soy-free, gluten-free
I love chai but they are pricey at coffee shops. It’s well worth stocking up on a few spices to make your own, and it’s super easy too. This one is exactly the way I like it, but feel free to add more or less of some spices until it mimics your favorite. If you like a licorice flavor through in one star anise, it will create a big flavor.
*This recipe requires a small 1 – 1.5 quart slow cooker.* (You can double or triple the recipe and use a larger one if you like.)
Do It Yourself Chai Concentrate
- 6 cups (1500ml) water
- 5 slices fresh ginger
- 7 whole cinnamon sticks
- 10 whole cloves
- 10 whole peppercorns
- 8 whole allspice berries
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom seeds
- 10 teabags (black, green, or roobios)
- 1/2 to 1 cup agave nectar (or other sweetener like maple syrup or sugar, or leave unsweetened if you prefer)
In the morning: If you can’t find cardamom seeds, you can open up cardamom pods and extract them yourself. Put water and spices in the slow cooker. Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.
After cooking: Add in tea bags to the slow cooker and turn to high. Let seep 5 to 10 minutes depending on how concentrated you want the flavor to be. Remove teabags and add sweetener if desired. Take out the cinnamon sticks. Pour into a pitcher while straining out the spices through a piece of cheesecloth places in a funnel to remove the rest of the whole spice. Store in the fridge for 1 to 2 weeks.
Yields: About 6 cup (1500ml)
Total Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Cooking Time: 5 to 8 hours
Add about 1/2 to 1 cup of the concentrate to an equal amount non-dairy milk. It’s great hot or iced!
Oh my gosh, thank you for this. We love chai but i cant see paying for those concentrates. I usually just make the tea. I can’t wait to make a big batch of this. thank you!!!
Niiiice. One thing that really bothers me about those concentrates is how they are too darn sweet. This is a nice, adjustable method. Good work!
Fascinating! Won’t this be fun to try–so glad you linked to Food on Fridays!
Awesome, thanks! I’m going to give this a whirl.
Wonderful! I am, by all means, looking for ways to always save a bit of money. Thank you!
Sounds great…I have tried many kinds and can’t find one I really like plus of course they are pricey. This will be great to try over holiday break.
I have all of the ingredients but they are ground rather than whole. Any suggestions?
You could give it a go with the ground spices, but they will separate on you.
I did read an Indian recipe that used ground spices, but I have never done it myself. Please let me know how it goes and good luck!