In college, I had a chai-a-day habit. In fact, I used to swipe a handful of quarters from my dad’s coin jar (sorry, Dad!) on my way out the door to class to treat myself to a chai at a local coffee shop. There’s something magical about the creaminess of the milk balanced with the subtle sweetness and spice. Swoon.
These days though? I don’t steal from my dad’s coin jar anymore (promise). Nor do I enjoy chai lattes as often, mostly because I try to avoid caffeine. This mix is my answer to that problem. Plus, just 6 ingredients and 5 minutes are required!
This mix is made up of some of my favorite spices: cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, black pepper, nutmeg, and cloves! After much testing of different ratios, this is the perfect blend (in my humble opinion) to create a dreamy chai latte.
Once added to a jar, simply shake or stir to combine. It will keep up to 3 months in your spice cabinet, but if you love chai like me, it won’t last that long by a long shot.
Check out the recipe below for tips on how to make hot and cold chai lattes, as well as other applications for this spice blend!
We hope you LOVE this chai mix! It’s:
Spicy
Warming
Well-balanced
Comforting
& So easy to make
This mix makes the perfect chai latte when cravings strike! Because it’s caffeine-free, it’s suitable for any time of day. But if you want to add some tea, simply cut the amount of dairy-free milk in half and sub that with strong brewed black tea. Sweeten to taste and you’re golden. Pro tip? Add your chai spice mix, sweetener, and warmed milk to a blender to achieve a frothy, hot latte. Swoon!
If you’re into warming beverages, also be sure to check out our Best Vegan Matcha Latte, 3-Ingredient Turmeric Tonic, Feel Good Vegan Hot Chocolate, Vegan White Hot Chocolate, and 5-Minute Vegan Golden Milk (which also has its own Golden Milk Mix now!)!
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!
5-Minute Caffeine-Free Chai Mix
A quick-and-easy caffeine-free chai mix! The perfect solution for making a chai without caffeine in a snap. Just 6 ingredients and 5 minute required!
Ingredients
MIX
- 4 Tbsp ground cinnamon (cassia is best)
- 3 Tbsp ground ginger
- 4 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
- 1 Tbsp ground black pepper (reduce by half for less spice)
- 3/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 3/4 tsp ground cloves
FOR SERVING optional
- 1-1 1/2 tsp chai mix
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup (or other sweetener to taste)
- 1 cup Homemade coconut or almond milk* (or store-bought)
Instructions
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To make mix, add all spices to a small jar and shake or stir thoroughly to combine. Will keep at room temperature up to 3 months. Or you can store it in the refrigerator if you prefer. Double the recipe if you intend to use it daily (it goes fast!).
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To make a HOT chai latte, add suggested amount of Chai Mix, sweetener of choice, and 2 tsp water to a mug (or small blender). Use a spoon to mix spices into water (or skip this step if blending). Then add warmed dairy-free milk of choice to your mug (or blender) and stir (or blend) to combine.
The spice mix can settle to the bottom, but blending really helps! Keep a spoon handy to give it a stir when drinking if the spices need to be dispersed.
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To make an ICED chai latte, add suggested amount of Chai Mix, sweetener of choice, and 2 tsp water to a serving glass. Use a spoon to mix into a loose paste (you want as few clumps as possible). Then add several big ice cubes and top with dairy-free milk of choice. Stir to combine.
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In addition to being used to make chai lattes, we also think it would make a delicious spice mix for cookies, vegetables, smoothies, and more!
Notes
*If you want to add some tea, simply cut the amount of dairy-free milk in half and sub with strong brewed black tea.
*Recipe (as written) makes ~2/3 cup chai mix.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated for 1 chai latte with unsweetened coconut milk and suggested amount of sweetener.
Nutrition Per Serving (1 of 32 Chai lattes)
- Calories: 101
- Fat: 4.6g
- Saturated fat: 4g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Carbohydrates: 16.2g
- Fiber: 1.7g
- Sugar: 12.5g
- Protein: 0.6g
Yum!! Finally, a recipe that celebrates these beautiful spices. Better than store-bought!! It warms my soul with each sip, how chai should be 🤗🥰
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Rachel!
I was terribly disappointed with this recipe. Since it was caffeine free I thought what a perfect one to try with my kids who love chai tea……no way, they disliked it and it is even too peppery for me!
Hi Carmela, so sorry to hear this was your experience! It sounds like maybe you were looking for more of a sweet chai, while this is more of a spicy chai. You could try using less of the mix per serving and adding more sweetener. Better luck next time!
I love this spice mix. It’s a comforting delicious treat that you can have in the evening (no caffeine). Also, I mixed it up in a jar with oat milk and took it to work for an afternoon snack. I ended up just shaking and drinking it cold, and yum!!! It reminded me of horchata.
Hi
I just discovered this recipe today by accident as I am drinking a store bought tea bags of Decaf Chai. Lol I’m excited to try this recipe over the next few days
I’m looking at the nutritional info you listed. Where are the 16 g of carbs 12 g of sugar s and 100 calories coming into play?
Thx
Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated for 1 chai latte with unsweetened coconut milk and suggested amount of sweetener.
The spice mix is good for only 3 months??? No.
Technically, a spice mix will be good for whatever the expiration dates are on your spices.
Thanks for sharing! I’d say 3 months to keep the flavors as fresh as possible. But realistically, 6 months +.
I plan to make this spice blend, however I am curious as to why you recommend cassia cinnamon when Ceylon cinnamon is the sweeter and healthier type. Thank you for your response.
Hi Roselynn, we tried both and found that the cassia produced a better flavor balance. The ceylon was too strong. Hope that helps!
I made this morning and OMGGGGG! SO GOOD! It literally tastes exactly like Starbucks with probably half the sugar and bad ingredients. I added less pepper and it was perfect! Thanks for this recipe. This is going to save me so much money! lol
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Sasha. We are so glad you enjoy it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
O M G!!! This is amazing. I have used cows milk and golden sugar… but.. I AM IN HEAVEN! Going to try with both tea and coffee. Plus maybe in cocoa too! Yum! Thank you
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Mandy. We are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Do you think fresh star anise would work well in this blend?
We haven’t tried it but assume it would!
Thank you for sharing! This is soo wonderful, and love the backstory to this, too.
I’ve made this over and over since finding it – I keep running out of it! I’ve used it in my tea, my coffee, and even in my oatmeal. I like to add a little bit more pepper during the colder months to warm this up even a little bit more.
PS: I’ve also added it to warmed coconut milk for a comfy, cozy, caffeine-free drink. I imagine it would also taste great in cocoa, as well. It’s so yummy!
We’re so glad you enjoy it! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Can I add dry milk and powdered tea to this to make a “full” mix that you’d only have to add sweetener to? I’ve found a lot of recipes like that but they all use non dairy creamers, sugar, sugar, and more sugar. Was hoping to try the dry milk and tea with your recipe to see if I can make a mix to gift for the holidays this year. What do you suggest?
Hmm, I’d test it first before gifting! It may work!
Wonderful tea! Thanks
Wasn’t sure how this was going to go but I’m glad I tried! Delicious mix!
Was craving Chai Lattes at work but wanted to avoid individual sachets to reduce waste.
I heated up soy milk (didn’t have almond) in the microwave. Added a tsp of the mix and sugar. Then heated it for another 10 or 20 seconds. And voila! Delicious Chai Latte. Thanks so much!!! As others suggested I only used half black pepper and it was fine :)
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Raymond. We are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Happy I found a caffeine free chai mix to drink before bed. It has a good flavor but I was bummed when I got a mouth full of powdery textured/ undissolved spice. Read comments and recommendations for this after, so will try tea bag or strainer next time.
This is absolutely delicious! I literally *just* made this. It’s spicy, yet full of flavor – just how I like my chai! This will be something I make regularly. Great job on getting the blend just right. It’s perfect!
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing, Megan!
Hi, I’m trying this from Colombia.
When you say 3/4 of tbspn is tree quarter of a tablespoon? Or 3 to 4 tbsp.
I’ll leave my coment when try this!
Hi Andrés! 3/4 is three quarters, not 3-4. Good luck!
I made this awhile ago (def more than 3 months…) and LOVED IT! and I just noticed I still have some in my jar. Is there a certain reason you said it will keep up to 3 months? What happens after 3? Much love and gratitude to you! <3
ah, thanks Avery! So glad you enjoy this! Nothing “happens”, per say, at 3 months. We just find that the pungency and aroma of the spices tend to diminish around that point. Fresh spices tend to taste best. Hope that helps!
Made this tonight, it was super easy, just measure and blend. I added allspice because I love it and turmeric for its health benefits. My black pepper grinder wasn’t working so I have only a tiny bit of pepper in it, but it was plenty flavorful and delicious without it for me. I made it hot with the original version of Good Karma’s flaxseed milk. I.am.in.LOVE! I’m not sure I can go back to store bought…
We’re SO glad you enjoyed it, Sara! Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo
Amazing!! I haven’t found a decent chai latte since moving from Australia to Canada a decade ago, it was always some syrup garbage or a teabag of some sort that didn’t taste right! Here I am in happy chai land again haha. Thank you :) I don’t even mind that it didn’t dissolve completely because that’s how I remember “real” chai tea that I’ve had in the past with the little bit gritty between the teeth but awesome chai aftertaste :)!!
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Kati! Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo
I love this! I used 1 tsp of the chai mix and it turned out perfectly. I’ve been dealing with pain and inflammation, so I needed a caffeine free alternative to my chai tea. ONce you blend this: AMAZE ?? Thank you!
Thanks for sharing, Deb!
I’ve noticed some of the comments mention that the spices don’t completely dissolve. Do you think it would work to pour the mixed concoction through a coffee filter? Maybe prepare the drink ahead of time and allow the spices to steep a bit before doing this? Let me know if you’ve tried it!
The spices somewhat dissolve, but not entirely. The best way to filter these out is pouring through a fine mesh strainer before serving!
Delicious! I stumbled across these recipes and nothing disappoints. I made the iced latte and it was amazing! I only added 1 tsp of black pepper to the mix and found that it wasn’t too spicy for me. I’ll definitely be making this for my mom ( the biggest chai latte fan)
Great! Thanks for sharing, Olena!
WOW! I was skeptical till I tired this. It is very good. I had to give up caffeine due to Hashimoto’s. Missing out on my chai tea was causing me grief. This is an amazing substitution! I backed off on the black pepper by half and added in turmeric to make up the difference.
I am always on the lookout for a good home made Chai mix, and was excited to try this after reading the rave reviews. It’s not for me, I’m disappointed to say. I found the powdery mouth feel of the spices intolerable, and for me that amount of pepper overpowered the other fragrant spices.
Hi Hannah, sorry to hear this wasn’t for you! Were your spices fresh? We find that makes a difference in terms of the flavor. One idea for the texture would be to add the spice mix to a tea bag and steep it instead. Otherwise, it sounds like this recipe might be a better fit for what you are looking for! Hope that helps!
Just made this recipe and it’s AMAZING!! Been looking to replicate Starbucks chai latte and it tastes just like it. So glad to have tried it, I’m loving it iced. Thank you so much
Thanks, Valérie!!
I made this but added 3 tbsp of turmeric. I’ve never had chai before, so I can’t say how adding it affected the taste compared to having left it out.
It was unexpectedly, incredibly delicious!
I love your (vegan) recipes and have for years. Thanks!!
The second time we are making this chai mix. My husband loves it so much! I also wanted to mention on here that, even though my family is fully vegan and 100% behind animals, we would never appreciate your talent and hard work any less just because for your own reasons you decided to change your lifestyle. We use a couple of your recipes in our cooking and look forward to the many more that you will share that are strictly vegan. Thank you for all your work.
Thanks for your support, Milla!
Delicious!!! Better than Starbucks and I am stoked that I made this caffeine free and at home! I will be making more batches and sharing with friends ;) I even liked the left over spices at the bottom for a kick. Blending this drink is key!
Enjoying the taste of this chai tea mix with almond milk. No caffeine and way less sugar than my SB’s option and much cheaper. It just takes a bit to get used to the spices not completely dissolving.
I just tried this recipe and I absolutely loved it! I needed a little wake up call though, so as you suggested, I made half a cup of black tea before adding the spice mix and then filled it up with almond milk and some honey. I had to change my diet due to health issues and I was really sad about giving up my Chai Latte (because I have to admit, I used to drink a Chai made with instant powder that contained a lot of sugar and artificial ingredients), so I’ve been looking for a healthier alternative and stumbled upon this post. Now I’m sitting on my couch, enjoying my second Chai Latte after months of abstinence, and I’m giddy with happiness – this tastes better than any Chai I ever had, and it’s cheaper and healthier, too – thank you so much!
(And I’m sorry for any mistakes – I’m not a native speaker :))
I’m making this for a friend’s birthday present! I ended up making a second batch eliminating the black pepper because it was very spicy to me. Without pepper tastes great!
Hi! Love to make this chai mix as a little present for Adriene of who loves Chai Latte! May I ask if you use fresh ground ginger or dry ground ginger? Thank you!
We use dry ground ginger. Hope that helps!
I’m thinking of making this to bring to a gathering tonight. Would it work to mix it with almond milk ahead of time and keep in warm until it’s time to serve it?
Hi Shannon, we think that would work! You may need to give it an extra shake to redistribute any spices that have settled. Hope that helps!
Just made this….delicious! I have tried so far 5 of your recipes and just LOVE each one. I have been recommending your blog to all my friends and work colleagues. Thank you from Canada ?
Thanks so much, Jo! So glad you are enjoying the recipes! xo
So yummy! Thank you, it’s the perfect balance of spices- one very happy chai drinker!
I absolutely LOVE this chai tea! I used half the pepper (only 1/2 tbsp) and it is divine. Highly recommend making this and saving money by making these at home instead of buying from the coffee shops. So delicious! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Just whipped this up now. I only had sweetened vinalla almond milk and did not any other sweetener.It was yummy. I was in India for a month not too far off next time I will add star of ansie to the mix.
Wow, yum! I gave up caffeine a week ago and miss my hot frothy coffees so much. This is the perfect replacement. I had to guess some of the quantities as I threw a load of whole ingredients into a grinder, like peppercorns, cardamom seeds and cloves. I definitely reduced the pepper by about 1/2. So glad I’ve found this. Thank you.
Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications, Sarah. We are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! xo
This is really good! I love Bhakti Chai best, and this reminds me of it. I subbed white pepper and ground-up crystallized ginger because that’s what I had, otherwise I followed the recipe and it turned out great! The leftover spice at the bottom did not bug me at all.
So glad to hear it! Thanks for sharing, Molly!
I can’t wait to try this!
This is THE best chai tea recipe. I have been drinking this every night before bed the past 2 weeks. I love spicy everything so I added more black pepper for some fire! No need for Starbucks Chai Tea Lattes anymore. :)
Absolutely delicious! And so easy to make
This is AMAZING. I’ve been buying a small chai latte from a local independent coffee shop every week and it’s £3 a time, which is TOO much money for me. So I found this recipe, made it right away and it is just brilliant. I add some vanilla agave syrup when serving as I like it a little sweeter. I’ve also added sugar to the recipe (naughty I know!). It really hits the spot. I’m going to try it with tea and also with the added turmeric for the anti-inflammatory benefits. I make this with Oatly oat milk and wizz it up in my NutriBullet. I also run it through a sieve before serving because I ground up the cardamom myself and it’s a little corse. Thanks so much for this great recipe! xox
I followed the recipe and the mix is just too spicy for me. I have been using only 1 tsp of mix to 1 cup of oat milk + 1 tbsp maple syrup. It’s still too much. I am enjoying it, but will probably scale back the pepper and ginger next time. Thanks, Dana!
It is delicious. Almond milk. No caffeine. Tea doesn’t separate from the milk. Lots of spice. And now I can play around and add more of x and y. Love this.
So glad you liked this, Karla! Thanks for sharing! xo
Finally chai that tastes as good or better than starbucks. Id lost hope since none of the loose leaf blends or boxed stuff came close.
I made a couple adjustments (still playing around to get it just right for my taste): used half the pepper, added 1 tsp allspice and an extra tsp of both cardamom and ginger. Potent, love it! I also added 2x maple syrup so it was a bit sweeter and did 1/3 cup of extra strong assam black tea to 1 cup soy chai milk. I shook the soy milk, spices and tea up in a jar and then heated it slowly on the oven. Delish!!
I just tried this. It is delicious! I am thrilled to be able to have tasty chai with breakfast that does not contain tea since I avoid tea during meals, reserving it for in between meals since tea reduces calcium absorption.
Love this! I’ve been sometimes substituting my second cup of coffee with the caffeine free version and sometimes making it with a little coffee in it. It’s a spicier version than I’ve tried in the past and I love that. Thank you!!
This was seriously delicious. I went through the mix in a week it was so good. I added a bit of maple syrup to sweeten each cup up. Thank you!
Why has it taken so long for me to make this? Oh my gosh this is so good. I love it super spicy. I don’t drink caffeine but having a warm drink ritual every morning keeps me sane. This will definitely be on regular rotation, and its great I can now have an evening warm drink ritual too because hot chocolate keeps me up at night hah.
I just made this today, it’s cold and snowy and it looked so comforting. I added the spice mix to my coffee with a splash of cashew milk, it was delicious. Looking forward to making it as your recipe suggested. Thank you for another great recipe.
Really good! I used the amount of pepper for the “regular” version and it was a tad too spicy for me, but otherwise super tasty and I love that it’s “healthier” than say the sugary versions from Starbucks. Careful with the vitamix/blender–give that it’s all liquid mine exploded out a bit!
I loved this but it is a bit too spicy and to me I think it’s the ginger and/or the cardamom. I had never bought cardamom before…expensive! And i really didn’t care for the smell of it. I only used a T of pepper but I believe it’s either the strength of the ginger or the cardamom. I will make it again and reduce those two and probably add more nutmeg, which I love. So easy and so comforting. What a great morning, or any time, beverage! Thank you!
Where do you get labels like this/How do you make them. Thanks!!
I love your blog. I was looking for vegan baking recipes and found many of your recipes sointeresting. I’m planning to try the apple carrot cake for a get together. .
As I found your chai spice recipe interesting wanted to share some native thoughts.
Chai in hindi is tea in english. It’s apparently the tea leaf, which is plucked, dried and used to make tea or chai. Spices of different kinds are added to give it additional flavor. Like cardamom or elaichi chai is super famous on the streets of India. Likewise other flavors.
There is no chai without tea leaf. If made with just the spice, it is used for.medicinal purposes during cold cough and also at times given during pregnancy. Eg a blend of pepper, cloves and ginger with jaggery is super for digestion and is taken to combat cold likewise milk with turmeric is taken for sure throat … but these are concoctions and not chai….
Your blend is all inclusive and great. I am eager to try it. Next time they with jaggery…u will find jaggery in any indian store. Its brown in color n far more healthier than sugar.
I made this by putting a tsp of the spice mix in a teabag and steeping it in a saucepan of milk & water. Success! Just a bit of the spice escaped through the top of the bag, which was perfect, and bringing it to a nice simmer gave it a beautiful colour and flavour. Just a tip for anyone who doesn’t want to blender it or have spices settle at the bottom!
Wasn’t too sure what I’d think so made half the amount in the recipe but I actually really enjoyed this! I made it with unsweetened unroasted almond milk and just put it all in the microwave to heat up.
Had to grind up the cloves and cardamon pods which made it a little bitty but I’ll know next time to strain in before drinking.
Think I put a little too much clove in so will ease off a bit next time and I also didn’t bother with the pepper.
Do you think I could add coconut sugar to the spice mix in the jar, rather than including directions to add maple syrup later?
Yes, that should work just fine!
This is absolutely wonderful!! I only added a tiny amount of black pepper due to previous comments, and with the ginger it’s strong enough anyway. This will be my favorite, thank you soo much!!!
This is now my most favorite afternoon treat. I love the spices, they are perfect. Most chai is too sweet for me. Going to make the jars of this and give them as gifts.
I’ve got some tea lovers in my life and am going to give this for Christmas! Question: how big is the jar in the photo? and does that size reflect the 32-serving recipe? Thanks!
The photo is accurate to how much this makes. The jar is small. I’m not sure of the exact size, sorry!
Update:
I used this mix to make a blended spicy chai today. I used 3/4 cup of homemade hemp milk (using your hemp milk recipe), about 1 to 1 & 1/2 cups of ice, 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, and 2 teaspoons of the chai mix. I am a barista, and I would serve this in a shop. Absolutely delicious!
Great! Thanks for sharing, Laura!
What size of jar would you use to fit all the measured ingredients you indicated? I definitely wanna try it & give it as a gift to friends?
This recipe was exactly what I needed after kicking caffiene about a week ago. I made this with your hemp milk recipe, by steaming the milk with the chai mix on my home espresso machie and then pouring it over the maple syrup. Absolutely amazing. I will never buy storebought chai mix ever again! Highly reccomend this to anyone who is craving a hot beverage.
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Laura!
wow, it’s spicy! heat lingers in back of throat, a little goes a long way, great recipe!
Amazing! Easy, delicious and caffeine free. Thank you Dana!!!
I forgot to mention that I used 1 tsp of white pepper instead of black. Really good and 1 cup hot water, 1 cup heated cashew milk, 3 tsp chai mix blended with stevia.
I made this with 3/4 almond milk, and 1/4 cow’s milk. No sweetener, but fully blended. It was DELICIOUS! Just the right amount of spicy for me– and I like it spicy. I want to try it with a little less cinnamon in my next batch.
I’ve made this mix about a week ago and I’ve so enjoyed having a cup almost every night since then and it’s so easily customizable too but it’s a really great base recipe ! I have found I like it made with oat milk the most and I do half water half milk. Dying to make some nana ice cream with this added in ! Thanks for the recipe xx
Yay! We are really glad you enjoyed the recipe, Aimee!
Thanks for this lovely recipe! I’ve been searching for one like this to replace the finished blends with high amouts of sugar. Had two cups of the tea today, woops!
My spice mix turned out maybe a liiittle too spicy for me, so I think I’ll try to adjust the amouts a bit next time. Do you think it is the amout of pepper or ginger that makes it a bit too spicy for me?
Hi Heidi! I’d just reduce the pepper and that should help!
You do not disappoint — ever! Thank you for this! Big bold balanced delicious flavors always! I have had this recipe on my phone since you posted it. Tonight, finally had all the ingredients. Fabulous! Again, thank you.
A coffee shop in the city we used to live in made the best chai lattes. I’ve been on a hunt for a recipe that compares to make them at home, and none have until this one! We didn’t have any nutmeg or cardamom (which are my least favourite of all the chai spices anyway, so I wasn’t sad about it). We used a bit less ginger and and almost the full amount of pepper. Delicious!
Thanks for all of your lovely posts! I enjoy making them for my family& I try variations to accommodate my severe digestive probs. I made this mix a few days ago& I’m making my 2ND batch tonight. I left out the pepper, for easier digestion& used saigon cinnamon. I’ve been adding the mix to my daily Dandelion & Chamomile tea& it’s delicious! Then, I was inspired to make homemade pecan milk to try as creamer, because of several other nut allergies. Tea + milk + a little honey or maple syrup & a dash of vanilla is how I’ve even serving it to my 11 yr old son& he LOVES it!
I meant to post 5 stars too! All spices except blk pepper are amazing for digestion!
Délicieux ?. J’a Ajouté de l’anis étoilée et c’est excellent!! I added anis star and it’s excellent. Merci merci ??
Yes! So awesome! I love the spicey-ness- that is one of my requirements for a perfect chai. ? I can’t wait to try this as a base with my adaptogen lattes, too! Thanks! It is delish!
This chai mix is so darn delicious! Really simple to put together and turn into a flavourful and comforting drink. I’ve been making mine with soy milk. Plus the mason jar looks so cute on my countertop!
I made this chai spice mix & it’s bitter! Is there anything I can add to it to salvage it & make it more palatable? I’m disappointed as I love chai latte!
Oh no! Did you follow the recommended measurements?
Hi Dana, just a small thing… Chai actually means tea in hindi, so the proper way to call this is Masala Chai, although I know we tend to just call it Chai in the west ;)
I have a tea blog http://www.teacachai.com if you want to visit!
This sounds amazing. I’m just now getting off all caffeine. I found some chai tea made with Rooibos tea (that’s naturally caffeine free) but this looks way better. Thank you so much for sharing such helpful recipes. I’m goong to try with my homemade cashew milk this week.
This was really great!! Just made it this morning – the black pepper definitely spices it up!
We are glad you enjoyed it, Katie!
Hi! Just wondering if you used green or black cardamom?
Green!
Drinking some now as I type this—YUM! This is the second time I’ve made this since you posted and I absolutely love it. I made it without the black pepper and using regular milk. Thank you for another delicious recipe!
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Mona! Next time would you mind leaving a rating? It’s super helpful to us and other readers. xo!
Love this & all of your creativity found on this site. Quick question, I don’t have any cloves, could I omit them? Or are they just as important? Thanks in advance!
Yes, you can omit!
O.M.G.
I have never had a pinterest recipe bang it out if the park like this. I usually use them as a starting place, but you dear one know what you’re doing! I have bought millions of bags and mixes over the last year since I went coffee free. This is my version of PERFECT. Exactly what my tastebuds wanted. I went to my local natural market, bought fresh bulk spices and came home immediately with my fingers crossed. Simmered it with cashew milk added some honey and now I am so happy! I had a mix that was yummy but it had the black tea already added and I’m really trying to step away from caffeine. You just saved me! Thank you for your efforts and for sharing your delicious recipe with us all!
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Daunn!
Oh my goodness Dana this was SO GOOD!!! Wow!! I warmed mine with homemade walnut milk and a dash of pure maple syrup as suggested. Seriously amazing!! I will never buy chai anything again!
Yay! Thanks, Jessica!
I love this! I made it with homemade almond milk and it’s perfect. I put a little date in my almond milk to sweeten it a little. That chai mix won’t last for long and I’ll need lots more almonds for almond milk. :-)
Thank you so much!
Thanks, Ladonna!
I have been looking for something like this for so long, wanting to have an easy go to and caffeine free. I am so excited to make this, thank you for all your hard work!
Whoop!
Just made this Dana and it turned out great. Thanks for the tein free idea as I have always loved chai tea, but if I had it after 5 o’clock, there’s no way I could sleep. Without the tea, however, I expect there won’t be any problems ;-)
Its a perfect evening drink! We’re glad you enjoyed it, Aleksandra!
What type of cardamon and ginger are you referring to? Your photograph shows fresh ginger and I don’t think that can be grated and put in a jar with other dry ingredients and stay fresh.
Oh that was just for styling. I used all dry ground spices.
can you use grated ginger if that’s all you have?
I just made this and it was delicious! I omitted the black pepper and it was still nice and spicy!
Thanks, Christine!
Amazing. I also love Chai and thought I could not afford it. I had all of the ingredients and just enjoyed my first cup. I used to buy it already premade by the quart but it was expensive so I stopped. This is now my favorite drink again! I’m gonna make it by the half gallon!
Sorry. Forgot to rate it!
Thanks, Kat!!
Loved it! I followed the recipe exactly and thought it was fantastic. Especially since I have a cold, and it’s freezing out today. I recommend to anyone who doesn’t have one, to add the Aerolatte frother to their Christmas list. The tiny battery operated handheld blender is perfect for mixing in the spices and adding some froth to the top of the drink.
I’m not great about commenting, but I wanted to say that I really enjoy your site and have passed it along to many.
Lovely – thanks for sharing, Debra!
How many servings does this recipe make?
32 1-tsp servings!
Thanks! I see you have way of increasing the measurments at top of recipe.
I look forward to making little jars of Chai spice Mix with Tumerrick for Christmas gifts!
I was so excited about this but it turned out bitter. I’m going to try tomorrow – perhaps I didn’t measure one of the ingredients properly. I’ll rate it after a second go! First recipe that hasn’t turned out amazing, but I’m still hopeful ☺️
Sooo good! I’m addicted to the super sweet Starbucks Iced Chai and thought this one wouldn’t stack up but it’s better!! I’m ordering a spice grinder so i can get the spices finer (more fine?).
Yeah! That should help!
Loved your caffeine-free chai. Made it this evening with homemade almond milk. Perfect night for it too – with our first seasonal snow. My husband and I enjoyed every drop. Thanks for the recipe!
Lovely – thanks Carol!
This is amazing! I just mixed the spices up while I had the spice box out to cook dinner and made myself a cup. So yummy! This is going to be my new afternoon drink at work. Thank you!
Thanks, Amanda!
I. Love. Chai.
Cold weather is best soothed by this tasty beverage. I was skeptical of this recipe (though not really really – M.B. has never failed me) because it’s just a mix of ground spices… and that can’t work, right?
Wrong. It works. And its perfect.
I blended it (the mix & maple syrup) with cold milk until hot and it’s frothy and delicious.
Yay! Thanks, Addie!!
Love this. It is truly warming and a great option if you don’t want the tea. I made it with steamed milk and it is a lovely way to have a treat in your day!
Yay! We are glad you enjoyed it, Kimberley!
Thank you for another great recipe!
Finally Chai with no caffeine! It’s delicious!
I absolutely love the geometric dishes you used in the video to keep the individual spices- do you recall where you got them from?? Can’t wait to try this!!
Delicious! I’m enjoying this on a cold rainy morning. I left out the pepper and made a hot latte using Oatly Original and 1/2 TBSP of maple syrup. It has a nice spicy kick (from the ginger) and a hint of sweetness. Love it!
Thanks for sharing, Dana! xo
This caffeine free breastfeeding mama is sO excited to make this!! Thank you thank you! ..also, side note … do you mind sharing the label maker you have because I think I need it for Christmas <3
Yay! So glad you liked it, Laura. I recently purchased a Dymo from Amazon and really like it. You can find it here.
I used to have their cheaper model (the one used in these photos), but it kept breaking so I upgraded!
Aw thanks for the info! Yea, I was reading a lot of mixed reviews on them :/ Does the newer model make the old school printed effect as well like you have in these photos? Sorry to bother about this stuff!
Wanted to make this the minute I saw the post! Finally got to make some tonight and I absolutely love this recipe. I might cut back just slightly on the pepper next round but it’s awesome. I also love that I can sweeten “to-taste”. I find most pre-mixed chais to be too sweet for my taste.
I made a chai latte using light coconut milk, heated and then blended to a frothy, creamy goodness! De-lish!!! Thank you MB!
Thanks, Gabriela!!
JUST made this with my 5 year old daughter who LOVED it just as much as I do! I am a chai fanatic and this mix is one I’ve been looking for and will be sipping all winter! Dana, your recipes are sooo good as are your pics/videos on insta. I’m so glad to have stumbled upon your account 2 yrs ago. I literally make your minestrone soup every week. :) From Nashville with love!
So kind! Thanks for the sweet note, Kristy!
Not the powder, more like the actual coconut, but dried!! I make coconut chips & sprinkles here in Australia, and I’m wondering if my coconut would go well into a chai (actually, I had one of our customers ask us for it!). I’ll let you know how it goes!
Hi Thank you for your nice recipe.
I have a question:)
3 Tbsp ground ginger–> Do you mean dried ginger?
Otherwise, Can I add the same amount of newly harvested ginger?
(In my country, It’s time to harvest ginger! )
I recommend dried ground ginger. If using fresh, I’d recommend adding ginger juice to the chai!
Just tried it. My son and I really liked it, but I we both thought too much pepper. So I want to do it again but maybe 1/4 the amount of pepper. And I strained it with a mesh basket from blender to cup.
I’ve added a note to reduce for less spice. Thanks for sharing!
Pretty good, but mine was very chunky with spices. Any way to get rid of this consistency? It felt grainy while drinking. I love the flavor. Cut down on pepper per other commenters’ suggestions and it was the perfect amount of spice for me. This is going to save me so much money! Sorry local coffee shop…
You can definitely heat / blend it and then pour it through a fine mesh strainer to cut down on any texture!
Made this tonight and used it to make a latte – no tea just coconut milk and it turned out AMAZING! I’m thinking it might be good to sprinkle on oatmeal tomorrow morning. Thanks for the great recipe!
Whoop! Thanks for sharing, Suzanne!
I added about 1 teaspoon maca powder to the blender and 1/4 teaspoon sunflower lecithin. I use homemade nut milks like hemp and I find the lecithin helps emulsify the fats to make the latte extra creamy.
Thanks for sharing!!
Do you think this would work if I added dried coconut?? (I’m going to try it anyway, off today to get the supplies!)
Like dried coconut “creamer” powder? Yeah! I do! Let us know how it goes!
This is amazing!! I sweetened mine with a medjool date. Wow! It’s frothy and thick and spicy and so delicious. This is going to be my go-to winter drink. Thank you so much!
Yay! Good to know a date works! Thanks for sharing, Elisa.
Dana,
Your website has quickly become my favorite “go-to” source for recipes. You seem to do it so easily, but I know a lot of work goes on behind the scenes. Your operation is so high-quality and satisfying. Where once my (food) world was depressing and limited (gluten-averse, lactose-intolerant), it’s now, thanks to you, dynamic, creative and soul-warming again. You’ve given me joy again and hope for a future without toxic, manufactured food. Thank you.
Ah! Thanks, George! Such kind words. xoxo
Just wondering. Would this taste good with some canned pumpkin added
I bet so!
This chai mix is amazing! Thank you so much. I made it today and am just now enjoying my first warm cup with a mix of almond and coconut milk. I love your reader’s suggestions to make it for a holiday gift. I plan to do the same.
Me too! Our readers are smart (and the best). Thanks for sharing, Kathleen! xo
This was delightful. We’ll be making it again for sure. I used plain soy milk and sweetened with can sugar. This was the first time I had a good opportunity to used the Vitamix Aer I was recently gifted, and oh, the foam!! Ahh :) the only thing I’ll do different in the future is increase the amount of milk per 1 1/2 tsp of spice mix, as it was a bit strong for my preference, but oh, so tasty! :)
Lovely – thanks, Miranda!
Just made this and wow! It packs a punch! I may go down on the pepper a little or else figure out a way to balance it out more. Delicious though!!
Thanks for sharing your feedback! I’m going to make a note about the pepper!
I cannot have black pepper because of an LPR diagnosis. Is there anything I can substitute?
I’d say leave it out!
Look into ” long pepper” which tastes very similar, but comes from a completely different plant than black peppercorns
This is perfection! I’ve gone through so many chai mixes, never finding anything that made my taste buds dance! I love this (am having it hot now, without tea). I don’t think I’ll be adding tea to this–I love it as is–sometimes black tea is so bitter—I just used the T of maple syrup and it was plenty sweet. I did add just a drop more cardamom since I am a cardamom junkie. I’ve even tried making chai concentrate with whole spices and still couldn’t get the taste I wanted. And now I can have chai at night, without worrying about the caffeine. Thanks so much.
I agree – I also tried making a concentrate and didn’t love it. This mix is such an easy solution! Thanks for sharing, Ellen!
Fantastic, this just sorts out all my remaining Christmas presents! I will just make mixture and put it in a nice jar!!! Thanks so much!
Yay! Thanks, Pia!
This was way too peppery for me! I halved the maple syrup for sweetener
Good to know! I love a spicy chai, but will include a note to reduce for less spice.
I made this today and it is so cozy! Like other commenters, I’d love to make it as holiday gifts! I think it’s a bit spicy for some of my family members. If I reduce the pepper, should I replace it with something else, or just leave it out? Thanks for always sharing your creativity! It’s delicious!
I’d just reduce the pepper personally! Hope that helps! And such a great gift idea!
This is amazing! Wow! It kicks Starbucks butt big time. I would cut down on the black pepper next time. It is quite spicy. I also added some turmeric for added health benefits.
Whoop! That’s amazing. Thanks, Jaime!
A perfect spice blend! I used full fat coconut milk from the can and my latte was so satiating and decadent. Next time I’ll put the spices in a tea bag so it has more of that steeped tea quality of flavour. Gonna make a massive batch and give it for Christmas gifts!
This sounds delicious! Would love to try it, only I’m allergic to nutmegs. Not sure what to add as a substitute, though- any suggestions?
Hmm, likely just leave it out!
Mace is a nutmeg substitute
This recipe has the perfect blend of spices and makes the best most warming and delicious chai latte, I made it with soy milk and it was perfect?
Thanks for sharing, Julie! Next time would you mind adding a rating to your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers! xo
I just made this and my husband and I added kahlua…so delish! Definitely appropriate for the season!
Ooh, nice touch! thanks, Marie!
I love this Dana andnid like to get a label maker like the one you used. Making these for myDaughter’s baby shower next weekend.
Thanks, Jill! Happy celebrating!
I couldn’t wait to try this! I made it without the cloves (didn’t have any) and it was delicious! Made the warm version and added 3 teaspoons of monk fruit for sweetener.
Yay! Good to know. Thanks for sharing, Jennifer.
I just made this and it’s so good! Thank you for creating such an easy recipe for homemade chai. It’s deliciously spicy and cozy. I’ll definitely be making it again.
Thanks, Leah! Yay!
Dumb question, but did you grind your own spices for this?
Not a dumb question! And no, I didn’t. But if you did the taste would be even fresher!
Maybe this is a dumb question, so please forgive me. Did you use ground spices from jars, or did you grind your own?
Will try this! What do you recommend for a sweetener?
I recommend maple syrup, stevia, or honey if not vegan.
Oh thank goodness! I was trying to figure out where to find some of the spices!! Ha! Thanks for responding. I’m looking forward to trying this.
World Market (if you have access to one) has them for really reasonable prices!
Thanks!
Very tasty with date nectar. I added some turmeric to mine and it added even more of that traditional spice and added health benefits! Love this recipe. Going to jar it up for Christmas gifts :) Thank you!
Smart! Yes, I could even see a half chai half golden milk situation happening here! Thanks for sharing!
Other ingredients are also beneficial. Cinnamon lowers blood sugar. I use it daily and buy in bulk! Ginger and Cardamom both have powerful medicinal properties. Black pepper aids in weight loss, and treats sinus, asthma, and nasal congestion. It also reduces the risk of cancer, and heart and liver ailments. Almost every spice has some sort of healing properties. So spice your life up! It’s healthy for us all.
I absolutely love chai tea and was so excited to see this. It tasted even better than expected! I’m so happy to now have a go-to recipe to keep on hand.
Lovely! Thanks for sharing!!
what’s cassia cinnamon?
It’s the “regular” kind of cinnamon, if it doesn’t say anything else it’s probably cassia :) There’s also “true” or ceylon cinnamon, usually a bit more expensive and as such they’ll tell you it’s ceylon; it’s a bit safer to use, since there are some concerns with toxicity of regular/cassia cinnamon if used in too large amounts, but the taste is a bit different between the varieties.
Delicious! I didn’t have cardamom in my pantry, but it still turned out tasty! I will try it again once I replenish my cardamom. I used unsweetened almond milk. Thank you for the recipe!
PS I love your glass mugs. Do you recall where you got them?
Lovely! Thanks for sharing! I got them from Crate and Barrel I believe.
I bought some really nice glass mugs at Target?
I have everything but cardamom. Is there something else I could use in its place? Not really sure what cardamom is?
Cardamom is a spice. You can choose to omit it, but I find it to be an important part of the blend!
Thanks!! I’ll have to go get some. I have a pumpkin spice that has cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom mixed together…do you think that would work? Not sure how I’d measure that.
Go buy cardamom and put a bit in everything you’d use with spices like cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg. It’s a unique and delicious spice but easy to find in any grocery store. So delicious!!
I made this (warmed non-dairy milk version) as soon as I saw it on Instagram. It is delicious! I even thought about making it into gifts. Thanks for sharing! I’m excited to try the other variations—black tea and cold!
Whoop! So glad it worked out! Thanks for sharing, Laurie!!
Hi, you mentioned adding an optional chai mix. I’m a little confused because arent these spices what make the chai mix? I’d love to make this whennI get that part figured out. Thanks so much!
Yes, it’s a chai spice mix, which makes a caffeine-free chai when blended with water and milk of choice!
I’m sorry to sound negative, but find this sentence and the whole article very misleading, because normally chai does not even mean that it has to be caffeinated – chai is in fact a drink made with the spice mix and coffee is absolutely not a requirement. So normally all chai is caffeine free and what you’re doing here is similar to when advertisers say “cholesterol-free vegetable oil”: technically it’s not a lie, but it is misleading, because all vegetable oils are cholesterol free by default
“Chai” is Indian-style tea cooked in milk with cardamom, and sugar or honey. An Indian friend used to make it for me. She also taught me how to buy “tea masala”—tea spice—at the International Market.
Dana, your blend is really delicious, and brilliantly gives the option of dropping the tea from the mix for evening enjoyment without the wakelessness at night.
I made it with soy milk, and love it. And the black pepper gave me an idea. Since black pepper activates the health benefits of turmeric, I thought I would try about a 1/4 tsp of turmeric powder in my next cup. Score! Really great. Thank you!
Black tea is caffeinated
It sure is! Which is why her decaf version appealed to me so much
Not true. Chai tea is generally made with black tea which has plenty of caffeine…I found this recipe because I was looking for a caffeine-free version at the moment. So no, it is technically not chai TEA…but it’s the spiced latte I am looking for!
Healthline has a nice article on chai tea that answers a lot of our questions, just type into your search bar: “How Chai Tea Can Improve Your Health.”
I was confused too! Watch the video in this post though, it helped me realize the spices listed make a mix but you only need a little of the mix to actually make the latte.
Omg this is such an American version :) the authentic chai spice is heavier on cardamom and has a just a bit of cinnamon.
Make your adjustments as needed. We tried several versions and this one is still quite spicy. Let us know what you try out!
I made this recipe today exactly as stated doing the caffeine version with black tea. My two daughters love Chai and they loved this recipe! They agreed it is WAY better than the mix you buy in the store, or even the Tazo brand already mixed with liquid. I loved the way the blender frothed the milk and I enjoyed it as well. Thanks, MB!
I just realized I used homemade date paste as the sweetener, not maple syrup. It was delicious and I ended up adding a couple of drops of liquid Stevia to my mug since I like it sweeter.
Wow! You work fast! So glad you tried the with tea version and loved it. Thanks for sharing!
Maple syrup is sweeter than homemade date paste, which is prob why it wasn’t sweet enough for you
I made this 2 minutes after I saw the post! It’s super delicious and I love the foam the blender gives it! It’s nice and spicy! (Good thing I’m headed to the spice store soon since I depleted several of my spices making this!)
Whoa – you’re fast! So glad you liked it!