Homemade CHAI Concentrate

There is nothing on a chilly fall morning like a big cup of steamy Chai, with all it's spices filling the air and making every inch of my house smelling like something yummy is baking away.   I even like it iced or blended in the summer...it can be refreshing and soothing.   So I have been doing some research on how to make some at home without adding lots of calories from sugar etc.   The dry powdered mixes are just loaded with sugar.   Who needs that?   (certainly not me!!)

Here is what you need :

Saucepan, fine mesh strainer 

4 1/2 cups water

2 star anise pods

1 tsp ground cardamom 

1/2 inch of real ginger sliced thin

2 cinnamon sticks

1 tsp nutmeg

10 -12 whole cloves

vanilla extract

2 tbsp or so of Loose black tea  Or about 6 tea bags

1/4 cup honey or demerara sugar (not the white stuff)

In a saucepan add water, sugar or honey, star anise, cardamom, ginger, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg and cloves and bring to a boil. 

Turn heat off and let steep about 5-10 minutes

Return pot to heat and bring to boil again, remove from heat and add Loose black tea (or you can use tea bags).  Let the tea steep in the spiced liquid about 10 minutes. Add vanilla and stir.   Strain to remove solids.  (I strain it right into a mason jar).  *you can store it in the fridge for up to a week* 

You can make your chai w/ 1/2 chai concentrate and 1/2 milk (I use unsweetened vanilla almond milk).

Drink it the way you like it...iced, blended or hot.  It's all good!!!