Simple Concentrated Chai Syrup Recipe (2024)

Published: · Updated: by kateschat · This post may contain affiliate links · 29 Comments

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Simple Concentrated Chai Syrup Recipe (1)

I adore this recipe. It's got so much more depth than any one I’ve ever bought. I think my Mom has been making this for a decade, minimum. As written, it's well balanced and no one flavour punches out at you, but if you want it more peppery? More cinnamon? More ginger? Well then, you can do it however your heart wants.

Simple Concentrated Chai Syrup Recipe (2)

It makes a lot, but it keeps well by freezing or canning and I’ve yet to regret having a batch of this tucked away for chilly mornings when I need a cozy cuppa.

If you have an Instant Pot, this recipe is super hands-off. Just dump everything in and let it do its thing. It's also easily made in a large pot on the stove if that's more your speed. This keeps in the fridge for a few weeks, but you can also freeze or do a water bath can if you want to store it for longer.

Some find this on the sweet side, in which case, use less sugar and see how you like it. If you know you are a "hold the sugar" in your tea type person already, I'd start with less. If using honey, try with half the amount as honey is sweeter than sugar per cup.

Simple Concentrated Chai Syrup Recipe (3)

Kate's Chai Syrup

Kate Schat

Chai tea has a wonderful, warming flavour. It is super cost-effective to take your own loose leaf tea, herbs and spices, and condense into your own syrup. Then simply add milk and sit back!

5 from 11 votes

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Course Drinks

Cuisine Indian

Servings 4 quarts

Calories 36 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 gallon water 4 litres
  • 4 cinnamon sticks
  • 10 whole cloves
  • 20 whole peppercorns
  • cup cardamom pods
  • cup fresh chopped ginger OR I use ⅓ c “tea cut” dried ginger
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 ½ cups sugar can use honey or maple syrup
  • ½ cup loose leaf black tea OR rooibos to make it caffeine-free*

Instructions

Stovetop:

  • Bring water to a boil, and add the cinnamon, cloves, peppercorns, cardamom, ginger, and salt. Turn it down to a simmer and let it simmer for an hour.

  • Add sugar and simmer for a few minutes so it is well combined.

  • Turn off the heat. Add your loose leaf tea and let sit for 5 minutes.

  • Strain out all your tea and herbs.

Instant Pot:

  • Add water, cinnamon, cloves, peppercorns, cardamom, ginger, and salt into the Instant Pot.

  • Put the lid on, set knob to sealing, and set to 5 minutes pressure cook.

  • After it's done, let it naturally release for approximately 30 minutes, then flip the knob to venting.

  • It should still be simmering some; if not, turn on to saute, add the sugar, and stir to well combine.

  • Add the loose leaf tea and let sit for 5 minutes, then strain out all your tea and herbs.

To use:

  • Depending on how strong you want it, you will use 1 part Chai Syrup to 3 or 4 parts milk of your choice. Heat them both til they’re your desired temp, froth it if you’ve got a nifty little frother, and enjoy!

  • I usually add a hefty splash of chai syrup into a mug, top it up with whole raw milk, then pour it into a small pot and heat over medium heat until it's steaming.

To can:

  • Please note these are not official canning instructions but rough notes for you to follow.

  • Wash and sterilize your jars. Soak your new lids in hot water.

  • Fill your hot jars with hot syrup, wipe the rims, put on lids and rings. Process in a boiling water canner for 15 minutes,

  • Remove from the canner, let sit 24 hours in one draft-free place.

  • Remove rings, check seals, label, and put away in the cupboard!

To freeze:

  • I prefer to freeze liquids in yogurt containers or “32 oz reditainers” I buy off of Amazon. Simply let it cool, fill containers, label, and freeze.

  • To freeze in a jar, pick straight-sided jars such as wide mouth pints, wide mouth pint and a halfs or wide mouth quarts. Fill jars with the cooled syrup, leaving 2 inches of headspace. Label and chill in the fridge for 24 hrs before moving to the freezer.

Notes

  • *My best guess is this is 12-24 tea bags, depending on if your tea bags average a teaspoon of tea or much more. Loose leaf tea is very cost-effective to buy and I highly recommend it.

Nutrition

Calories: 36kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 40mgPotassium: 20mgFiber: 1gSugar: 8gVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 9mgIron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply

  1. Wendy

    I'm thinking about making this without the sugar because I love the spice of chai but not the sweetness. Just have to wait till I can get out to get the spices I need.

    Reply

    • kateschat

      yes! Make it however works best for you

      Reply

  2. Kyleigh

    This is THE BEST. I made it for Christmas presents for people this year and everyone is raving. We have enjoyed lots of it, too!

    Reply

    • MARK HYMEL

      Simple Concentrated Chai Syrup Recipe (4)
      I made this 7 or 8 months ago, and we loved it, I ended up buying a pack of cinnamon that has sticks ~6 inches long, which prompted me to wonder if your recipe is based on 1 inch or 6 inch sticks?

      Reply

      • [emailprotected]

        Usually around 4 inches long around here.

  3. Liz

    Does it matter if you use black or green cardamom pods?

    Reply

    • kateschat

      I've actually never seen black cardamom pods so i'm not sure!

      Reply

      • Elizabeth Moore

        I think black is more traditionally used in Chinese recipes and green in Indian, so I went with green! I just want to say...this recipe is sneakily delicious. One of those where you drink it and like it and then the next day you can't stop thinking about it. I'll definitely be making more soon!

  4. Summer Asfeld

    I love chai. This was very easy in the instant pot then i canned it. Thinking about adding raspberry extract to my mug. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

  5. Katrina

    Am now making this regularly- friends at work are requesting it for chai lattes on Friday afternoons, my kids ask for chai tea after dinner, my husband adore it, etc, etc. It’s delicious. I make mine a little less sweet with about 1 3/4 c brown sugar. Also add a little star anise. Excellent.

    Reply

  6. Mariah Babco*ck

    Oh my this is good! I didn't have whole spices so I used ground and it's perfect!

    Reply

    • Stephanie Gilpin

      Can ground cardamom be substituted?

      Reply

      • [emailprotected]

        Yes, it might just leave your chai syrup a little cloudy and it won't strain out like the big pieces will.

  7. Amy Wallace

    I absolutely love chai tea.......this recipe is so good! I just made my second batch today. Thank you for sharing!!!!

    Reply

    • [emailprotected]

      So glad you are enjoying it!

      Reply

  8. Suzanne Bartett

    I am having trouble sourcing whole cardamom pods. Is there a suggested adjustment for ground cardamom you'd recommend??

    Thanks so much!

    Reply

    • kateschat

      I'd try a tablespoon?

      Reply

  9. Sharon

    Wondering where you get your cardamom pods? Trying to figure out how much I need to buy to get 1/3c also!

    Reply

    • kateschat

      i buy a 4oz bag and it makes a few batches. I get from omfoods.com

      Reply

  10. NG

    is the canning part safe? i'm not an avid canner, so slightly paranoid of the botulism risk over here ?
    i just made a chai concentrate, but i think i definitely want to try your version

    Reply

    • [emailprotected]

      It's definitely safe to can the chai concentrate in a water bath.

      Reply

  11. Gennifer

    I need to make it more cinnamonny and less ginger. How would I do that?
    Thank you

    Reply

    • [emailprotected]

      I would just play with the amounts to get it to your liking. I think you could start with just reducing the ginger and the cinnamon will automatically be more noticeable. Just use the recipe as a framework for your own preferences.

      Reply

  12. Maggie

    Simple Concentrated Chai Syrup Recipe (5)
    So delicious!! I have never left a comment on a recipe blog before, but this was just TOO good not to leave 5 stars! Yum yum yum.

    Reply

    • [emailprotected]

      We love it too!

      Reply

  13. Michele

    I'm so excited to try this recipe and stop spending money at the coffee shops. Where do you source your dried leaf cut ginger? Thanks for sharing your life with us. You make me laugh on a regular basis. ?

    Reply

    • [emailprotected]

      I got the ginger from Organic Matters here in Canada

      Reply

Simple Concentrated Chai Syrup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is Chai syrup the same as chai concentrate? ›

Like chai concentrate, chai syrups offer consistent, concentrated and dairy-free chai flavor in a shelf-stable format. However, drinks made with chai syrup may have a less traditional chai flavor than drinks made from chai concentrate.

How much chai concentrate to use? ›

I like to store it in a little jar in the fridge. And then when you're ready to make a chai latte, just get some milk. All you need to add is two teaspoons of the concentrate. You want an extra strong, you can add some more broth. or blend that together.

How to use chai tea concentrate? ›

To serve: Mix about 2 parts concentrate with 1 part milk (almond milk works really well). Drink hot or over ice.

What does Starbucks use as their chai concentrate? ›

Tazo Chai Concentrate (Starbucks brand)

Starbucks uses a special (and more concentrated) version of the Tazo Chai Concentrate that is not sold commercially. The Tazo Classic Chai Concentrate is already sweetened and I find it to be a little too sweet.

Can you mix tazo chai concentrate with water? ›

Enjoy our TAZO® Lattes hot or cold by combining equal parts TAZO Latte Mix with milk (or your favorite dairy alternative) or refresh with our Iced Tea Mixes by mixing equal parts TAZO® with water or seltzer. Want to take your tea to the next level?

Does Tazo chai concentrate taste like Starbucks? ›

Key Ingredients for Tazo Chai Tea Latte Concentrate

This spice blend is rich and warming. It tastes just like a Starbucks chai latte! Ginger: Instead of using ginger juice (which is what Tazo adds) I threw in some sliced fresh ginger instead.

Do you have to refrigerate chai concentrate after opening? ›

Once opened, its needs to be refrigerated. Q: does it have caffeine ? Thanks for reaching out - Our Tazo Chai Latte Concentrate has 61+ mg of Caffeine! Caffeine…

Can too much chai tea be bad? ›

Excessive chai consumption can sometimes lead to digestive discomfort for certain individuals. The strong compounds in tea, like tannins and caffeine, can irritate the stomach lining and lead to issues like acid reflux, indigestion, or an upset stomach.

What is the ratio for tea concentrate? ›

The easiest way to make a concentrate is to make it the same way you already make your tea. This way, you won't have to figure out a new method. Just add 2-3 times as much tea as you normally use. For instance, if you use 1 teaspoon for 8 ounces of water, simply use 2 teaspoons for 8 ounces of water instead.

What chai tea concentrate does Panera use? ›

A: Panera Bread uses Republic Chai® Concentrate from Republic of Tea.

Can you drink chai tea concentrate without milk? ›

Chai is traditionally brewed with milk in India but that's the great thing about Real Chai, you can brew it the way YOU like it. It contains only spices and tea, so if you prefer not to use milk simply leave it out for a delicious black tea version. I personally love to use Soy Milk in my chai over dairy milk.

Should I make chai with water or milk? ›

"Whole milk is the best for hot chai, as it contains a lot of natural fats that create a really creamy taste," Sanyal says.

What is in Tazo Chai concentrate? ›

Ingredients: Infusion of (Water, Black Tea, Black Pepper, Ginger, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Cloves, Star Anise, Natural Flavors), Cane Sugar, Honey, Ginger Juice, Natural Flavors, Vanilla Extract, Citric Acid.

What does dirty chai mean at Starbucks? ›

If you a craving a dirty chai (which is the black tea concentrate and steamed milk with shots of espresso added in), you could ask for a chai latte with two shots of espresso, which will roughly cost you $8.64 for a grande size — however, if you order a cafe latte with four pumps of chai syrup instead, you'll only pay ...

Does Starbucks use real chai tea? ›

To ensure consistency and streamline the production process, Starbucks uses a pre-made chai concentrate for their Chai Tea Latte.

What chai syrup do starbucks use? ›

TASTE-O-METER Rating:

"Tazo Chai latte is the brand served at Starbucks. Well, at least it used to be....

Does Dunkin' have chai syrup? ›

Dunkin's iced chai latte is supposed to include a blend of cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg. Without modifications, it's made with whole milk, chai syrup, and chai extract. This was the second lightest in color, so I expected it to be pretty creamy. But it actually wasn't too milky.

Is chai syrup or powder better? ›

Chai syrup is a favorite among café owners who prioritize speed and efficiency. Unlike chai powder, which requires mixing and brewing, chai syrup is a pre-made liquid that simplifies the process. It offers a similar taste to chai powder but with a different mouthfeel.

Is Starbucks chai the same as Indian chai? ›

The Impact of Sugar & Syrups

One of the most significant differences between Starbucks Chai Tea Latte and traditional chai lies in its sweetness. Many coffeehouse beverages, including the Chai Tea Latte, are known for their sugary profiles, designed to cater to a wide range of taste preferences.

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