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    Masala & Chai » Recipes » Indian Drinks & Cocktails

    Published: Aug 13, 2021 · Modified: Jun 14, 2022 by Shweta Garg · This post may contain affiliate links

    Chai Concentrate

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    bottle of chai concentrate with a wood lid on a brass platter

    Enjoy a quick Chai Latte using homemade Chai Concentrate. The black tea is brewed in small batches and infused with fragrant chai spices. Just add milk and you've got your daily dose of caffeine ready.

    bottle of chai concentrate with a wood lid on a brass platter

    For some people, making masala chai on a daily basis is calming and familiar. There's a lot of comfort in the process, and the rush of adrenaline as the chai almost boils over the pot.

    But for some, it's a mundane, time consuming process which requires too many dishes. And that's understandable! It's super convenient to have a tasty chai ready in a snap instead of standing over a pot. That's where a great chai concentrate comes in!

    No trips to Starbucks necessary to get a Chai Tea Latte with how easy it is to make a weeks worth of Chai Concentrate at home.

    Jump to:
    • Why this Recipe Works
    • What is Chai Concentrate?
    • Pre-Bottled Chai Concentrates
    • Ingredients - Notes and Substitutions
    • How to make Masala Chai Concentrate
    • How to use Tea Concentrate
    • Tips and Tricks
    • Storage Instructions
    • More Chai Recipes to try
    • Recipe

    Why this Recipe Works

    The problem I've had with a lot of concentrates is that some of them have so much cinnamon that it drowns out the other spices or it's overly sweet. It's never quite right for me. Masala chai is very personal to each person that makes it!

    It's all about personal preferences with which spices to use, how strong the black tea is, the amount of sugar, the milkiness. That's why I've grown to love having homemade chai concentrate on hand for chai lattes!

    Making your own spiced chai concentrate means that you get to control the spices and the sweetness. Not to mention, you have a hot or iced cup of chai ready within minutes and it'll last you the week.

    What is Chai Concentrate?

    Chai concentrate is black tea brewed in small batches with spices. It's a quick way to make an inexpensive chai latte without leaving your home. Just add your choice of milk!

    It's not quite the same as a masala chai in terms of texture, but the flavors are certainly there.

    Concentrate is not commonly found in the Indian subcontinent, but became popularized in the U.S. in the recent years. It can be found at most grocery stores near the bottled coffees and in the form of syrups to add to drinks.

    Pre-Bottled Chai Concentrates

    Not only are most pre-bottled chai concentrates severely overpriced, you also have no control over the flavor, sugar, and not to mention the preservatives. Half of the labels are unclear with their ingredients, too. A lot of chai concentrates put you at around $2 a cup, whereas mine is less than a $1 per cup.

    Starbucks uses a Chai Tea Concentrate for their famous Chai Tea Latte, which I find to be unpalatable. The ingredients their website lists are water, black tea, cardamom, black pepper, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, natural flavors, and star anise for the base. They also add sugar, honey, ginger juice, more natural flavors (what is that???), vanilla, and citric acid (a preservative).

    I've also seen a million Tik Tokers use the chai concentrate from Trader Joe's. There's also Tazo Classic Chai Latte Concentrate, Oregon Chai Tea Latte Concentrate (gonna have to fight them for naming their product Chai Tea), Dona Chai, and several more that have popped up on the market!

    Two concentrates that I do enjoy are South Asian-owned companies, the Chai Box and One Stripe Chai Co.

    Ingredients - Notes and Substitutions

    The ingredients for chai concentrate is very similar to a cup of masala chai, there's just no milk since that's added separately.

    chai ingredients on a wooden bread board
    • Black tea - Assam tea work best for masala chai, and English breakfast is a good runner up. My favorite loose leaf black tea is Danedar and my favorite tea bags are Tetley British Blend. I do not recommend earl grey. You can use high quality green tea but it will be a much different flavor profile and adds earthiness.
    • Sweetener - Granulated sugar is the most typical sweetener, but brown sugar, stevia, honey, and even maple syrup will work. You can also omit the sweetener and add it in later when using the concentrate or use vanilla syrup.
    • Spices - My chai concentrate spice blend includes cloves, black peppercorns, nutmeg (freshly grated), star anise, cinnamon sticks, green cardamom pods, dried rose buds, and ginger. Spices can be added - like fennel and tulsi - or omitted based off of personal preference. Use whole spices for the best, robust flavor. You can also use a homemade Chai Spice.

    You do not need to use all the spices I did! The main spices to use would be:

    • black pepper - spice and warmth
    • cardamom - fragrance and sweetness
    • cinnamon - spice and sweetness
    • cloves - warming and bitter flavor to counteract sweetness

    Honestly, you could get away with not using cloves as well but I think a small amount elevates chai.

    How to make Masala Chai Concentrate

    Making chai concentrate is incredibly similar to making a cup of masala chai. However, there are a few extra steps that ensure that there is plenty of flavor from the spices and the tea is strong but not over steeped until bitter.

    smashed chai spices in a mortar and pestle
    1. Crush the spices. Use a mortar and pestle to lightly crush the spices to release their oils. Use the flat edge of a knife to smash them instead of a mortar and pestle.
    2. Dry roast the spices and extract flavor. To really bloom the spices, add them to the pot on low to medium heat and dry roast them for about a minute until they're fragrant. Continuously mix them around so they don't burn. Then, add the water and bring it a rolling boil to allow the spices to infuse with the water.
    3. Steep the tea. This recipe makes chai concentrate from loose leaf, but you can use tea bags as well. Add the tea into the spice-infused water and boil it for about 5 minutes, giving it a stir every once in a while. Then, remove the pot from heat and let the tea and spices steep for a minimum of 15 minutes. Add the sugar and stir until it's dissolved.
    4. Bottle the concentrate. Sanitize the bottle and its lid in boiling water before use. Once the chai concentrate has cooled, use a fine mesh sieve to transfer it to the bottle. Refrigerate for up to 5 days.
    Chai Concentrate label

    I made Chai Concentrate labels for you for easy labeling!! Download them and print them on Avery Round Labels (22856).

    If cinnamon is your most prominent flavor, reduce that amount of cinnamon the next time you make it or add more cardamom, black pepper, and ginger. They should be your three most prominent spices. If the concentrate is too bitter, the black tea has been steeped for too long.

    How to use Tea Concentrate

    Give the bottle a good shake before use. To use the concentrate, use a 1:1 ratio of concentrate to the milk of your choice. If the tea steeps for too long and is really strong, dilute it with a tablespoon of water at a time if you're making hot tea. Ice cubes will dilute strong concentrate as the ice melts.

    The concentrate can be heated, steamed, or poured over ice with milk to make hot or an iced chai latte.

    If you're looking to make a Dirty Chai Latte, you may want to use something more like a Chai Syrup for a concentrated, sweet flavor.

    Tips and Tricks

    • If you don't have a mortar and pestle, chop the ginger into slices and lightly smash the spices under the flat edge of a knife.
    • To scale the recipe, follow the instructions on your tea, i.e. 1 tea bag is usually equivalent to 1 serving of tea, and 1 teaspoon of loose leaf is equivalent to 1 serving of tea for most brands.
    • Make unsweetened chai concentrate by omitting the sweetener and adding it later or using a syrup.
    • Use your favorite milk or plant-based milk. Oat milk is the best vegan option for a chai latte. Sweetened condensed milk is also a great option for unsweetened chai concentrate.

    Storage Instructions

    Store the chai concentrate in a pitcher with a lid in the refrigerator for up to five days. To extend its shelf life, use 1 teaspoon of citric acid per quart of water.

    It can can also be frozen for up to three months. To do this, pour the concentrate into ice cube molds and freeze for 5 hours. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer bag. When you're ready to use it, you can melt the cubes in a microwave and add hot milk for a hot chai, or pour hot milk over the ice cubes for an iced chai.

    Why is the Chai Concentrate Cloudy?

    The tea may become cloudy after refrigeration. This is due to the caffeine and tannins that are released from the tea leaves at temperatures over 100°F. They eventually bond with each other when chilled. Water boils at 212°F, so this is pretty much unavoidable.

    Not only that, but black tea has the highest amount of tannins. Historically, masala chai is made with low quality tea leaves (read more), which have high levels of tannin. The longer the tea is steeped, the higher the concentration of tannins which results in bitter, unpalatable tea.

    The cloudy tea is completely fine to consume. But if you have time on your hands or like to prep things overnight, you can also steep 10 black tea bags in 5 cups of room temperature water for up to 8 hours. Simply infuse the water with spices beforehand, strain out the spices, and let the water cool. Then add the tea bags to steep.

    You can also keep it in the sun for a partial day to have especially strong tea. This will result in clear black tea that is ready to be refrigerated or served over ice.

    two irish coffee mugs with foamy chai tea lattes with whole cinnamon sticks and cardamom pods.

    More Chai Recipes to try

    • Chai Latte (Starbucks Dupe)
    • Adrak Chai (Ginger Tea)
    • Chai Hot Chocolate
    • Chai Syrup

    I love seeing when you share my recipes! Tag me on Instagram @masalaandchai so I can enjoy them virtually with you! You can also find me on Pinterest, Facebook, Tik Tok, and YouTube.

    I'd love to know what you thought of this recipe! Don't forget to leave a comment and ⭐️ star rating below!

    Recipe

    bottle of chai concentrate with a wood lid on a brass platter

    Chai Concentrate

    Enjoy a quick cup of masala chai or a chai latte using homemade Chai Concentrate. The tea is brewed in small batches and infused with fragrant chai spices.
    5 from 24 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: Indian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 5 chais
    Calories: 64kcal
    Author: Shweta Garg

    Equipment

    • Mortar and Pestle
    • Sauce Pan
    • Fine Mesh Strainer
    • Syrup Bottle

    Ingredients
      

    • 1-inch knob ginger
    • 1-2 cinnamon sticks
    • 1 star anise
    • 5 cloves
    • 4 dried edible roses
    • 7 cardamom pods
    • 10 black peppercorns
    • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated
    • 5 cups water
    • 5 teaspoon black tea leaves
    • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
    Text Ingredients

    Instructions

    • In a mortar and pestle, crush the knob of ginger into chunks to release the juices and expose more surface area. Add the cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, roses, cardamom pods, black peppercorns, and ginger into the mortar and pestle and lightly crush them so they release their oils. Lastly, use a microplane to grate a bit of nutmeg.
    • Transfer all of the spices from the mortar and pestle to a medium sized pot. On medium heat, dry roast the spices for a minute, or until they're fragrant.
    • Pour the water in with the spices and bring it to a light rolling boil for 3-5 minutes, or until fragrant.
    • At this point, add in the black tea leaves and mix really well. Simmer the spices with the black tea for 5 minutes. Be careful not to boil it for too long, otherwise it will be very bitter.
    • Remove the pot from heat and pour in the sugar. Stir until the sugar has fully dissolved.
    • Allow the spices and tea to steep in the hot water for at least 15 minutes. Then, strain the chai concentrate into a sanitized pitcher with a lid. Store in the fridge for up to five days.
    • Use a 1:1 ratio of concentrate to milk. The concentrate can be served steamed, heated, or chilled.

    Notes

    • Substitute honey or brown sugar as a sweetener
    • Use 5 tea bags in lieu of the loose leaf tea leaves.
    • The amount of spices for cardamom, black peppercorns, cloves, and nutmeg are based on high quality single-origin spices. They are especially potent and flavorful. Adjust the amount based on the quality of spices and personal preference.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1chai | Calories: 64kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 13mg | Potassium: 43mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 4IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe?Tag @masalaandchai and #masalaandchai in your post and stories on Instagram!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Melissa says

      January 02, 2023 at 8:51 pm

      I boil the spices and water in my instant pot for 10 minutes at high pressure…then add the tea and sugar, and leave turned off for 5 minutes. Remove tea, leave at room temperature to cool and add to my container and refrigerate. My teens are obsessed and drink it on their way to school every morning. Sometimes I add a vanilla bean to change things up a bit! Great recipe! Thanks!

      Reply
      • Shweta Garg says

        January 02, 2023 at 9:59 pm

        Wow! Awesome to know an Instant Pot method that works, thank you for sharing!

        Reply
    2. Kristen says

      December 22, 2022 at 2:40 pm

      Have you ever tried to boil it down more so it becomes more concentrated with less volume? Like use half a cup of concentrate and then add half a cup of water and a cup of milk when preparing?

      Otherwise love the recipe! I did add some fennel which was complimentary.

      Reply
      • Shweta Garg says

        December 22, 2022 at 3:41 pm

        Yep, somewhat similar to Chai Syrup with less sugar, but you run the risk of bitter tea if you're boiling it more. You're better off adding more tea leaves and spices if you'd like something more concentrated but it's hard to strike a balance.

        Let me know if you try it though!

        Reply
    3. Mark S says

      November 23, 2022 at 10:21 pm

      Oh happy day!

      I love the Trader Joes chai concentrate, but the sugar load it comes with is out of this world. I've been trying to replicate it using stevia for a long time & have never gotten a decent result until now. The recipe above combined with masala tea from the local Indian grocery store & 1/2 tablespoon of stevia in place of sugar has resulted in 5x 4 oz servings of concentrate and is a thoroughly delightful alternative to TJs and Starbucks.

      Reply
    4. Josie says

      August 14, 2022 at 1:23 pm

      How much water should I be using in this recipe?

      Reply
      • Shweta Garg says

        August 14, 2022 at 1:29 pm

        I’m confused by your question because it’s listed in the recipe ingredients. 1 cup of water per serving - this recipe is 5 servings.

        Reply
    5. Jennifer says

      August 09, 2022 at 11:53 am

      I look forward to making this soon. Do you have a favorite container to save it in? I don’t love the Tazo Tea Chai, but have been buying it for convenience and it splashes all over when I pour it! The Chai Box is a favorite, but I am looking forward to a more cost effective version 🙂

      Reply
      • Shweta Garg says

        August 09, 2022 at 12:18 pm

        Haha, feel that. I store it in something like this - https://amzn.to/3QbqnB1

        Reply
    6. Stacey says

      August 07, 2022 at 8:36 pm

      I made your homemade Chai Spice. How much of that do I add to this recipe? (I am going to make this tonight and just at 5x what the Chai Spice says for making 2 cups of chai) Thanks for your suggestions!

      Reply
      • Shweta Garg says

        August 07, 2022 at 9:59 pm

        I use 1 teaspoon of chai spice per cup of water.

        Reply
    7. Alex says

      April 16, 2022 at 4:23 pm

      Okay. I've used this recipe since beginning of March. I have only bought a chai twice in that rime and it does not compare!! I only now have to buy more ginger and star anise. Never going back! Thank you.

      Reply
      • Shweta says

        April 16, 2022 at 6:11 pm

        Heck yes! This is what I love to hear!! So glad you love!

        Reply
    8. Kathy says

      March 16, 2022 at 4:15 pm

      I cannot seem to make my Masala. again without it becoming bitter? Any thoughts?? PS- I am not leaving the tea or spices in too long.

      Reply
      • Shweta says

        March 16, 2022 at 4:19 pm

        The only reason it would be bitter is by brewing low quality tea for too long or bad quality spices.

        Reply
      • Rica says

        November 04, 2022 at 2:38 pm

        Personally, its waaay too sweet for me. Half the sugar will do next time. Other than that, great flavour 🙂

        Reply
    9. Lindsey says

      March 02, 2022 at 1:15 pm

      IF you would can this like seal it in a hot water bath would it stay longer? Just thinking about making for a friend to give a s a gift and wondered if you though if I canned/sealed it if it would last longer than the 5 days so I could get it to her?

      Reply
      • Shweta says

        March 02, 2022 at 1:41 pm

        Sorry, I’m not a canning expert! I’d assume that’s how brands are able to sell shelf stable chai concentrate along with preservatives, though.

        Reply
    10. Dayana King says

      January 15, 2022 at 9:50 pm

      Silly question, if you do the overnight steeping method, once you dry roast the spices, would you boil the steeped tea for 8 to 10 minutes with the spices? Since you won't be boiling the water beforehand and adding the tea later?

      Reply
      • Shweta says

        January 16, 2022 at 11:53 am

        Not a silly question at all!! You would dry roast the spices, boil them in the water, strain, let the water come to room temperature, and then steep the tea bags overnight.

        Reply
    11. Chuchu says

      January 03, 2022 at 9:02 pm

      How long do you extend the life of the concentrate by adding citric acid?

      Reply
      • Shweta says

        January 04, 2022 at 2:24 pm

        Hi! This may be something you research in your own time - since it also requires proper canning procedures.

        Reply
    12. Crystal says

      December 10, 2021 at 12:23 pm

      Never going back to st*rbucks for a Chai latte ever again. So much more flavor and *spiceeeee*

      Reply
      • Shweta says

        December 16, 2021 at 12:16 pm

        That's what I like to hear! Awesome 🙂

        Reply
    13. Robert says

      December 09, 2021 at 6:07 pm

      Reminders me of afternoons in Mumby.

      Reply
    14. Guusje says

      December 08, 2021 at 2:35 pm

      Can you replace the cinnamon stick(s) by cinnamon powder?

      Reply
      • Shweta says

        December 08, 2021 at 2:42 pm

        Yes, about a 1/4 teaspoon.

        Reply
    15. Ariana says

      August 18, 2021 at 12:45 pm

      I had never made my own chai concentrate from scratch and I'm so glad I gave this recipe a try! I will never go back to buying it from the store ever again. This was so simple to make, and I especially loved the floral notes from the roses and cardamom!

      Reply
      • Shweta says

        August 18, 2021 at 1:04 pm

        NEVER. GO. BACK. Rose is not super common but I absolutely LOVE it paired with the cardamom as well! So glad you loved it!

        Reply
    16. Shirley Lopez says

      August 17, 2021 at 5:59 pm

      I'm considering an unsweetened chai concentrate recipe for use at the church coffee bar. Can you tell me why the short shelf life? If it's just tea spices and water, what makes it go bad? Thanks!
      Looks like a great recipe, by the way.

      Reply
      • Shweta says

        August 17, 2021 at 7:00 pm

        Bottled chai concentrates have preservatives and proper sanitization and bottling procedures that allow them a longer shelf life when unopened. Even then, they're only safe to consume 5-10 days after opening and require refrigeration. Homemade chai concentrate will be exposed to bacteria and refrigeration will only do so much to slow the growth. If I have a particularly large batch, I freeze it.

        Reply

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    ABOUT SHWETA

    Shweta at the Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland

    I’m Shweta, a self taught recipe developer and food photographer living in New York City. I’m a full time cloud consultant who also enjoys eating out at restaurants, discovering and supporting small business, and cozying up with a cup of chai.

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