Description
Masala Chai Concentrate is a flavorful and aromatic blend of black tea infused with traditional Indian spices like cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and ginger. This concentrate can be mixed with milk and heated for a quick, comforting chai experience. Perfect for tea lovers who want authentic taste with the convenience of a ready-to-use concentrate.
Ingredients
Scale
Spices and Flavorings
- 10 whole black peppercorns
- 7 whole cloves
- 1 cinnamon stick, broken into pieces
- 6 green cardamom pods, slightly crushed
- 1 small piece (about 1 inch) of fresh ginger, sliced
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground allspice
Tea and Sweetener
- 4 cups of water
- 2 tablespoons of loose black tea or 4 black tea bags
- 1 cup of granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
Instructions
- Combine Spices and Water: In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the water, black peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, and sliced ginger. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat to begin infusing the spices.
- Simmer Spices: Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer gently for about 20 minutes. This slow simmering extracts deep flavors from the spices into the water.
- Add Tea: Add the loose tea or tea bags to the simmering water and allow it to steep for an additional 10 minutes. If using loose tea, place a strainer over the saucepan to catch the leaves for easy removal.
- Strain the Concentrate: Pour the brewed mixture through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean pot, discarding all the solid spices and tea leaves to obtain a clear concentrate.
- Add Sweeteners and Spices: Stir in the sugar, vanilla extract, ground nutmeg, and ground allspice while the liquid is still warm, ensuring that all the sugar dissolves completely.
- Cool and Store: Let the masala chai concentrate cool to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator where it will keep for up to two weeks.
- Serve: Whenever ready to enjoy, mix equal parts of the masala chai concentrate and your preferred milk. Heat this mixture in a saucepan or microwave until hot, then serve immediately for a comforting chai beverage.
Notes
- Adjust sugar according to your preferred sweetness level.
- You can use any type of milk such as dairy, almond, soy, or oat milk when serving.
- The concentrate keeps well refrigerated for up to two weeks—shake well before each use.
- For a stronger chai flavor, increase steeping time or tea quantity slightly.
- This concentrate can also be used as a base for iced chai tea lattes by mixing with cold milk and ice.
