HealthNotes

Chai Concentrate

• From: Munchin with Munchkin

Ingredients

• 5 cups water

• 10 bags of black tea (try a mixture of orange pekoe and English breakfast)

• 2 cinnamon sticks

• 1 vanilla bean, sliced in half

• 1/2 cup brown sugar

• 12 whole cloves

• 9 cardamon pods

• 1/2 tsp freshly ground nutmeg

• 2 star anise pods

• 1/2 tsp black peppercorns

• 8 corriander seeds

• 1/2 tsp ground allspice

• 1 Tbs orange zest

• 1 inch piece of ginger, sliced into discs

• 1 Tbs honey (optional)

Nothing warms you up like a cup of this fragrant Indian beverage. You can also add it to baked goods to make chai spiced cookies, cakes, or even pie.

Directions

• In a large pot, bring water to a rapid boil. Add tea bags, spices, orange zest, and ginger. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes.
• Remove from heat, stir in honey and let stand 10 minutes.
• Line a sieve with cheesecloth and strain concentrate. Discard spices.
• Store concentrate in a sealable container in the fridge for up to two weeks.
• To make chai tea, combine 1/3 cup of concentrate with warm milk (or soy/nut milk).
• Concentrate can also be mixed in with a number of recipes. Try mixing it with cookie batter for chai spiced cookies or mix with seltzer water for a chai soda!