***UNPUBLISHED – NOTES TO SELF: try to find a powder vanilla
The original recipe where I adapted this from uses “instant tea mix” that made this recipe truly instant. However, I have no idea what instant tea mix is, nor have I ever seen it in the grocery stores but I did have plenty of black tea bags at home, so I omitted the instant tea from the recipe and brewed real black tea instead. So although it’s not “instant” because you have to brew your own tea (add tea bag to hot water in a mug), this pre-made mix is still pretty convenient (compared to making chai latte the old school way over a stove with milk). I’m also usually not a fan of “instant” foods since they tend to have extra added preservatives and a bunch of ingredients I can’t even begin pronounce. I like to keep it simple and know what goes into my food. To make this even more “natural”, omit the milk powder and use steamed milk instead when serving.
Recipe adapted from: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/46777/chai-tea-mix/
Servings: ~8 cups
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 3/4 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 1.5 cups full cream milk powder
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp all spice
- 1/8 tsp white pepper
- (Black tea bag)
Directions:
- In a bowl, mix the white sugar with vanilla extract and spread it out over a paper towel to let it dry overnight. (Should be clumpy and dry the next day).
- Once the white sugar and vanilla is dry, transfer to a blender or food processor and blend it until it’s a fine powder.
- Add the rest of the ingredients to the blender and continue blending until everything is a fine powder (you can sift it afterwards to ensure all the clumps are out). Done!
- To serve: Dissolve 3 tablespoons of the chai mix in a mug of hot water and add a black tea bag. Let it steep for 5-8mins. Enjoy!
Notes:
- If you find this mix too gritty, you can put the mix in an empty tea bag and steep with your black tea in hot water. Or you can try using a coffee grinder to get a finer powder.
- If you just want a “chai” spice blend, omit the milk powder
- This spice can be added to milkshakes, ice cream…etc. anything you want chai-flavoured
- You can also make this chai latte with real steamed milk and 1/4 tsp of the chai spice (or adjust to your taste) instead of the milk powder. However this makes it even less “instant”. It’s harder to get access to steamed milk on the go.
- Idea: can do the same with pumpkin spice mix!
- For a creamier taste, you can do half powder milk and half nondairy creamer (what the original recipe calls for…sort of)
- Can also use a French vanilla nondairy creamer and omit the vanilla altogether
- You can make up a pitcher and refrigerate for a cold chai drink
- Would make great Christmas presents!
Abby Approved 