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Sweet Chai Latte Syrup Recipe

Make your own delicious chai lattes at home by adding chai latte syrup to your favorite milk. This is a simple chai syrup made with a blend of black tea and spices. It’s stored in the fridge, ready when you need it. 

a close up f milky chai tea a cinnamon stick and star anise in the background

I love being warm inside in the winter evenings with a hot mug of something delicious, like a sweet, spiced, milky cup of hot chai tea.

It’s so comforting! There is a range of yummy spices to bring the chai flavor to this syrup. Whole spices, instead of ground spices, release their flavor more slowly and are ideal for longer cooking times. The spices in the syrup are simmered first and then left to steep so have plenty of time to infuse.

Whole spices are much bigger than ground spices and can be strained out better than a fine powder. These aromatic spices bring not only natural flavors but also nutritious and healing properties.

a bottle of chai syrup with a cinnamon stick and star anise in the background

Ingredients

Here is what you need to make your own chai concentrate. Find the ingredient amounts in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. 

  • Black tea – Black tea is 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 like English Breakfast or earl grey (or a caffeine-free variety.) You can use black tea bags or loose-leaf tea. 
  • Sugar – This is a sweetened chai syrup. The sweetener can be regular white sugar, brown sugar, or something less refined such as brown rice syrup, coconut sugar, honey, or maple syrup. Bear in mind that some sweeteners, such as honey or maple syrup, may change the taste of the syrup. 
  • Cardamom pods – cardamom has a strong, unique flavor crucial to 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 licorice-like taste. This can be substituted with fennel seeds too. Star anise helps to improve digestion.
  • Cinnamon sticks – 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.
a green mortar with cardamom pods and peppercorns in it, a cinnamon stick and star anise in the background

Method

Heat fresh water with spices, ginger, and sugar over medium heat and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes to infuse the flavors. 

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

a silver pan of black tea and spices

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

Serving

Hot chai latte – Add this homemade chai syrup to the milk of your choice (dairy-free milks work well too). Use 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.

Dirty Chai latte – Add a shot of espresso to make it a dirty chai latte.

Iced chai latte – You can also make an iced chai latte by serving it with cold milk poured over ice cubes. 

a silver cup of white milk with cinnamon sprinkled on top a cinnamon stick and star anise in the background

Shelf life

Store the remaining concentrate in the refrigerator for up to a month, or freeze it in ice cube trays for individual servings for up to 3 months!

Want more recipes with spices? Try this mulled apple juicespiced pumpkin cake or spiced caramel sauce!

chai syrup

Chai Latte Syrup

Yield: 800ml
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

A sweet chai latte syrup made with black tea and full of chai spices. Add it to your favorite milk.

Ingredients

  • 800ml water
  • 10 cardamom pods
  • 8 whole cloves
  • 3-4 cm fresh ginger
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 tsp whole black peppercorns
  • 1 tsp whole coriander seeds
  • 1 star anise (or can be substituted with 1 tsp fennel seeds)
  • 1/3 cup sugar (or sweetener of your choice)
  • 5 Tbsp loose leaf black tea

Instructions

  1. Using a mortar and pestle, gently pound the cardamom pods, coriander seeds, and black peppercorn until lightly crushed.
  2. In a saucepan, combine the water, sugar, spices, and ginger together and bring to a gentle simmer. Let it simmer over low heat for 10-15 minutes.
  3. Take it off the heat, add the tea, and let it steep and cool down to room temperature.
  4. Strain the spices and tea leaves through a cheesecloth or fine strainer and pour the chai tea concentrate into a clean bottle. 
  5. To serve, heat 1/2 a cup of your favorite milk and 1/2 cup of chai tea syrup and enjoy with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon. Or, serve it with cold milk over ice cubes for an iced latte.
  6. Store the remaining syrup in the refrigerator for up to a month. 
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 5 Serving Size: 1 125ml
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 57Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 8mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 1gSugar: 13gProtein: 0g

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6 Comments

  1. I love this so much. I have made it for house warmings, birthdays and kindy teacher christmas gifts. Occasionally even for myself. I have also successfully made it with red bush tea for a caffeine-free version. Thanks so much!

  2. Ellen, this recipe is great!

    Every other chai recipe I’ve tried has been lacking something or been overpowered by the ginger. But this turned out awesome. This is my new go to. I will definitely have this syrup on hand all the time.

    It’s great for hot or cold chai lattes. No need to go to the coffee shop anymore.

    Thank you!!

  3. Thank you, your recipe sounds wonderful. Will definitely try it. How many tea bags would you substitute for the loose tea?
    Thank you kindly

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