Description
Spiced Vanilla Chai is a comforting and aromatic tea blend that combines traditional Indian spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and fresh ginger with rich vanilla and sweet honey. This recipe offers a creamy and flavorful chai experience made with black tea and your choice of milk, perfect for cozy mornings or relaxing afternoons.
Ingredients
Scale
Tea Base
- 2 cups filtered water
- 2 black tea bags (Assam or Darjeeling)
Spices
- 1-2 cinnamon sticks
- 4 cardamom pods, crushed
- 1 inch fresh ginger, sliced
Flavorings & Sweetener
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp honey or sugar (to taste)
Dairy or Alternatives
- 1 cup whole milk or milk alternatives (oat, almond, or coconut milk)
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Boil 2 cups of filtered water in a pot. While the water heats, crush the cardamom pods slightly and slice the fresh ginger into thin pieces. This preparation helps to release the flavors efficiently.
- Add Spices and Simmer: Once the water is boiling, add the crushed cardamom pods, sliced ginger, and cinnamon sticks. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and let the spices infuse for about 5 minutes to extract their oils and flavors into the water.
- Steep Tea: Add the black tea bags to the simmering spiced water. Lower the heat further and cover the pot. Let the tea steep for 5 minutes, ensuring it doesn’t over-steep, which could cause bitterness.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the tea bags and spice solids from the pot. Stir in the pure vanilla extract and your chosen sweetener (honey or sugar) according to your taste. Add 1 cup of whole milk or your preferred milk alternative, heating gently for 2-3 minutes until warm and well combined. Serve hot for a satisfying and aromatic chai experience.
Notes
- You can adjust sweetness by increasing or reducing honey or sugar to taste.
- Milk alternatives like oat, almond, or coconut milk create a dairy-free version while keeping creaminess.
- Do not over-steep tea bags to avoid bitterness; 5 minutes is ideal.
- For stronger spice flavor, increase simmer time up to 7 minutes, but be careful not to reduce water too much.
