk and topped with foam for the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. A cup has 240 calories, 42g sugar, 4.5g fat.“
How to Make Chai Concentrate
Step 1 | Prepare the spices
Start by measuring all of the spices and chai concentrate ingredients. Use the end of a wooden spoon or a mortar and pestle to gently crush the cinnamon sticks, cloves, cardamom pods, star anise, and fresh ginger in a bowl. Then, grate the nutmeg.
Step 2 | Simmer tea and spices
Next, add six cups of filtered water to a saucepan and bring it to a gentle boil. Reduce to a simmer and add the tea, crushed spices, and vanilla paste or bean (if using extract, add at the end). Continue simmering for five minutes, stirring occasionally. Then, remove it from the heat.
Step 3 | Steep and strain chai tea concentrate
Cover the pot and let the chai mixture steep for 10 to 15 minutes. After, place a fine mesh strainer over a large bowl and carefully pour the concentrate through the sieve. Then, toss the tea bags and spices.
Step 4 | Sweeten, cool, and store
Finally, stir in your choice of sweetener and vanilla extract if using until it is fully dissolved. Let the tea concentrate cool to room temperature before storing it in a jar or bottle in the refrigerator to stay fresh until serving.
Fresh Tips
- Only let the concentrated ingredients simmer for five minutes to avoid bitterness.
- When ready to serve, mix the concentrate with 1 part milk and 1 part tea at a 1:1 ratio and gently heat in a small saucepan to your preferred temperature.
- For a strong tea flavor, use a 2:1 ratio of chai concentrate to milk.
- If preferred, simmer the spices in a small muslin bag to avoid the straining step.
It’s fun to make your own chai concentrate! I love to cuddle up in the afternoon or on relaxing weekends with a soft blanket and a good book or to binge my favorite series (like Call the Midwife).
It’s versatile and can be made into all kinds of tasty beverages. Use it to make a creamy Christmas Morning Chai Dutch Bros copycat recipe when craving something creamy and sweet!
Recommended Tools
- Glass bottle! Use a 33 ounce flip top bottle (make a couple of lattes) or I like these 47 ounce milk bottles.
- Mortar and Pestle
- Funnel I like this silicone collapsable funnel
- The Capresso frother works best for this recipe! If using a Nespresso Aeroccino be careful, it tends to burn the sugars on the bottom. Or use a hand frother!
Variations
How to Make a Hot Chai Latte from Concentrate
Mix equal parts milk and the chai concentrate. Try whole milk, other percentages or non-dairy milk, like almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk. Then, heat the beverage in a frother, on the stovetop, or in the microwave. Pour into mug.
If desired, sprinkle latte with a little ground cinnamon and place a star anise on top for presentation points! For more details check out my post for how to make a hot chai latte.
How to Make an Iced Chai Latte
First, fill a tall glass with ice. Then, pour equal parts chai concentrate and milk of choice or a milk substitute over the ice. For a shaken iced latte, add the ingredients to a shaker and shake about 10 times. You can also use a cold frother to froth the milk and add to the homemade iced chai tea latte recipe.
Dirty Chai Tea Latte
Add a shot of espresso or two to the iced or hot chai latte to make a dirty chai latte.
Chocolate Chai
Make a decadent chocolate chai by adding chocolate syrup to the beverage.
Substitutions
- Increase the ginger for a little more spice in your chai.
- If no fresh ginger, try using 2-4 frozen ginger cubes or minced ginger, if you must, you may use 2 teaspoons ground ginger.
- Add up to ½ teaspoon black peppercorns for a spicy chai.
- Fennel seeds for a unique flavor or orange zest for brightness. A dash of lemon juice also adds another layer of flavor.
- You can replace the honey with maple syrup, cane sugar, agave, coconut sugar, granulated sugar, or brown sugar.
- Swap out the tea for Earl Grey, Assam, or another black tea favorite.
- If you prefer a more bitter chai spice, use unsweetened, omitting the honey.
Storage Tips
Refrigerate – After the concentrate cools, store it in an airtight container, like a bottle or mason jar, in the fridge for up to two weeks.
How to Freeze—If you don’t plan on using the chai within two weeks, you can freeze it in an ice cube tray. This allows you to easily use the concentrate in small batches or single servings. Thaw in pan or place in a jar overnight in fridge.
Reheating – Rewarm on the stovetop, frother or in the microwave and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common tea used for chai is black tea, typically Darjeeling, Assam or Ceylon. These strong, bold-flavored teas provide a robust base that complements the spices and sweetness in chai blends. In a pinch you can use your favorite black tea (regular or decaf).
You don’t need a milk frother or any kind of machine to make homemade chai tea. If you want a frothy latte, use a hand-held frother, whisk or you can even pour the mixture into a blender and blend for a few seconds. *Be careful when blending using hot ingredients, as the contents can cause the lid to pop under pressure.
Chai tea has several benefits, including improving heart health, reducing blood sugar levels, aiding digestion, and preventing weight gain. Of course if you are adding a lot of honey or sugar, you negate those benefits.
What to serve with Chai Latte Concentrate Recipe
- Copycat Starbucks Coffee Cake
- Orange Scone Recipe
- Cinnamon Swirl Bundt Cake
- Ooey Gooey Cinnamon Rolls
- Cinnamon Crunch Scones
Best Breakfasts for Homemade Chai Tea Concentrate
For a morning treat, enjoy with one of our favorite breakfast recipes, like this indulgent Canned Cinnamon Roll Casserole, these Small Batch Cinnamon Rolls or perhaps this Chile Relleno Casserole.
Easy Small Batch Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting
Whip up a batch of bliss with our Small Batch Cinnamon Rolls! Six soft, fluffy treats oozing with cinnamon goodness and topped with cream cheese frosting.
Perfect for breakfast or dessert, in just a few steps!
Easy Canned Cinnamon Roll Casserole
Turn a can of store-bought cinnamon rolls into a heavenly canned cinnamon roll casserole! Sure to become a family favorite!
Plus I tested several brands of canned cinnamon rolls to find the best. Grands? Trader Joes? Organic?
Easy Hatch Green Chile Relleno Casserole Recipe
Best Chile Relleno Casserole is an easy, delicious vegetarian dish made with Monterey Jack cheese stuffed whole roasted chiles, topped with an egg, milk batter, topped with more cheese, then baked to fluffy perfection. Easily adapted to be gluten free.
Best Desserts or Treats to Serve with Chai Tea
Or serve delicious chai lattes the next time you host family and friends, pair them with my irresistible Butterscotch Cinnamon Pie, these Starbucks Cheese Danish Recipe or this Panera Pumpkin Muffin recipe – Yum!
Best Pumpkin Muffin Recipe with Streusel (Panera Copycat)
Easy Panera Pumpkin Muffin recipe, a one bowl simple muffin recipe. Make regular or jumbo pumpkin muffins topped with buttery brown sugar crumb topping and a dusting of powdered sugar.
Easy Cream Cheese Danish Recipe (Copycat Starbucks)
You'll quickly fall in love with this incredible Copycat Starbucks Cream Cheese Danish Recipe! An easy recipe using puff pastry and a quick cream cheese filling, then baked to golden, puffy perfection.
Butterscotch Cinnamon Pie Recipe
The rich buttery brown sugar flavors mixed into a creamy homemade butterscotch pudding nestled in a flaky pastry crust. This Butterscotch Cinnamon pie recipe is Heavenly!
More Teas and Hot Beverages
- Golden Milk Mix Recipe
- Copycat Medicine Ball Tea Recipe
- Turmeric and Ginger Tea
- Starbucks White Hot Chocolate Recipe
- Starbucks Peach Green Tea Lemonade
If you’re missing one of the ingredients, that’s okay! This recipe can be tweaked and adjusted if necessary, and it still tastes delicious!
I hope you loved this Chai Concentrate Recipe for Homemade Chai Latte— if you did, would you share your creation on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest? And be sure to rate and comment below!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6-8 teaspoons Darjeeling black tea loose leaf or 6-8 Darjeeling* black tea bags (regular or decaf)
- 6 cups water filtered, room temperature
- 2-4 ½ inch slices ginger fresh ginger, see notes for substitutes
- 2 cinnamon sticks crushed (2 short sticks or one 6-8 inch stick broken)
- 4-6 whole cloves crushed
- 6-7 whole cardamom pods crushed
- 1 whole star anise crushed (optional)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract or 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or a whole vanilla bean, slit and seeds scraped into pot with pod.
- ¼-½ teaspoon nutmeg fresh grated is best
- ¼-⅓ cup honey based on sweetness preferences
Instructions
- Measure all of your spices and ingredients so you are ready to go.
- In a bowl, using the end of a wooden spoon or a mortar and pestle, gently crush the 1-2 cinnamon sticks, 4-6 whole cloves, 4-5 cardamom pods, 1 star anise, and ginger (2-4 ½ -inch pieces). Grate the nutmeg (¼-½ tsp).
- Bring 6 cups of filtered water to a gentle boil and reduce to a simmer; 6-8 teaspoons or 6-8 tea bags, add crushed spices, ginger and if using, add vanilla pod/seeds or vanilla bean paste – if using vanilla extract you will add at the end.
- Reduce heat to a gentle simmer for just 5 minutes (longer will cause your tea to be bitter), stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.
- Allow mixture to steep covered for about 10-15 minutes.
- Place a fine mesh strainer over a large 8-cup measuring bowl. Carefully pour the chai concentrate through the sieve. Discard the tea and spices.
- Stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (if you didn't add vanilla bean or paste), ¼-⅓ cup honeyor sweetener of choice until dissolved. Cool to room temperature.
- Pour your homemade chai concentrate into a desired container (at least 48 ounces) jar or bottle, cool and refrigerate. This will ensure your concentrate stays fresh and flavorful for a long time.
Notes
- Feel free to use Ceylon or Assam black tea as well, or your favorite black tea.
- If no fresh ginger, second choice is using 2-4 frozen ginger cubes or minced ginger, if you must, you may use 2 teaspoons ground ginger.
- If you like more “bite” or spice in your chai, feel free to increase the ginger, I like more of a medium spice.
- Nutritional values do not include milk of choice, just the concentrate, please use a nutrition calculator to determine accurately.
Substitutions
- Increase the ginger for a little more spice in your chai.
- If no fresh ginger, try using 2-4 frozen ginger cubes or minced ginger, if you must, you may use 2 teaspoons ground ginger.
- Add up to ½ teaspoon black peppercorns for a spicy chai.
- Fennel seeds for a unique flavor or orange zest for brightness. A dash of lemon juice also adds another layer of flavor.
- You can replace the honey with maple syrup, cane sugar, agave, coconut sugar, granulated sugar, or brown sugar.
- Swap out the tea for Earl Grey, Assam, or another black tea favorite.
- If you prefer a more bitter chai spice, use unsweetened, omitting the honey.
Nutrition
Kate
This concentrate was so easy and so flavorful!
So glad you loved it Kate!
kushi
Love this simple & flavorful concentrate. Thanks for sharing.
Beth
I’ve always loved chai tea, so I’m very eager to try making it for myself. I’ve only ever ordered it at a restaurant or bought it in a package.
You will love it Beth, so easy and much more economical!
Vicky
This is a game-changer for a cozy morning. I love that I can now enjoy a chai latte at home!
It really is!