Chai Concentrate
Ingredients
4 cups filter water
8 black tea bags (3 tbsp loose leaf)
1 cinnamon stick
5 cardamom pods (lightly crushed)
8 whole cloves
8 black peppercorns
2-inch piece of fresh ginger (crushed)
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup maple syrup or honey
Method
Add the water, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, peppercorns, ginger, and nutmeg in a small pot. Place on medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Once boiling reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes.
After 15 minutes of simmering, remove the pot from the heat and add the tea bags or loose tea. Let the tea steep for 8-10 minutes, depending on how strong you like your chai.
Once the tea has steeped strain the mixture into a glass jar and allow it to cool at room temp for 20 minutes, after 20 minutes stir in the vanilla and sweetener until combined.
Leave the chai to cool the rest of the way before sealing and storing it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
My preferred ratio of chai to milk for a latte is 3/4 cup chai - 1/4 cup almond milk or milk of choice! Find the ratio that you love. You can also mix with water for straight chai and no latte.
You can add more maple syrup or honey if you like your latte more sweet.
The longer the mixture simmers in step 1 the stronger the flavors. Mess around to see what you like best.
