Chai, a milky, deeply spiced, and lightly sweetened tea, is a comforting brew if ever there was one. Simply steep ginger and spices with black tea, honey, and sugar, add milk, and pour.
Prep time: PT2M
Cook time: PT5M
Total time: PT7M
Rating
4.6 stars (15 reviews)
Keywords
chai
Ingredients
One 2-inch piece fresh ginger, (unpeeled, thinly sliced)
1-2 tablespoons sugar
1-2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 cups water
4 black tea bags, (such as Assam or English Breakfast)
2 cups 2 percent or whole milk ((use coconut, coconut/almond milk, or oat for a plant-based version))
Categories
Beverage
Cuisine
Indian
Steps
Put the ginger, 1 tbsp each sugar and honey, vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, and water into a small saucepan and simmer for 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and add the tea bags. Steep for 10 minutes.
Scoop the ginger and cinnamon out of the tea and add the milk. Taste and add more honey/sugar if desired. Warm on the stove and serve. Store leftover chai in the fridge, where it will be tasty for up to 5 days
Nutitrion
Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 127 kcal
Reviews
Linda on 2026-04-22 (5 stars): I made it and loved it. I did add brown sugar and star anise. No honey yet
Very delicious love this recipe
Manon on 2026-03-19 (4 stars): I'm super surprised that cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and cloves are the only spices in your recipe.
I would add black peppercorns and star anise. Fennel is another herb used by many.
Vanilla is not mentioned in most Indian recipes I read.
I love the hot kick in my mouth and the flavor of the spices.
I do love the simplicity of your method in making chai, as some methods are just too complicated for my taste.
Do you have any opinion about the taste of Trader Joe's chai concentrate , other than that it is too sweet and insanely expensive? That's why I'm looking around for a way to make my own, only I don't want one that is bland and without a strong bite.
Jenni Gerstle on 2025-11-12 (5 stars): I just had Chai fir the first time at my local Cafe and loved it!. I now want to make it myself. Can I use decaffeinated tea as I have been told by my Dr. to cut out caffeine?.Thanks
Jenni
Nale on 2024-11-27 (5 stars): Hi Katie, thank you for this very easy yet delicious recipe! I just bought black tea and as I am a very stubborn person, I found myself making chai at 1am haha! I loved it, my dad too; I left the rest for the rest of the family so I’ll see tomorrow how they found it! Thanks again, needless to say that I'll be making it often from now on!
KathyD on 2023-05-14 (5 stars): One of the best chai teas I've had. Great flavor and it was super easy to make. Definitely worth every one of those 5 stars. Thank you!
Rita oz on 2022-04-16 (5 stars): haven't made it yet, but will as a friend made it said it's "to die for"!
bet using the base and milk for coffee is just as delish!
Rebecca DeLeon on 2021-05-01 (3 stars): I just finished making this for the first time. I can taste the potential, but I wish the recipe would have told me I'd ned a milk bag to strain all the spices afterward. I can taste all the powder and it's very offputting. I followed the recipe, however since it's my first time, perhaps did something wrong, not quite sure!
Susan V on 2020-12-16 (5 stars): I have made this several times over the past month or so. It's delicious and warming and so easy to make. As someone else mentioned, I also strain it before adding the milk. Just personal preference, I like to make it without sweetener and use 1 C oat creamer in place of milk. I love it, thank you!
