Homemade Easy Chai Tea

This homemade easy chai tea a is a blend of spices simmered with black tea, milk, and sweetener. Creating the perfect cup of tea for a chilly day.

There is nothing like a good cup of hot chai tea on a blustery day. Especially those days when you can see your breath in the cold air. You know the ones. Those days are coming sooner rather than later, aren’t they?

 Entering the house to a bubbling pot of this homemade easy chai tea is comforting and the aroma of spices creates an inviting scent.  It immediately warms you not just from the heat of the tea itself but with those warm spices used to create this delicious cup of tea. 

Years ago I was introduced to chai tea through a friend who frequented Indian restaurants. Not only had I not eaten Indian food in my life to that point. But I was also missing out on the wonders of a good cup of chai tea. During our lunches, she would order a cup of tea after the meal. 

Always a slight change in fragrant spices used at the various restaurants we frequented. But still that same creamy, spices, and black (or green) tea blend as the basis. I began ordering them myself at different restaurants, street vendors and coffee houses around our city. Noticing that each cup had a subtle taste difference. But all of them offered warmth and a burst of flavor different than any tea I have had prior.

I often make a double batch of this recipe for sharing with friends and you can just as well cut the recipe in half to suite the amount you need. For a strong tea, you can add more tea bags but I find the two tea bags call for in this recipe to be just right. The best part about a good chai tea or chai recipes in general is the ability to adjust them as you like to your taste preference. 

What is Chai Tea?

Doing a quick search for chai tea on the internet can make you a bit confused as to the many types of teas one might be referring to when mentioning the word chai. For this recipe, we are making masala chai tea. An Indian tea brewed with spices, milk, and sweetener.

In the US, chai tea has become quite a popular “flavored” tea often found in coffee and tea houses around the country. Generally speaking, it is found with subtle notes of cardamom and cinnamon, although chai tea is made with various spices worldwide. The spices used indeed vary by whoever is preparing the chai tea.

In India, tea is a way of life, and chia tea is their regular way to make tea. So it is not a flavored tea there but the way to make tea. Interestingly, the word chai in Hindi is tea. So essentially when we are saying chai tea, what we are actually saying is “tea tea“. Sort of weird once you realize that.

There it is offered by tea carts, restaurants, and shops all over. Chai tea is a staple tea brewed daily in most households in India.

However, the same rules apply to preparing any good cup of it. Namely properly simmering the right spices with black tea and adding cream along with a touch of sweetener while it simmers. These subtle but important steps are what makes this tea so unique. Simply boiling a pot of water and steeping the spices in a tea bag won’t do. The spices need to simmer in a pot and blend to create the right touch for this tea. As does the milk and sweetener.

For this recipe, we are going to use very traditional spices to flavor this homemade easy chai tea. Creating a meld of spices that blend well together. Creating a warm flavorful, mildly sweet cup of traditional chai tea. Though it might seem complicated, this Homemade Easy Chai Tea really is a simple process and one you will get right the first time.

Homemade Easy Chai Tea Is…

• Perfectly balanced with aromatic spices and a chai flavor we love.
• As good as a chai tea from a local coffee shop.
• An easy recipe for a homemade masala chai tea.
• A great substitute for morning coffee and an excellent chai tea recipe for tea lovers.
• A more authentic flavor than a chai tea bag from the grocery store.

Ingredients

Star Anise– adds a sweet licorice-like flavor, for this recipe we are using just one star as these are pretty strong.

Cardamom– add a piney, fruity yet somewhat menthol-like flavor. Traditionally found in most chia teas globally. Use green cardamom pods for this recipe. 

Ginger– a warm but slightly pungent and spicy aroma. You use fresh ginger or ground ginger as indicated in the recipe. If using fresh ginger you will need 1 full tsp. minced ginger. 

Cinnamon– a sweet and woodsy flavor with a slight spiciness. I use cinnamon sticks over ground cinnamon, but you can use ground if you like. You will need 1/2 tsp of ground.

Cloves– a subtly sweet but intensely aromatic spice that adds warmth. I use whole cloves as indicated in the recipe for best results.

Black Peppercorns– added for heat and piney notes, you will want to add whole peppercorns not ground peppercorns. 

Milk– I use whole milk to add extra creaminess to the tea. You can swap whole milk out for milk substitutes like oat milk, soy milk, or almond milk if you like. 

Tea- Black tea is typically used in the western world for chia teas and can be either decaf or regular. You can also use green tea if you would like as it works great for chai tea. I use bagged to tea for this recipe but you can use loose leaf tea if you like. 

Sweetener– for this homemade chai tea, I love using honey as my sweetener. Honey adds a subtle sweetness perfect for the spices used. It is also a great alternative to sugar. However, sugar is traditionally used in chai tea. This recipe includes both options. Maple syrup is also another great alternative to sugar.

Sources for Spices

• Star Anise
• Cardamom Pods
• Cinnamon Sticks
• Ground Ginger
• Whole Cloves
• Decaffeinated Black Tea Bags
• Regular Black Tea Bags

*Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through the links I provide (at no cost to you).

What You Will Need To Make It

2 bags of black tea or green tea (decaf or regular)

4 cups of water

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1 star anise

1-2 cinnamon sticks

3 cardamom pods

1/2 tsp peppercorns

1 tsp whole cloves

2 tbsp. honey (or 3 tbsp. sugar)

1 cup whole milk

Tools

Medium Saucepan

Directions

In a medium sauce pot begin heating the water, and spices. When simmering, about the 5 minute point, add the two tea bags to the pot.

Allow the tea to steep into the simmering water, another 2-3 minutes.

Pour in the milk and add the sweetener. Give the pot a stir to ensure the sweetener has blended in. Allow the tea to simmer until foamy. About 2-3 minutes of simmering.

When ready, remove from the heat. Place a strainer over each teacup or over a bowl to strain out the spices.

Serve immediately. This makes enough for 4 cups of chai tea.

Notes

• Use tea bags over loose leaf tea to keep things simple.
• The flavor difference between black and green tea is very subtle.
• Store leftover chai tea in the fridge because it is made with milk. You can reheat on the stovetop the next day.

FAQ

Can I use green tea as opposed to black for chai tea?

You can use green tea over black tea for this. In my quest for creating an authentic chia tea, I noted that many households in India seemed to prefer using green tea over black for their chai teas.

Can I still make chai tea missing a spice?

Yes, you absolutely can. Many people simmer in just a few spices. The most common to use are cinnamon and cardamom. You can make a good cup just using both of those. I would make sure to use both cinnamon sticks if doing so and possibly another pod of cardamom. That way you have enough spice to your cup of tea.

Am I able to use ground spices to make chai tea?

I have used both ground cinnamon and ground ginger for my homemade easy chai tea. Both work great. As far as using ground pepper or other ground spices, you can use them but if you find the tea is a little grainy due to the spices sitting on the surface, you can strain the tea through a fine mesh strainer twice or add a cheesecloth to help filter them out.

​Can I substitute other types of milk in place of whole milk?

Absolutely! Chia tea can be made with almond milk, oat milk, and even coconut milk. The milk gives the chai tea a nice creamy quality. Please note that using sweetened almond milk or milk like coconut will effect the overall taste of your chai tea. I suggest adjusting the honey as needed when using sweetened milk over the whole milk suggested in this recipe. 

Can I use this to make a chai tea latte?

This is a authentic chai tea recipe but if you are looking for a chai tea latte similar to a Starbucks one, you will need a milk frother to make one. I would suggest pouring in half the milk and frothing the other half to top your latte. 

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