Sweet Chai Latte Syrup

A homemade chai latte syrup made with black tea and warming chai spices.

Make your own delicious chai lattes at home by adding the chai latte syrup to your favourite milk. This is a simple chai syrup that can be stored in the fridge, ready when you need it.

In the winter evenings I love being warm inside, on the couch with a hot mug of something delicious. Sometimes it's a hot chocolate and sometimes it's a sweet and spiced, milky cup of hot chai tea.

It's so comforting and yummy.

The Chai Spices

There is a range of whole spices in this syrup. Whole spices, as opposed to ground spices, release their flavour more slowly and are ideal to use when using longer cooking times. The spices in the syrup are simmered first and then left to steep, so have plenty of time to infuse. The whole spices are also much bigger than ground spices, and can therefore be strained out better at the end.

Spices bring not only flavour but also nutritious and healing properties.

Here are the spices and flavours used in the syrup -

• Cardamom - cardamom has a strong unique flavour that's crucial to a chai syrup. It's also very good for you and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Star anise - Another key flavor, star anise has a liquorice like taste. This can be substituted with fennel seeds too. Star anise helps to improve digestion.
• Cinnamon - Warming and comforting, cinnamon has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties.
• Black peppercorns - Gives a little spice and warmth. Rich in vitamin B and potassium.
• Coriander Seeds - Brings floral notes and is rich in antioxidants
• Fresh Ginger - Zesty and warming notes with powerful medicinal properties.

The Tea

A black tea is as the base of this chai syrup. Assam black tea is traditionally used in chai tea but any black tea works. You can also substitute it with other teas including a caffeine-free variety if you like.

The Sweetener

This is a sweetened chai syrup. The sweetener can be a regular granulated sugar, or something less refined such as brown rice syrup, honey or maple syrup. Bear in mind that some sweeteners such as honey or maple syrup may change the taste of the syrup.

How to Make Chai Latte Concentrate

Heat fresh water along with the spices, ginger and sugar and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes to infuse the flavours.

Take it off the heat and add the tea. Leave this to steep and cool down to room temperature.

Once it’s completely cool, strain out the spices and tea, then decant the syrup into a clean bottle and keep in the fridge ready for a homemade chai latte whenever you like!

Serving the Chai Latte Syrup

You can add this homemade chai syrup to regular milk or any nut, seed or soy milk of your choice, using a 1 part milk and 1 part chai syrup ratio. Warm the milk and add the chai concentrate. Enjoy with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon on top.

Store the remaining concentrate in the refrigerator for up to a month. 

Want more recipes with spices? Try this spiced pumpkin cake or savoury vegetable Pho!

Looking for other recipes to bottle and serve later? Check out this easy mulled wine recipe or this simple homemade margarita mix.

Have you made this? Tag me and let me know! @home_grown_happinessnz