A recipe for Chai Tea concentrate as well as a recipe for a Dirty Chai Bourbon Cocktail
I’ve been looking around for THE chai tea recipe. But, I’ve come to believe that everyone and their Indian Grandma has their own special recipe. So, I finally decided to just choose one and go with it the best I could. (I found this recipe thanks to my friend Adrienne) My store didn’t have star anise, so I skipped that. Fresh ginger would go bad in my house, so I went with dried. I think you could totally cut back on the sugar in this, but for now, I’ll leave that the way I found it.
This was delish! Fresh and orangey. Fruity and peppy. Spicy and tasty. Yum!
Then, to make it even better, I made it into a Dirty Chai Cocktail. Even better! But, wait, what’s a dirty chai? Well, my not-caffeinated-enough-friends, a Dirty Chai or Red Eye Chai is God’s gift to the chai tea. Ok, maybe that’s a bit much, but it is delish. And, when you can’t decide between your soy chai and a mocha latte, a dirty chai is the clear winner!
I was inspired by Food 52’s picture as well as their drink
It’s a shot of espresso mixed into a chai tea. Now, you could have this as a morning beverage without the bourbon and Kahlua, but where’s the fun in that? (BTW, I’m pretty sure that this is my new favorite cocktail!)
Ok, I couldn’t decide which picture of the Booker’s I liked better, so I used them both.
Mocha flavored Kahlua … yum!
Chai Tea Concentrate Recipe
And make sure you don’t miss the Chai Tea Cocktail recipe lower in the post
Chai Tea Concentrate
Ingredients
- 4 1/2 cups water
- 10 black tea bags
- 1 cinnamon stick broken in half
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- 7 whole cardamom pods
- 10 whole cloves
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon Vanilla Bean Paste
Instructions
- Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the tea bags, spices and orange zest. Stir to combine, and remove from heat. Let steep 10 to 15 minutes.
- Remove tea bags, and strain out the spices with a fine mesh sieve. Add brown sugar, honey and vanilla. Stir well to combine. Store in a jar in the fridge for up to a week (if it lasts that long).
- Mix concentrate with milk of your choice (dairy, soy, almond, etc.) in about a half-half ratio. You may adjust more or less concentrate to your taste. Chai may be enjoyed warm or iced.
Dirty Chai Cocktail
Dirty Chai Cocktail
Ingredients
- 1 cup chai concentrate
- 1 cup milk any kind from dairy half & half, skim, soy, to almond or rice
- 1 ½ ounce espresso or strong coffee
- 1 ½ ounce good bourbon like Bookers or Knob Creek
- 1 ½ ounce mocha Kahlua
Instructions
- Mix chai concentrate with milk. Add in espresso, bourbon, and Kahlua. Enjoy as a warm beverage or shaken with ice.
Paula J says
April 25, 2012 at 12:31 pmI’d chose the Dirty Chai Cocktail! Need my coffee in the am 🙂
Happy WW and feel free to stop by and link up!
Paula
lifeasweknowitbypaula.blogspot.com
Heather Mulholland says
April 25, 2012 at 2:21 pmI absolutely love that mug! (Random I know)
Debi says
April 25, 2012 at 2:53 pmhee hee. Thanks. That cup is a thrift store special! 🙂
LP @dishclips says
April 25, 2012 at 9:06 pmI am only used to instant chai tea and Starbucks chai tea, so I never knew there is a recipe behind it. Lovely pictures, btw.
Katherine Corrigan says
April 27, 2012 at 9:46 amxo Thank you for linking to the Thursday Favorite Things hop I hope you have a weekend filled with happy!
Alicia says
April 28, 2012 at 8:15 pmYour chai looks awesome, and the dirty chai cocktail sounds really tasty. I just infused some bourbon with coffee, brown sugar and vanilla. I bet it would be a nice variation on your drink. Yum…
Michelle says
April 28, 2012 at 8:28 pmHi,
I followed you over from Happy Hour Projects. This sounds delicious. I will definitely have to give this a try. I do like a little something extra in my coffee at night while we’re camping 🙂
I would like to invite you to share this, and any other posts, on my link party at http://www.michellestastycreations.blogspot.com. Have a great weekend.
Hugs,
Michelle
Debi says
April 29, 2012 at 3:29 amThanks for the invite and the comment! I’m off to link up! Have a great weekend!
Debi says
April 29, 2012 at 3:30 amMmmm, your bourbon infusion sounds lovely! I’d love to try that! Have a great weekend! 🙂
Michelle says
April 29, 2012 at 11:43 amThanks so much for linking up to Creative Thursday this week. Can’t wait to try this Chai tea.
I can’t wait to see what you link up next week. Have a great day.
Michelle
Amber says
April 30, 2012 at 10:20 pmOooo, this is my husband’s favorite tea! What a great recipe and post!!
Thank you for sharing your recipe with us last week on AFW! Be sure to check back this week for reader favorites and hostess picks.
Be Well,
–Amber & AFW Hostesses
Alea @ Premeditated Leftovers says
April 30, 2012 at 11:02 pmI am a huge fan of Chai Tea and put it in everything I can possibly think of, but I never thought to add it to a cocktail before. I love the recipes you’ve shared and will be featuring this post tomorrow in my highlights.
Diane Balch says
May 1, 2012 at 4:58 amI love chai and appreciate the recipe. You are a corrupting influence… I would have never have thought to spike it! Very nice. Please come by this friday to my blog and share a recipe with us.
Debi says
May 2, 2012 at 3:29 amThis looks amazing! I’ve never made it before but will now. Thank you so much for sharing on Thursday’s Treasures. <3 and hugs!
Mrs. Delightful says
May 3, 2012 at 5:08 amThis looks so yummy! I love Chai tea 🙂
Mrs. Delightful
http://www.ourdelightfulhome.blogspot.com
Javelin Warrior says
May 8, 2012 at 9:55 amBoth of these drinks sound delicious – and I’m not much of a tea drinker at all, so that’s saying something 😉 I love the use of so many different spices and flavorings and I’m so glad you decided to share with Made with Love Mondays…
Christina at I Gotta Create! says
May 8, 2012 at 5:49 pmI love chai! Can’t say I’ve tried dirty chai, but it sounds like an interesting option! Thanks so much for linking up at I Gotta Create! <3 Christina
mjskit says
December 8, 2012 at 12:10 pmWhat a great way to warm you inside and out!!!