Homemade Chai – Barefeet in the Kitchen

There may be nothing – and I do imply nothing – that compares with steeping entire spices and tea leaves to make an genuine pot of aromatic, spicy, candy home made chai.

I’ve loved loads of powdered chai in espresso retailers and I’ve brewed my very own a number of instances with chai-flavored teabags and mixes. I’m warning you now, when you’ve made actual chai you’ll by no means be as pleased with the opposite variations.

Straightforward Chai

I heard about my brother-in-law’s home made chai for a number of years earlier than it lastly labored out for me to pattern it at their home.

Should you recall, this is identical sister and her husband who launched me to Spanish Cafe con Leche after they visited Spain virtually 15 years in the past. Once they inform me that one thing is scrumptious, I are inclined to imagine them.

Now that I’ve had an opportunity to make Jason’s recipe for myself, it most actually doesn’t disappoint. I’ve been making this simple chai in doubled and tripled batches for years now and I really like having a jar or two stashed within the fridge.

Served with a plate of Almond Bars, a steaming cup of chai (or an iced chai latte) turns into a day snack that nobody turns down.

Chai Components

You’ll want the next elements to make this recipe:

• cardamom pods
• entire cloves
• cinnamon stick
• recent ginger
• black peppercorns
• bay leaf
• unfastened black tea leaves
• water
• half and half
• mild brown sugar or honey

Chai Recipe

Place the cardamom, cloves, cinnamon stick, ginger, peppercorns, and a bay leaf in a medium dimension saucepan.

Add the water and produce to a boil. Enable this to boil for five minutes. Take away from the warmth and steep for 10 minutes.

Add the tea leaves and return to a boil. (I like to make use of English Breakfast tea when making chai.) Scale back the warmth and simmer on medium for five minutes.

Add the half and half and the sugar. Stir for a few minute, over low warmth, till steaming.

Pour via a superb mesh strainer right into a teapot, mugs, or glasses. Chai may be served heat or chilly. It’s a refreshing deal with when served icy chilly and poured over ice.

Pour any remaining chai combination into small jars to retailer within the fridge. Reheat or get pleasure from chilly, as desired.

The recipe doubles completely and is a terrific approach to make and maintain a number of days price of morning chai able to drink with just some minutes of warming on the range or within the microwave.

It will make a terrific soiled chai with a shot of espresso within the morning. Should you desire espresso, strive including a beneficiant splash of the chai combination to your subsequent cup.

Selfmade Chai Latte

Questioning tips on how to flip this chai recipe into a superbly frothed heat or iced latte? It’s simple as pie. (Truly, it’s an entire lot simpler than that, as there isn’t a pie crust making concerned right here!)

Merely froth the milk or half and half earlier than pouring it into the steeped chai focus. I’ve used this frother every day for nearly ten years now when making my morning espresso and it really works nice for chai lattes too.

For extra home made drinks which might be higher than the espresso store, strive the ever-popular London Fog or an Iced Brown Sugar Espresso.

Italian Cream Liqueur is a favourite across the holidays and I typically make it and reward it to pals. Peppermint Hot Chocolate is a superb match for a splash of that cream liqueur.

You may make Vanilla Coffee Syrup at house, utilizing just some widespread elements and no preservatives or synthetic flavors. It takes lower than 5 minutes to stir collectively the syrup and it tastes higher than any store-bought choices.

Can’t get sufficient chai? Aromatic cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves are steeped with black tea leaves to infuse every scoop of this Chai Ice Cream with the traditional taste of chai tea.

{initially revealed 1/20/13 – recipe notes and pictures up to date 6/22/23}