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close up image of a blue china tea cup of chai tea with cinnamon stick and star anise

Chai Tea

This simple homemade chai tea recipe is made with whole spices, black tea, and milk. While it does take a little more work than just steeping a bag of chai tea, the smell and taste of this chai is well worth the extra steps!

Course beverages, Dessert, Snack, Tea
Cuisine Indian
Keyword chai, chai recipe, whole spice chai
Prep Time 40 minutes
Servings 5 people
Author Naomi

Ingredients

  • 1 star anise
  • 2 med. cinnamon sticks
  • 10 whole cloves
  • 6 whole allspice
  • 6 white peppercorns
  • 5 black peppercorns
  • 2 cardamom pods
  • 2 heaping teaspoons black tea
  • 3 c. water
  • 4 c. whole or 2% milk
  • 1 Tbsp. sugar or honey or to taste

Instructions

  1. Combine spice and water in a medium pot; bring to a boil, then remove from heat and allow to steep, covered, for 5 minutes.

  2. Bring the mixture back to a boil, add the tea (I put mine in a tea ball), remove from heat and allow to steep for 15 minutes longer.

  3. Add the milk and heat through; strain into a clean pot, heat the mixture for a few minutes more, and add sugar or honey to taste.  Ladle into cups and serve.

Recipe Notes

Note: 

This recipe is not very sweet; I added only enough honey to mine to make the sweetness complement the spices.  If you like yours a little sweeter, add more sugar or honey.