Thursday, January 24, 2013

Homemade White Chai Concentrate


I am a big tea drinker... love tea and Chai tea especially...
I have at least once cup a day if not more often. 
I have thought many times to make my own and today was the day..
Maybe because it is -40F degrees out and we have 10 feet of snow outside...
Ok maybe not -40 but at least -7F and we probably only have about 3 feet but it felt like 10 feet when I was shoveling today.
So a cup of Chai just hit the spot.
I decided that I would make my Chai with white tea instead of black.
I found a few recipes that sounded good to make a recipe. 
These are the recipes that I read ~ Tasty Yummies, Tasty Kitchen and Healthful Pursuits
and this is what I came up with...


Homemade White Chai Concentrate

4 1/2 cup water
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp peppercorn
3/4 of fresh nutmeg
7 cardamom
1/4 tsp anise
1 star anise
2 cinnamon sticks
1/2 in fresh ginger
1 tsp orange peel 
1/2 tsp lemon peel
1 vanilla pod
8 white tea bags
1 tbsp honey
Cheesecloth and twine

Place cheesecloth on table and add peppercorn, nutmeg, cardamom, anise, ginger, nutmeg orange peel, lemon peel and vanilla pod (cut in thirds).  Bring up edges of cheesecloth and tie around spices.  Set aside.
In pot place water and brown sugar, bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer.  Add tea bags, spice mixture, star anise and cinnamon sticks.  Simmer for 20 minutes.  Cool and place in jar.  Makes approximately 1 quart.  Can be kept in the refrigerator for up to a week. 

Spices

add teabag, cinnamon sticks and star anise
To make Chai Latte, add chai concentrate to milk of your choice.  Most instructions say to use 1 part chai concentrate to 3 parts milk but I like to do it half and half.  I also like to use French Vanilla Creamer in my Chai... So I used evaporated milk and French Vanilla Creamer.  I did run out of Creamer so used French Vanilla Syrup instead of the creamer and it tasted just as good.  You can always heat the milk if you want, it makes the tea warmer.  Chai can be enjoyed hot or cold.

Chai Latte and Chai concentrate

Enjoy!

Marlys

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13 comments:

  1. Mary SmithJanuary 24, 2013 at 7:39 AM

    I love chai tea! This is a great recipe even thought it's not cold here I can drink it hot or cold. YUM!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownJanuary 27, 2013 at 10:13 AM

      Thanks Mary.. I end up sometimes with my chia being cold even though I started it warm.

      Delete
  2. UnknownJanuary 24, 2013 at 12:15 PM

    Marlys I absolutely love the photo, the presentation, the ingredients on the jar and the recipe. I need to buy some cheese cloth or perhaps a tea ball?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownJanuary 27, 2013 at 10:14 AM

      Marlene, Thanks.. a tea ball would work just fine too. I didn't have one big enough. My next project is apple chai concentrate

      Delete
  3. Winelady CooksJanuary 27, 2013 at 8:26 PM

    Hi Marly, I like chai tea but I never thought about the ingredients and that it could be made at home. Thanks so much for the recipe. I'll give it a try, especially since it's frigid outside and, well we don't have snow, but maybe we'll have a snow day in the future.

    Joanne/Winelady Cooks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownJanuary 28, 2013 at 10:13 AM

      Thanks Joanne, hope the recipe will work for you. Let me know how it is. I found that if you let the concentrate sit for a day or two the spices blend nicely.

      Delete
  4. UnknownJanuary 28, 2013 at 6:36 PM

    I am not sure how I missed this recipe! I love chai tea, but have never made it from scratch! The tea and the photography are wonderful!
    Thanks for sharing,
    Cynthia at http://FeedingBig.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. DawnJanuary 29, 2013 at 10:59 AM

    WOW homemade Chai. I have several friends who love it. I'll have to send them to your blog.
    Thank you for sharing with us at "In and Out of the Kitchen Link Up Party" with Feeding Big.
    Dawn
    http://spatulasonparade.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownJanuary 30, 2013 at 12:29 AM

      Thanks Dawn, for stopping by and I hope your friends will enjoy this. I have some more ideas for different types of Chai that I hope will work.

      Delete
  6. Liz @ Here's to Handy AndyJanuary 29, 2013 at 11:26 PM

    I love Chai! I've never thought of making it myself, I'm definitely going to have to try this! Thanks for linking up to our Pinteresting Link Party!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownJanuary 30, 2013 at 12:30 AM

      thanks Liz and thanks for hosting the party. I hope you will let me know if you like this if you make it.

      Delete
  7. The Better BakerJanuary 31, 2013 at 8:24 PM

    Chai is one of my most favorite beverages ever. And having it homemade..from scratch!...would have to be the ultimate. Congrats on being featured at FFF!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownJanuary 31, 2013 at 11:43 PM

      Thanks for stopping by, I love Chai and home made is even better. not sure I will go back to store bought.

      Delete

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