Learn how to make the BEST Chai Concentrate at home ... in minutes!
This easy spiced Chai Tea Syrup uses basic ingredients, and it's perfectly spicy and sweet. Use it to make your favorite lattes (and other drinks)!
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One of my favorite indulgences is a cozy Chai Latte. I prefer it spicy and not too sweet. Although I don't indulge too often, sometimes I can't resist popping into Starbucks for a treat!
I've tried making my own Chai Syrup a number of times in the past, and it never tasted quite right. That is, until I came across the unique recipe for this delicious Chai Tea Mix.
This homemade Chai Concentrate is super simple to make, perfectly spicy, and has the ideal amount of sweetness. It is truly the BEST!
If you've ever wondered how to make your fave coffee shop drink at home—with zero fuss—this is the recipe for you. You are going to love the taste, and the fact that you can use it to make an amazing latte in minutes!
Ingredients
This homemade Chai Spice recipe uses simple, easy to find ingredients. Here's what you'll need to make it:
- Condensed Milk - This thick, sweet milk has the benefit of creating the perfect milky, creamy texture and sweetening the tea at the same time.
- Spices - This recipe uses a mixture of ground spices that are typically found in this spiced tea (ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves).
- Tea - When you're ready to use the syrup, you'll mix it with a strongly brewed cup of tea. I used earl grey, but for a more authentic flavor, you can use assam or darjeeling.
This recipe is adapted from Knitting Nurse. I've been making it for years, and it's one of the first recipes I ever shared on Hello Little Home. It's a tried and true favorite that I know you're going to love just as much as me!
You'll Also Need
If you drink a lot of tea, I recommend getting an electric water kettle. I LOVE my Bodum electric kettle ... it boils water in under a minute at the touch of a button!
How to Make Chai Concentrate
This simple mix is the first step to creating a homemade Chai Tea Latte, and it's so simple to make!
The secret ingredient in this Spiced Chai Syrup is sweetened condensed milk. It gives the tea a little body, adds sweetness and creaminess, and is the perfect vehicle for all the flavorful spices.
To prepare the mix, all you need to do is stir together the sweetened condensed milk and the spices. I love the combination of ginger, cloves, cinnamon, cardamon, and nutmeg used here, but feel free to adjust the amount of each to your taste.
How to Use Chai Tea Syrup
Now that you've made the homemade spiced syrup, it's time to prepare your latte.
Start by brewing a strong cup of tea. I usually use black tea (this time I used earl grey), although other teas work, too. It's traditionally made with assam or darjeeling tea.
When the tea is ready, add a heaping tablespoon of the Chai Tea Concentrate. Feel free to add more or less of the syrup, depending on how sweet and spicy you'd like your drink.
Mix everything together really well, and you're ready to enjoy your scrumptious Chai with condensed milk! Wasn't that simple?
Variations
This recipe is infinitely flexible, and you can even use it make other drinks! Here are some ideas to inspire you:
- Spices - Once you've mastered the basic recipe, feel free to vary the amounts of spices. For example, if you find it too spicy, use less ginger. Love cinnamon? Add a little more. You can also add other spices typically found in Chai, such as anise, pepper, coriander, or fennel.
- Teas - A Chai Latte is typically made with black tea, but you can experiment with green tea and herbal teas, too. I once ordered the drink made with rooibos tea that was especially delicious!
- Vanilla - To make a Vanilla Chai Latte, add ½ teaspoon vanilla extract when mixing your drink together.
- Chocolate - Treat yourself to a Chocolate Chai by mixing in chocolate syrup when preparing the tea. One of my fave coffee shops used to make these, and I loved them.
- Dirty Chai - This drink is a fun tea-coffee combo that's sure to perk you up fast. Check out my Dirty Chai Latte recipe to learn how to make one.
Storage
Store any leftover syrup in an airtight container in your refrigerator, where it will stay fresh for about one to two weeks.
Related Recipes
Looking for more warm, comforting drinks? Try one of these recipes next:
- Sweet Cinnamon Milk Tea - Another favorite cozy tea drink that you're sure to love.
- Pumpkin Spice Steamer - This yummy drink tastes like a pumpkin hot chocolate. So delish!
- Hot Chocolate - The classic favorite for warming up on a cold day.
- Whipped Coffee - This trendy Dalgona Coffee is a unique drink that's easy to make.
- Irish Coffee - Coffee with a little kick, inspired by the San Francisco classic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chai is a milky tea from India. It's made by preparing black tea with milk and spices.
Chai is the Hindi word for tea. So when we say Chai Tea (which we often do here in the U.S.), we're actually saying Tea Tea.
Regular tea is loose tea (or tea bags) prepared with hot water. Chai is black tea with the addition of milk and spices.
Chai tastes like milky black tea that has been lightly sweetened. The addition of spices gives it a warm, spicy, almost savory flavor.
Chai Concentrate
Ingredients
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon ginger
- 1 teaspoon cardamom
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon cloves
Instructions
- Pour condensed milk into a small bowl.
- Add spices to milk and stir until completely combined.
- To use, brew a strong cup of black tea, then mix in a heaping tablespoon of concentrate. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Hi looks delicious but I don't understand why it's call Chai when there is none in the recipe?
Hi, Rebecca! It's definitely not a traditional Chai recipe (though you do add the mixture to chai before serving). Hope you enjoyed it nevertheless! 🙂
I was wondering how this would do with putting it into coffee? Has anyone tried?
Hi, Amber! It's really good in coffee, too! You can use the mix in coffee on its own, or you can use it to make a coffee-tea combo drink called a dirty chai latte, which is also delish: https://hellolittlehome.com/dirty-chai-latte-recipe/
Amber, Miss Ginnie is absolutely right about using this in your coffee!!!
That was the Only reason I decided to make it, for coffee, not tea, but I use it in both now! If you can find Vanilla Chia Tea anywhere, buy it and then put a nice rounded TABLESPOON of this concentrate in it! And if you can, fill up your bathroom tub, garden tub, jacuzzi and have your Chia Tea, you are on your way to RELAXATION AT ITS BEST! It’s better than Yoga and Meditation, but goes well with a nice massage!
Has anyone tried adding pumpkin purée to this? I love caribou’s pumpkin chai tea lattes!
Hi, Tiffany! I haven't tried adding pumpkin puree, but I think it could work. You would have to experiment with proportions, maybe 1 to 2 tablespoons per cup? Another option would be to use pumpkin flavored tea. I took a peak on Amazon and there are a few Pumpkin Spice Black Teas that you could use. Let us know if you try it, I'd love to hear how it turns out!
Ive noted the ingredients, I mean to get some fresh ginger and try this.
I love the seriously dirty chais from our Mugg and Bean outlet!
I hope you enjoy the drink, Kavita! 🙂
I just made this chai recipe and it so good!! Just what I needed. Being in quarantine and not wanting to risk going to Starbucks..I was looking for a chai tea recipe and found yours!! Thank you I LOVE IT ..I work from home now so this will be a treat making a cup for work.
Hi, Debi! That makes me so happy to hear. These little treats are so special right now when we're stuck at home, aren't they? Thank you so much for stopping by! 🙂
I just found this recipe and ot looks wonderful!
How long can you store the left overs in the fridge?
Hi, Tina! I hope you enjoy the recipe. The leftovers should be good for a week or so ... I always go through it pretty quickly! 🙂
Would you believe that Ive never had Chai Tea? It looks really delicious though!
You have to try it, Stephanie! It's a great change of pace from a latte or hot chocolate at this time of year:)
What a great idea! My name is Katie and I host Fall Into the Holidays, now open. All entries get pinned. I would love to have you link up!
Thank you so much for the invite, Katie! I'm heading over there right now:)
I love chai tea! Thanks for the recipe.
You're welcome, Shannon! Have a great weekend:)
Hello and thank you for the recipe...I love that mug! May I ask where I can find some like it?
You're welcome, Maria:) My mug is from Starbucks, but I bought it a few years ago. Try checking Etsy - I've seen similar ones there.
Yum! Visiting from Lovely Ladies Linky Party.
Hi, Debbie! Thank you for stopping by:)
Do you think it's possible to not use black tea or green tea? What could anyone recommend? Thanks!
Hi, Yaritza! I've only tried black and green tea, but I think it would work with herbal tea, too. Let me know if you experiment!
I've only tried the powdered DIY mixes, and I'm interested to see how your mix compares. 🙂 I'm definitely also a fan of the spic-y and not so sweet chais!
You have to let me know what you think, CJ! I'm picky, too - it's hard to find the perfect chai:)
I will have to give this a try. My son & I love Chai Tea - your recipe sounds really good.
Thanks, Kimberlee! It's super easy, too. Let me know if you try it:)
That looks tasty I never realized how many spices are in chai. No wonder I like it so much.
It is really good! I think all the different spices are key - it's hard to pick out the individual flavors.