Make homemade chai syrup by simmering black tea with spices, straining the concentrate, and combining it with a separate sugar syrup. Add a small amount to milk or water for a sweet, spiced drink.
Ingredients
For the chai concentrate
- 4 cups water
- 8–10 black tea bags or 4–5 tablespoons loose-leaf black tea
- 8–10 green cardamom pods, crushed
- 2–3 cinnamon sticks
- 8–10 cloves
- 1–2 inches fresh ginger, sliced
- 1–2 teaspoons black peppercorns
- 1–2 star anise pods, optional
- 1–2 teaspoons fennel seeds, optional
- 1–2 teaspoons coriander seeds, optional
Use spices sold for culinary use. Check the tea and spice ingredient information before serving. Black tea contains caffeine; this recipe is not caffeine-free.
For the sugar syrup
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
Instructions
Simmer the tea and spices together. Put the 4 cups water, black tea, and all your chosen concentrate spices into a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for about 20–30 minutes. Watch the pan so it does not boil dry. This extended simmer is the intended method for this recipe, rather than ordinary cup-brewing guidance.
Strain the concentrate. Carefully strain into a heat-safe container, removing the tea leaves, tea bags, and whole spices.
Make the sugar syrup. In a separate saucepan, combine the sugar and 1 cup water. Heat over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
Cool and combine. Cool both mixtures promptly using containers suitable for their temperature. Start by mixing equal measured volumes of chai concentrate and sugar syrup. Adjust the ratio to taste. The batches may not yield equal volumes, so do not assume that combining both entire batches produces a 1:1 ratio.
Refrigerate. Transfer to clean food-storage containers, cover, and refrigerate. Keep any unused concentrate or sugar syrup refrigerated separately. This is not a shelf-stable preserve or a canning recipe.
Prepare a drink. Stir 1–2 tablespoons finished chai syrup into a cup of hot milk or water, adjusting to taste.
Serve. Stir well and allow the drink to reach a comfortable drinking temperature. Use suitable drinkware and handle hot liquids carefully.
Other ways to serve it
Try a small amount in iced tea or as a topping for pancakes, oatmeal, or ice cream. Adjust to the dish rather than assuming it replaces another sweetener in equal quantities.
Storage
Keep the homemade syrup refrigerated and use clean utensils when serving. This recipe does not provide a tested storage duration, so do not rely on the previous suggestion that it will keep for several weeks.
If giving it as a gift, keep it chilled during transport and clearly label the ingredients and refrigeration requirement.
Choose your tea
Browse Beach House Teas and review each product's ingredients before choosing. A flavored or spiced blend will change the finished recipe's flavor.
