This post is a bit of a cheat – it’s not about a dessert and it’s about a country I have already covered, India. So why the post? Well…

No. More. Buying. Chai. That’s right, throw away your Starbucks gold card. Instead of spending $3+ per day on this aromatic brew, make your own. It is incredibly easy and I am convinced there is a grand conspiracy to hide this fact from all the chai-loving consumers out there. So, you’re welcome. Conspiracy busted.

The Bake

Can you boil water? Do you have a decent spice selection? Great you can make chai.

Step 1. Add spices to water and bring to a boil.

Step 2.  Add your favorite unflavored black tea of choice and steep for 4 -5 minutes.

Step 3. Remove tea bags or strain out loose leaf tea. Add milk and sugar. Stir. Return to simmer.

Step 4. Remove from heat. If using whole spices, strain.

Step 5. Bask in the glory of making your own chai.

The Moment of Truth

Cheap. Delicious. Personalized. Make the chai that is perfect for you and save your money for proper desserts.

The Recipe

Google “chai recipe” and you get over 5 million hits. Clearly there are lots of ways to make chai, but most follow the same basic steps described above. The variety largely comes down to what spices you prefer. I have copied a pretty classic combo below, but I would recommend making a few different batches to find your perfect chai spice ratio. Customized chai, yes please!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 tsp ginger

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp cloves

1/2 tsp cardamom

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp black pepper

3 cups water

1 cup milk

3 tbsp sugar

4 tbsp black tea (~4 tea bags)

Steps:

See above. Pro Tip: Combine the spices in large quantities into an old spice jar for even faster preparation.

Fun Fact

“Chai” (or a variation thereon) means “tea” in many Asian languages. The spiced drink is more accurately called “Masala Chai” which means, unsurprisingly, mixed-spiced tea.