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Homemade chai tea with ginger, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves

How to Make Chai Tea at Home

A warm and aromatic homemade chai tea made with black tea, fresh ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, milk, and a touch of sweetness. This easy chai recipe makes two comforting cups in about 15 minutes.

  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 2 cups 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 black tea bags or 2 teaspoons loose black tea
  • 1-inch piece fresh ginger, thinly sliced
  • 4 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
  • 1 small cinnamon stick
  • 2 whole cloves
  • 1–2 tablespoons sugar or sweetener, to taste

Instructions

  1. Lightly crush the cardamom pods to expose the seeds.
  2. Add the water, sliced ginger, cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, and cloves to a small saucepan.
  3. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes to allow the spices to release their flavor.
  4. Add the black tea and steep for 2–3 minutes.
  5. Pour in the milk and heat gently until the chai is steaming. Do not allow the milk to boil over.
  6. Add 1–2 tablespoons of sugar or your preferred sweetener and adjust to taste.
  7. Pour the chai through a fine-mesh strainer into two cups.
  8. Serve warm and enjoy.

Notes

For stronger chai, simmer the spices a little longer before adding the black tea rather than over-steeping the tea. Whole spices are easier to strain and generally produce less sediment than ground spices. Whole milk creates a creamy chai, but oat, soy, almond, or another preferred milk can be substituted. The amount of sweetener can be reduced, increased, or omitted entirely. For iced chai, prepare the chai slightly stronger, allow it to cool, refrigerate until chilled, and serve over ice. Chai made with regular black tea contains caffeine. The exact amount varies depending on the tea, quantity used, and steeping time.

  • Author: Janet
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Drinks
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Indian-Inspired

Keywords: how to make chai tea, homemade chai tea, chai tea recipe, easy chai recipe, chai tea ingredients, homemade chai