Spiced Chai Concentrate {and a giveaway!}
If you’ve read my blog or any length of time, you are probably well aware that we love chai tea in our house. (If you haven’t tried the chai cupcakes, you really need to!) We drink tea fairly frequently and vanilla chai is almost always the tea of choice. Mike loves chai tea just as much as I do, and when I ran across this recipe for a spiced chai concentrate, I knew I would be making it as soon as possible. I’m so glad I did because I love this stuff! The concentrate is made by steeping tea with a variety of of spices and adding sugar and honey for sweetness. To drink it, just mix the concentrate in equal ratios with milk, and either heat in the microwave or serve cold, over ice. It tastes amazing and it’s not nearly as hard to make as it sounds. It takes about 5 minutes of hands on time, and then you’ve got chai concentrate in your fridge for future use. It’s quicker, easier and cheaper than running to your local coffee shop, and honestly, I think it tastes better than the coffee shop chai. Best of all, by adjusting the spices and sweetness, you can customize the taste according to your preference. Mike and I both loved this version of chai tea – it’s something special and different that really brightens up our morning tea routine.
{Scroll Down for the Giveaway}
Spiced Chai Concentrate
Ingredients:
4-½ cups Water
1 stick Cinnamon
1 piece Fresh Ginger Chopped
7 whole Cardamom Pods
1 whole Star Anise Pods
10 whole Cloves
¼ teaspoons Freshly Ground Black Pepper
½ teaspoons Freshly-ground Nutmeg
1 teaspoon Orange Zest
10 teaspoons Green Or Black Tea Or 10 Tea Bags
1/2 cups Brown Sugar
1 Tablespoon Honey
1 Tablespoon Vanilla
Directions:
Bring the water to a boil. Add the spices and tea, remove from heat and let steep 15-20 minutes, depending on how strong you want it. Strain and add the brown sugar, honey, and vanilla. Stir to combine.
Mix 1 part concentrate with 1 part milk, heat and enjoy or pour over ice.
adapted from Tasty Kitchen
***GIVEAWAY***
[Note: This Giveaway is now closed. The winner, according to random.org, was Stephanie, comment 75. Congratulations!]
I’ve never mentioned it on here, but my Sunday School teacher’s wife owns a spice business – Cherry Valley Spice Company! I love to talk spices and cooking with her, and a few times she’s come to my rescue with some obscure, hard to find spices. We’ve been discussing the idea of a giveaway on the blog, and she was kind enough to offer the spices to make this chai concentrate! I know that sometimes the whole, unground versions of spices can be hard to find, and you don’t want to invest in a ton of bulk spices if you don’t even know if you’ll like what you’re making. But Cherry Valley Spice Company is offering to give away enough spices that the winner can make their own chai concentrate! {This incluces cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, whole cloves, star anise pods and a fresh nutmeg!} I used Cherry Valley spices for my version, and the end result was wonderful! I could tell that the spices were fresh and strong. 🙂
To enter, visit Cherry Valley Spice and leave a comment on this post letting me know what spice you would most want to buy! Contest ends Saturday, October 15th at midnight.
*Cherry Valley Spice provided me with spices for this recipe and is providing the giveaway. All opinions are my own. The owner is a good friend of mine, but I really do like the spices. 🙂
Welcome! I'm Megan and it's my hope that here you'll find food that has been made with love and recipes that are shared with joy. Thanks for stopping by! 
cinnamon sticks
I would love to get my hands on some lavender salt! Chai cupcakes sound amazing too. 🙂
I’d love the chipotle. The description made me want to use it in many recipes to spice things up!
I think I want everything there! LOL. But the Mesquite Seasoning and Curry caught my eyes. Also the lavender salt. Not something I can get here.
Given the time of year I would go for the Pumpkin Pie spice or the Rosemary..
I would LOVE the ginger! Mmmm
I’d love to try Saffron!
My top choices would be basil or the bell pepper dip mix, and this chai recipe sounds delicious. Thanks for hosting this giveaway! Have a great day! 🙂
I would buy the cinnamon sticks. Her site is so attractive.
Brian and I love spices and he has even been making homemade chai lately (with our own local grocery store branded spices). At this point in time, I would most likely buy the curry spice from Cherry Valley Spice Co since i broke the bottle about a week ago and haven’t replaced it yet…. 🙂 Thanks for another great recipe, Megan!
I’d love to buy some nutmeg – I have never used freshly ground nutmeg and I’m sure it’s fantastic. Beautiful giveaway and website!
Chili powder! I love spicy chili. Nice site.
I would love to try the Fenugreek. Never heard of it before but it sounds tasty!
Oh, I would love to try the Mace.
Pumpkin pie spice – they don’t have it in Australia! 🙁
Saffron – I’ve never had it; would love love love to try.
Red Hawaiian Sea Salt – sounds interesting!
This was a difficult decision, as everything looks wonderful! We eat a lot of Indian food at our house, so I would definitely buy the Garam Masala.
I would love to try the pumpkin pie spice! Sounds perfect for the fall!
I would DEFINITELY get some cinnamon sticks! We use cinnamon sticks in hot apple cider and I love using it as garnish in a mug for guests. Thank you for hosting this giveaway!
We LOVE Chai here, too! This post makes me so happy!!! 🙂
I would say that I would love Spice Starter kit — a little bit of everything!!!!
pumpkin pie spice looks delish
I’m very excited to know about Cherry Valley Spice Company. There are some spices I simply can’t find locally . . . and Cardamom Pods is one of those elusive spices. I’m excited to make the Chai Tea concentrate!
mmm, the chai latte at Starbucks is the only reason I go in anymore!
I would love to try the cardamom!
I would love to try pizza topper since it sounds unique… but in the tea of course! Thanks for sharing her website I can’t wait look around and maybe order a few!
cardamom pods – one of my favorite herbs!
Great giveaway! And this looks delicious! I’d love some whole cloves in my pantry! 🙂
I’d get the cloves. They smell so good!!
I would buy the pumpkin pie spice.
Thanks for the recipe. Can’t wait to try this!
Tough to choose between the horseradish powder and the good ol’ dill. Thanks for doing this! I’d love to try this concentrate.
So curious to try lavender salt. And this spiced chai looks divine!
Thanks for the giveaway, Megan and Cherry Valley Spice.
It’s difficult to decide between the Szechuan Peppercorns and the lemon extract.
I would love chipotle and chai ingredients!! I am a newly wed so really any spices except the basics would be awesome!!!
Nice recipe Megan! I totally would go for the ancho chili because I really like adding it to my chili. http://www.cherryvalleyspice.com/spices/all-spices/ancho-chilis.html
Thanks for the giveaway!
I would’ve never thought to make a concentrate. What a fantastic idea. Thanks for sharing this Megan!
xoxo
Heather
I love the smoked hot paprika in BBQ,Chili,ribs,sprinkled over Mac and Cheese ,on deviled eggs … anything that you want a smoky taste to without using a smoker. Plan on making the concentrate too . I have already sent the recipe to my daughter
I would love to try baking with the poppy seeds, but I bet my husband would love the hickory smoke for all his grilling adventures!
I am always looking for a good curry. Neat site and I also love Chai!
I’d love a tin of Anise Seeds! 🙂
Thanks for sharing Cherry Valley Spice…I would love to get some of their Herbs de Provence. I’ve seen a few recipes with those and would like to try it. I can’t seem to find them locally.
everything looks so fun & yummy! the cinnamon sticks, bell pepper spices & popcorn seasonings would be some of the first I’d try 🙂
your spiced chai looks wonderful, I can just imagine the wonderful aroma….
I love the sound of the ground jalapeno pepper, sounds great
Since my daughter literally would drink ranch dressing (if we let her), I’d go for the ranch dip from CVSC.
I can’t believe that there is black pepper in Chai Tea!!! Love Chai Tea, but never knew it had that in it!
I would love some of those cinnamon sticks! I love love love cinnamon-the taste, the smell…especially this time of year!
I would totally be up for trying Lavender Salt. I had never heard of it before. I love being creative with new spices. mmmmmm…..
I see them used on the food network all the time & would love to try PINK PEPPERCORNS! I’m sort of obsessed with peppercorns but have never tried these!
Wow!! That is a nice give away. I thought I would like to have the cardamon then I saw the lavendar salt and the vanilla beans. Not sure which I would like. I would like to try the lavendar. I just read something the other day that called for it. I have made my own vanilla extract, but I need some more vanilla beans.
I would want to trythe herbs de provence. I always see chefs use it, but never have!
Fun! I would love to try her Red Hawaiian Sea Salt.
I’d love to try the Garam masala……..something new and different.
i would love to try the pumpkin pie spice!!
I saw several I would want but I guess what I would find most useful these days is the chili powder.
The Hickory Smoke powder sounds really interesting. I’d love to try it!
Gumbo File! I cannot get enough cajun food and that spice is hard to find around here!!
What a great recipe! I am HUGE chai tea fan and I haven’t even found a place close by to buy one since I moved. I am so excited to try making my own. Besides all of the great spices contained in the recipe, I would love to try the Fenugreek and the Garam Masala. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe and the link to Cherry Valley Spice Company and, also, for the opportunity to win!
I would love the pumpkin pie spice.. can not get enough of that flavor or the cinnamon sticks.. MMMhhh
I would like to try the white pepper–my mom always used to put it in mashed potatoes.
How awesome! I love Chai tea!Their lavender salt seems fascinating!
Cumin is my most-loved spice so I’d have to say that one but I’m having so much fun exploring the site and I’m going to make the chai concentrate this weekend!
All the spices look amazing, but I am dying for some pumpkin pie spice now that it is that time of year again!
Thanks for the delicious chai recipe!
Oooo! The pizza seasoning sounds very interesting!
Beautiful photos of the Spiced Chai! I wish I could reach right through the screen!
Fenugreek!!
just love it… great picture
I WOULD LOVE TO TRY PUMPKIN PIE SPICE!
szechuan peppercorns–definitely a must for chinese cooking, and i’ve been trying to try more chinese recipes lately.
Chai tea = tea tea.
Chai should suffice.
Cinnamon is my favorite spice!
Saw your concentrate on foodgawker and since I love chai too, came over to check it out. Lovely giveaway as well, I think I would get the white peppercorns because I haven’t tried them yet.
Lemon pepper seasoning would be my choice. I like that it is salt free.
The spices look fantastic, but I would have to chose ranch popcorn seasoning. We have lots of camfires in the back yard with the neighbors and always pop popcorn for the kids. This would add a little flavor without dousting it in butter!
I think I would try the horseradish powder. The salt-free lemon pepper too!!
I’ve been saying for too long that I’m going to make my own chai concentrate. Now I must! 🙂
Cute spice store. I’d love to try the chocolate caramel popcorn spice!
I really need to get on this chair concentrate! I looooove chai lattes but hate paying $5 for a super sugary one. Thanks for sharing this!
I would like some red Hawaiian sea salt.
Saffron… because I’ve never tried it before.
Pink Pepperberries… because we don’t have them growing in our backyard anymore.
Cardamom… because I can’t get enough of it!
The chili powder looks fantastic!
I am a huge chai fan and would love to make my own! From the Cherry Valley Spice Company website, I think I’d most like to buy vanilla beans. I can never find them where I live, and always wish I had them on hand!
This sounds delicious! And, thanks for sharing the Spice Website! I would love to try the lemon pepper! Yum!
I can’t pick just one! What a wonderful website for spices! I’d love to try their vanilla beans, lavender salt, and one of each of their popcorn flavorings!
I’d love to get some dill seed!
littlegray88 at yahoo dot com
I’d choose lavender flowers!
I love spices…can never have enough cinnamon around! And dried mustard has to be in my cupboard always. And I just ran out of cloves…not good this time of year!
Thanks for the great giveaway!
Heather
Oregano- I’m almost out! 🙂
Chili powder or the Hickory Smoke powder!!
I want to buy cinnamon sticks! They seem so simple but I’ve only ever used ground cinnamon before. Gotta try them! 🙂
I would love to buy some spices that I’ve never used but always wanted to try like garam masala or cardamom. But then again, I’d love to buy some nutmeg or cinnamon sticks – favorite flavors 🙂 Thanks for this giveaway!
This sounds very lovely. I am on the lookout for a ‘dry’ chai mix that I can keep in the pantry. I have made a couple in the past but they never taste right in the end. I can’t seem to get the proportions right. Any suggestions?
I saw one on Pinterest recently that looked good, but haven’t tried it yet, so unfortunately I can’t help you out too much. You can bet that if I find one I like, however, it will end up on the blog. I LOVE chai 🙂
I would love ancho chili or chipotle chili powder- mexican food’s so fun to make!
Oh, and the spice I most want to try is Fenugreek. I am getting into Indian cooking and I have no idea how to use this spice. Practice makes perfect!
I’d have to say the saffron most intrigues me; I see it in the grocery store every once in a while but it’s just so darn expensive! With my budget, I can’t justify spending $10-15 on a spice that I wouldn’t use on a regular basis. The mesquite seasoning also intrigued me, as I don’t think I’ve ever noticed it in the store.
Hi Megan! I would be most interested in buying the turmeric, as we like Indian food a lot! 🙂
Hi Megan! Thank you for another great recipe! I would like to try the Savory, for it’s versatility.
mmm… saffron. I’ve been out for a while and would love to make saffron rice to go with a yummy fall meal.
Thanks for the Chai concentrate recipe. I can’t wait to try it and maybe make it as gifts…..
The chocolate caramel popcorn flavoring sounds too good to pass up.
Ground jalapeño pepper and lavender salt both seem intriguing as well–I’d love to try them!
I love chai, yum! Hm, if I had to choose just one spice to try, I’d pick either one of the flavored salts, or maybe the vanille since I enjoy baking. 🙂
There are so many choices! To be honest I don’t know what to do with most of the spices. Being a baker, those vanilla beans are calling my name.
the savory spice mix sounds yummy!
Jenni told me about this post today and I had to check it out…. I love chai! I would probably choose cardamom because I have very fond memories of drinking chai with a somali friend and she would grind the cardmom and cinnamon with a pestle and serve the tea SOooo hot. Anyway, it was good and this looks really good too. 🙂
Saffron! There are so many recipes I want to make that require it, but it’s so pricey that I haven’t been able to bite the bullet and buy my own yet.
Everything on the site is something I would love to have and I had a hard time making a choice. I narrowed it down to the lemon extract, the chocolate caramel popcorn flavoring and the best sellers salt sampler flight. Tough choice.
I’ve been thinking of making curry from scratch lately; fenugreek would be an awesome addition to my spice collection.
This recipe seems like a great idea! Everything is adjustable, so if a first batch is too sweet the sugar level can be lowered, or if the concentrate is too spicy you could reduce the pepper.
What do you think of using a real vanilla bean instead of the extract?
The onion. I know, boring… but it’s so versatile. (My first choice is actually the popcorn toppers, but wasn’t sure those counted as a spice.)
ooh, how fun! i really want/need cardamom. for some reason, i never remember to buy it and then i find all kinds of recipes that call for it!
cardamom has to be my favorite of all chai spices…reminds me of my grandmother’s baking
(fennel seeds are good in chai too!)
I would love to get my hands on some lavender flowers or pink peppercorns!
ugh, I change my first answer. I need cardamom and star anise to make this Chai!!!
spice starter kit-a good fun variety-or saffron-so pricey, I’ve never bought it!
Chipotle!
Everything is so tempting! I think I’d like to get some cardamom, or the spice starter kit… 🙂
Caraway seeds! Their flavor is so beautiful and unique, but they can be so hard to find. (And, of course, the cinnamon sticks and cardamom pods necessary for this amazing-looking Chai!)
mmmm, it’s so hard to choose one spice, since I love so many!! I love this recipe and giveaway. I think if i had to choose one I’d like to try it would be garam masala. It’s something I’ve never tried, but have seen it in several recipes.
So many choices! The website is beautifully laid out. I will admit I have been a penzy’s fan for some time…however the horseradish powder looks like something great to have on hand! Recently started to read your blog-so glad I did! No more store chai for me!
I’d love to try the Hawaiian black sea salt or the ppacking heat spice
I would love to try the cinnamon sticks.
All sound great, but I am really interested in the lavender salt!
I would love saffron, I want to make a Indian dish called Suji Halwa.
I would love some cinnamon! 🙂
Angela Michels
lilsweeper76 at yahoo dot com
I’d love some of the ranch dip
I would get some Lemon Extract – my kids favorite dessert has lemon extract and I haven’t made it in a while.
susitravl(at)gmail(dot)com
Probably the whole nutmeg–I’ve never tried grinding my own and always wanted to try. That, or the Garam Masala–so want to try my hand using that earthy spice in middle-eastern style cooking! (Off to make your vanilla chai cupcakes, now!)
MUCH LuV for the printer friendly button so I could print this lovely recipe!
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I would love to try the different popcorn spice toppings but curry, saffron and many others would be great to try as well!