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.
What is Masala Chai?
Masala chai is a creamy, spiced tea that’s most popular in India but is increasingly enjoyed around the world. The primary difference between chai and masala chai is that masala chai includes spices, while chai is simply tea and milk.
Chai is typically made with four components:
- Black tea (we prefer bagged or loose-leaf, decaf when possible)
- Milk (we went dairy-free with coconut and/or cashew )
- Sweetener (we went for a little maple syrup)
- Spices (ginger, cinnamon, clove, cardamom, black pepper)
The spices vary depending on the recipe, but our favorite combination is cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger.
For a more authentic recipe and to learn more about this delicious Indian tea, see this video from Bhavna’s Kitchen.
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
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
- 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!).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!
Video
Notes
*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.
Sharon says
I just made this and OMG this would have to be the best chai I have had. Just the right amount of spice. My partner is diabetic so we use sugar free maple syrup which is perfect in this so it is not as sweet as commercially made ones.
Yum! Thanks so much for the great review and for sharing your modifications, Sharon!
Jodie says
I decided to go all in on the pepper, and I’m so glad I did. It’s perfect as is. I enjoy spicy chai, but I don’t know where I fit in comparison to others in determining how much weight I give to their reviews and internal spice-o-meters. I barely had enough nutmeg and cloves for one batch. Need to get more spices as I will be making more. I ground the mixture in my magic bullet for a nice powder and whisked it into almond milk. Boom.
Woohoo! Thanks so much for the great review and for sharing your experience, Jodie!
Nathalie says
Absolutely delicious!!
I left off the pepper after reading a lot of comments.
I made the iced version, and it is fabulous! I’m a bit of a chai latte snob, so this says a lot!
Yay! Thanks so much for the wonderful review and for sharing your modifications, Nathalie!
Anon says
Just made this batch (scaled down the recipe to 2tsp ground cinnamon/1/8tsp cloves) and used the full pepper amount. And pwoar it’s overwhelming the other spices! And I love a lot of black pepper in my savoury food, not adverse to spice or heat. Adding a little cinnamon sugar and more chai spice minus black pepper has almost saved the batch
SNL says
Just realised I forgot to add the nutmeg but that 1/8tsp wasn’t never going to fix it. And it would be better if the spices had both tablespoon and teaspoons measurements for easier calculations but that’s a small issue. ANYWAY the actual reason I’m making a second comment is because I made the spice mix again with half the black pepper (1/3 batch this time so it fills a spice jar) and it was so tasty! The extra spices/more ginger (compared to another chai spice recipe in my locker) makes it more balanced – sweet and spicy, just the way it’s supposed to be ;) and now I can whole heartedly give it 5 stars
That’s great to hear! Thanks so much for the 5 star review!
Oh no! Thanks for sharing your experience and honest feedback!
Rhonda says
I just wanted to try 1 cup so I just used a little of each ingredient. I used Stevia as my sweetener. Absolutely delicious and I will for sure make the whole recipe now!!!
Woohoo! Thanks so much for the wonderful review Rhonda, so glad you enjoyed!
Hari says
Just to clarify – we are using dry ginger or ginger root grated? I assume the former, wanted to confirm. Thanks.
Hi Hari, dry is correct. You could use fresh, but it wouldn’t keep as long and would require refrigeration.
Danielle Harris says
Made this for friends and family for Christmas and it was a hit! Everyone loved it! 💛
Yay! Thanks for the review, Danielle!
Sherry Hyatte says
Absolutely delish. I made the recipe with less cardamom because I’m not in love with it. Then I went back and made s whole jar full. Yummo!
Yay! Thanks, Sherry!
James H says
I love this drink and have made jars and jars… Caffiene is something my body can’t handle.
A do have a problem though — I recently have realised I get a lot of sludge in the drink and this seems to be caused by the cinnamon. So in my latest version, I have left out the cinnamon. The drink still works, but not as good as the non sludgy full version…. So I’ve two questions:
(1) Has anyone else found this sludging problem and been able to understand what causes it?? and
(2) any solutions or ways to fix?
Thank you all very much!
Hi James, One idea would be to heat a cinnamon stick or two with your milk of choice to infuse it with cinnamon flavor without affecting the texture. Hope that helps!
Elsa says
I recently made this recipe and I have a potential answer to the sludge problem. I actually placed all the spices in a disposable tea bag and steeped it along with my tea. In order for the flavors to have a strong enough taste, I ended up using closer to a tablespoon of the mix (rather than a tsp), but the flavor is really nice. After I removed the teabag there are no spices floating in my cup.
Thank you for sharing, Elsa!
Kristen says
Yet another winning recipe—thank you!! I absolutely love chai, but the older I get, the more sensitive I am to caffeine. I used the smaller amount of pepper (1/2 T) and think it’s perfect, but if someone doesn’t want too much of a kick, I’d scale it back further. It’s so decadent served warm with frothy milk! Yum!!
Yay! Thanks so much for the lovely review, Kristen. So glad you enjoyed!
Erik Davis says
Just made this and I really enjoy it. Thanks!
Yay! We’re so glad you enjoy it, Erik! Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Karen Dery says
Oh wow this chai mix is the best.
Every time we go hiking in the Coquihalla Summit area we stop at the rest stop for the homemade food truck that serves the best chai tea latte. This spice mix rivals the chai tea latte that we get at the top of the mountain. Now I don’t have to wait till next year to sample a fantastic chai latte I can have it every day! I halved the pepper, mixed 3/4 tsp with decaf black tea, a spot of milk and a drop of honey and we’re talking perfection.
Amazing! Thanks so much for the lovely review, Karen. So glad it lives up to your expectations!
Taylor says
I’m chai obsessed and have been spending so much money drinking the tazo liquid concentrate so I made this and I’m wondering, how do I prevent my tea from having chunks of black pepper? All the other spices are fine enough to melt sort of but the black pepper is coarse and that might be kind of weird to drink. I’ll have to get a tea infuser but I don’t have one right now, and I also don’t have a high powder blender like a vitamix. Do you have any other suggestions for the meantime? Thank you so much!!!
Hi Taylor, does your pepper grinder have a way to adjust the coarseness? Often they do! Otherwise, using an electric spice grinder, mortar and pestle, or pre-ground black pepper could work!
Marie-France Gaumont-Leclerc says
I used to prepare masala chai from scratch but I like this very pratical version sooooo much, I’ am going to overdose lol
We’re so glad you enjoy it! xoxo
Gabby says
You just made my day with this recipe! I can’t wait to try it :)
Woohoo! Let us know what you think when you give it a try, Gabby!
Tejal Kaji says
Hi! What is your favorite brand of decaf black tea leaves to make a good decaf chai?
Hi Tejal, we don’t have a preferred brand! We typically use roobios when wanting to add a tea to this mix. Hope that helps!
Susannah says
This is super yummy! I happened to have all of the necessary spices in my cupboard, and so I mixed up a batch of the Chai this afternoon to store in one of our extra mason jars. I added only half of the black pepper because what I had on hand was ground super fine, so I thought it might be too spicy for the unsuspecting taster. Then I heated up a cup of oatmilk we had in the fridge, added 1 1/2 teaspoons of the Chai mix, 1 Tablespoon of sugar, (because that seemed easy at the time) and frothed it with the stick blender. What a treat! Thanks for the easy recipe :)
Lovely! We’re so glad to hear you enjoyed it, Susannah. Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Lydia says
It’s so good! I made this without the pepper due to my preference but it was still really good!
Wonderful! Thank you for sharing, Lydia! xoxo
Samantha says
Way too much pepper, nearly blew up my taste buds. Reduce pepper significant or even leave out. Rest of ingredients go well in these ratios.
Sorry to hear it was too much pepper for you, Samantha! Hope you enjoy it more with less pepper next time!
Katie says
I cannot find decaf chai mix for a latte anywhere where I live. I tried this out and it is absolutely delicious….and now I’ll never have to buy a mix again! I did use half the pepper and it was still pretty spicey for me (I am admittedly not very great with spice!). If you are sensitive to spice I would use less pepper!
Woohoo! We’re so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Katie. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Sarah says
I accidentally used tablespoons instead of teaspoons for the cardamom and it turned out DELICIOUS!!
Yay! We’ve been adding more cardamom to ours lately too =) Thanks for sharing, Sarah!
Mary says
I love this! I made it hot with milk, with tea and milk, as iced tea, and I cannot wait to use it in more yummy things. I love coffee, but the caffeine is doing a number on me the older I get. This satisfies every requirement I need minus caffeine. Its sinfully wonderful for the senses, takes amazing, has kick and I use maple syrup to add sweet if I like, but it’s so yummy as unsweetened ice tea too! Thank you for such a great and versatile recipe!
Lovely! Thanks so much for sharing, Mary! xo
Alyssa says
I enjoyed my first batch, super spicy which I love! I’m wondering if this could be made into a concentrate to then mix with 1:1 or 1:2 parts milk as an iced chai? Does anybody think this can be done and have ideas on how to do so? I see many black tea based concentrate recipes but I’d love a homemade caffeine free one!
Hi Alyssa, We’d suggest using our masala chai recipe, but sub decaf black tea or rooibos tea. Hope that helps!
Victoria says
I love your labels, where did you get them?
Thanks,
Victoria
Hi Victoria, We used an embossing label maker. Hope that helps!
Hannah Lovell says
This is so good! I made some for myself and gifted to two friends. I like to froth this with oat milk and use in my coffee for spiced milk. It is also great on its own.
Aw yay! We’re so glad you enjoy it, Hannah! Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo
Natalie says
I was immediately inspired to make this today and Im so glad I did! AMAZING!
Yay! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Natalie! Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo
Nicole Heskey says
Once you created your best gift guide of recipes I went down the rabbit hole to see what I could make. This is hands down the best chai mix I’ve ever had. I had this one night with the stuffed dates covered in chocolate and I was in heaven. Now I make the chai and add coffee to it in the morning. Is there anything you make that isn’t good?? :) Love love love your food!
Amazing! Thanks for sharing, Nicole!!
Suzanna says
Just made this and having it with some heated oat milk, a dash of vanilla and about a tsp of ghee – perfect before bedtime.
The pepper – I actually reduced to 1 tsp and it still has QUITE a kick! I think I’ll still reduce it to about 1/2 tsp.
Thank you for this!
Thanks for sharing, Suzanna!
Whilom says
I used to buy a decaf chai latte mix, but it was discontinued years ago. I finally poked around this week for something else to try. Mixed this up and tried my first cup today. It’s delicious! I made it with dairy milk and maple syrup, but will try other milks and sweeteners. I only made a quarter-batch to start, but I’ll make a lot more to give away in spice jars for the holidays. Thank you for sharing.
Amazing! Thanks for sharing, Whilom!
Rachel says
I adore this recipe. The best chai I’ve ever had, and so versatile!
Aw, yay! Thanks so much for the lovely review, Rachel!
Lauren M says
I love this! I soak two small dates in hot water with spices for several minutes then blend with an immersion blender (I don’t have a blender that can do hot liquids, but the immersion blender is so easy to clean that it actually works quite well) then add dairy-free milk for a creamier drink. Honestly such a perfect caffeine-free afternoon treat.
Just read through some other reviews and I don’t know how I haven’t thought to try this in oatmeal before! Can’t wait for breakfast tomorrow, I think this spice mix with some fresh apples and walnuts will be so delish.
Love the modification, Lauren! Thanks so much for sharing! Let us know if you give the oatmeal and apples a try =)
Nathan Kleine Deters says
I love this chai mix and always have it stocked in my pantry ready to use!
I add 1 tsp of turmeric to it as well for some extra nutrition. I use this for Chaga chai lattes and mix it in my oatmeal with some banana, apple, and dates which is absolutely delicious!
Yum- sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing, Nathan!
Kristina says
I love this recipe!!!!! I have used it for over a year and I add a Lipton tea ☕️ bag For some morning caffeine. It’s my staple seven days a week. Thank you so much for all your wonderful recipes. Love the Minimalist Baker recipes and I am not vegan or vegetarian. It’s all so good and so easy to make. 😊
We’re so glad you enjoy it, Kristina! Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo
Allison says
This is a great recipe! I use it all the time, in everything from overnight oats and porridge to lattes and hot chocolate. The spice combo is perfect.
Love all those ideas! Thanks so much for sharing, Allison!
Brittany says
Yum! I tried this out on my friend and husband today and we all loved it! I’m going to make separate jarred batches for our family members for Christmas. Thanks for the tip on cutting the pepper in half and thank you for this recipe!
We’re so glad you all enjoyed it, Brittany! Thanks so much for sharing! xo
A. Rothstein says
The recipe is far too skewed towards cinnamon and ginger.
Feel free to add more of the other spices to your preference! Also, if some of your spices aren’t as fresh, that could also be a cause.
Richard Haven says
“If you want to add some tea …”
If you don’t have tea, it isn’t chai, now is it?
Fair point. Though it evokes the flavors of what most people think of when they order chai. Let us know if you try it!
Patricia Becker says
I was looking for a chai tea mix recipe, that’s free from caffeine.
I saw a few but I wasn’t convinced. I ran into this one and I love it! I doubled in batch. Really tasty! I used a coconut beverage non dairy & soy free Gluten free & vegan. I simply love the recipe mix!
Yay! We’re so glad you enjoy it, Patricia! Thanks so much for sharing! xo
salishseer says
This is awesome! I added some powdered black tea to the mix & cut down a little on the cinnamon & cardamom. Nice & spicy! The pepper & ginger give it a lovely kick. Thanks!
We’re so glad you enjoy it! Thanks so much for sharing!
robyn R rubenstein says
I just made a spice blend called kitchen king, which you may like, but had a pointer for the chai mix here (big fan!)
The recipe author of the savory mix said to shake the ground spices through a sieve then regrind those pieces and add back to the mix. I did that and it is velvety. I will probably do it with my next batch of your blend since I’m almost done drinking it. Great in smoothies or coffee too!
I love that idea! Thanks for sharing!
Mary says
I have never written a review for a recipe before and this is SO good that I had to say THANK YOU!! I had to eliminate both dairy and caffeine recently and had a huge chai latte habit. Nothing was really working as a replacement chai until this recipe… the recipe is better than most chais I have had (and I am very picky and have had a LOT of varieties from cafes, grocery stores, and recipes!). Thank you so much!
So lovely! Thanks for sharing, Mary! I too am a chai lover, but also avoid caffeine and dairy. So glad you enjoyed it!
Maybec says
Hi I’m am trying to get away from the sugary chai from stores. Do you know what the carbs/ sugars would be for just the spice mixture?
Almost none! Less than 2 g carbs per 1 tsp of the spice mix.
Jennifer Millan says
It’s so good! It has a kick that a tea bag does not give you. When I used to make my rooibos chai I’d make it in water and add milk. How would you substitute milk/water ratio if even at all?
Not sure I understand the question?
Jennifer Millan says
I figured it out. I put 1 & 1/2 tsp of the mix in 6 oz of hot watch and mixed it a bit. i strained out the spices 3 or 4 times added 3 tsp pf honey and a splash of milk. THIS IS THE BEST DRINK I HAVE EVER HAD! It’s warm and spicy and sweet! Even my 9 year old son comes by for a sip out of mu cup & my 11 year old is liking it too! Thanks so much!
Jennifer Millan says
*hot water
We’re so glad to hear it, Jennifer! Thanks for sharing!
robyn R rubenstein says
HI! looks great. I’m just confused about the ginger. It’s in the photos like you’re grating it for the tea, but are you using ginger powder from the spice cabinet or grating ginger fresh? I just peeled a pound of ginger and minced in my processor for cooking, which is why I’m asking. Looks like you would keep the chai mix in the fridge if using fresh ginger. Thanks for this and the nutella recipe – I am about to make that!!
Hi Robyn, sorry for the confusion! We recommend powdered ginger in this recipe so that it keeps. The fresh ginger is just prettier in photos.
Nathalie says
I am suuuuper fussy with my Chai lattes. This is probably the best I’ve ever had 👌
Whoop! Thanks so much for sharing, Nathalie! xo
Chelsea says
This chai mix is SO delicious! I’ve been making iced chai lattes with honey and oat milk everyday this week! Quick and easy!
xoxo!
Merrilee says
This is seriously delicious! I made it for my son and he agrees! I used everything in the recipe – except pepper, then strained it! It was rich and full bodied – just what I’ve been searching for! Thank you, so much for sharing!
P.S. I bought green cardamom pods at an Asian store and ground them in a coffee bean grinder.
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Merrilee. We are so glad you both 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
Merrilee says
Sorry, I forgot to leave my five star rating in my last review! I should add that I picked up more spices at the Asian store ( much cheaper) to make for my son! Thanks again!
Thanks so much, Marrilee!
Yara says
So goooodd ! I thought I was ready for the spice so I added 1 tsp + 1/2 but I reccomend starting with 1/2 a tsp then working your way up from there. I boiled the spices in a bit of water (less than 1/4 cup), then added mylk to the pot then once hot I used a strainer to put it in my mug. I added a tsp and 1/2 of sweetener 😋
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Yara! Thanks for sharing!
Emily Boronkay says
Usually I just shake some of this and that spice into my tea and taste until I like it. It’s time consuming. Last night it occurred to me to make a mix. I
started looking for recipes.
You’re right that ratings help. That’s why I chose this one.
My stomach doesn’t tolerate cardamom well so I subbed in turmeric. But something was missing, so I added a tsp of coriander. Yes!
I only put half a tsp of black pepper because if it gets on my vocal cords I choke and can’t talk. However I love it spicy so I added a healthy dash of cayenne.
I want the full benefit of the turmeric, so I added MCT oil powder also.
Yay! Quick chai to add to my tea.
I tried your drink recipe using coconut water instead of a milk for the electrolytes, adding collagen for protein and coconut oil for the creaminess. Everything into the blender! Deliciousness and no added sweetener necessary!
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Emily! Thanks for sharing!
Belinda says
This is the best instant chai mix I have ever made. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU !! I am so grateful to finally have a recipe that I will make over and over. I only used half the amount of pepper and found that perfect as I do not use a sweetener.
Whoop! We’re so glad you enjoy it, Belinda! Thanks for sharing!
Nina Solanki says
I’ve tried several chai spice mixes and this one is my favorite! It’s warming and balanced. Sometimes I add in a green tea bag for caffeine but mostly I drink it in oat milk which has a natural sweetness. Your flavors are always spot on!
We’re so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for the lovely review, Nina! xo
Rebecca says
The best chai mix out there! I added 1 tsp of pepper per the other commenters recommendations and it was just enough. I also did 2 tbsp of the ginger. This is the perfect mix of sweet and spicy. Sweet with the added maple syrup and spicy with the spices! Had this with some almond milk and it’s so good. I can also add a shot of espresso from my machine when I want to add the caffeine! I’m pregnant so I’ve been trying to stay away from caffeine. This did not disappoint! Can’t wait to see what my dad thinks he’s an avid chai drinker! Thank you for the recipe!
Aw, we’re so glad you’re enjoying it, Rebecca! Thanks so much for sharing! xo
Liana says
I’ve recently gone caffeine and dairy free and have been looking for an alternative to tea and coffee for a mid-morning pick-me-up. This recipe is incredibly easy to make. I’m not a fan of spicy food or black pepper so I halved the amount which turned out perfect. I made it with almond milk and a dash of maple syrup, superb. Thanks a bunch
Nadine says
This is a great recipe for Chai spice mix. I did halve the pepper and when I make it again I’ll make it with even less than that since it really was pretty spicy, but that’s personal preference. I made it with warmed and frothed oat milk and some maple syrup. Perfect quarantine drink!
Daniela says
I followed the recipe but put a tiny bit less of ginger and a lot less of pepper, but it turned out bitter :cC!! I added more cinnamon hoping that it could save it but it did not improve much. Any suggestions? Thanks and cheers for the website, I have been following you for years!
So strange! I’m wondering if you could compensate with more sweetener or cinnamon. Not sure why else it would be so bitter! Were all your spices fresh?
Sandy says
Thank you, thank you! I used a date instead of maple syrup and it was PERFECTION! I love chai but don’t tolerate sugar or caffeine. I will be making this again and again and again.
Sandy says
I forgot to add that I used Ceylon cinnamon as I prefer it and don’t have any cassia.
Jeanne says
Thanks for sharing! You can also use this mix to make a delicious chai cake.
Nayana says
Loved this recipe! I am an Indian and tea /masala chai is our staple daily beverage. I switched to green tea for better health but that contains caffeine too.. I tried this and just the right thing to have everyday !
Thank you for sharing ??
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Nayana. 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
VirgieGurl says
I am at Starbucks and I need caffeine free and it’s so hard to find something so I’m gonna try this at home and just get my steam milk here whenever I come THANK you for the recipe of it …
T-Dub says
Yum! Yet another outstanding recipe from Minimalist Baker! Took the hint to reduce black pepper by half as is always easier to add more, and this (half) was ideal for my taste. One teaspoon of the mix added the perfect chai flavour to a very large cup of half hot black tea/half hot milk. I agree with a previous reviewer that said it warms the soul – exactly! Thank you!
We’re so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Victoria says
This recipe was amazing! Had my eye on it for some time and finally got around to it. This will certainly become one of my staples. Thank you!
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Victoria. 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
Rachel Flowers says
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!
Carmela Zenner says
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!
Betty says
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.
Summer says
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.
Jewels says
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 +.
Roselynn says
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!
Sasha says
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
Mandy says
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
Ashley says
Do you think fresh star anise would work well in this blend?
We haven’t tried it but assume it would!
Shy loves Chai says
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.
Shy loves Chai says
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!
Danni says
Just made this. The flavour is good but it’s very gritty. Is that normal? How do you get it to not be gritty?
Hi Danni, you could try blitzing the spices in a spice grinder to get them more powdery!
Marybeth says
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!
Tala says
Wonderful tea! Thanks
Raymond says
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
Catchai says
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.
robyn r says
Love the caffeine free chai recipe. I’ve already made a double batch so I can share with friends. Ground several of the spices freshly so it’s an amazing smell/taste. I may experiment with adding star anise or long pepper to the mix and see what happens. Thanks so much!
Freshly ground are the best! We’re so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks so much for sharing, Robyn!
Megan Ancheta says
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!
Andrés says
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!
Avery Bernstein says
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!
Sara HOUGHTON says
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
Kati says
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
Deb says
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!
Mikayla says
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!
Olena says
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!
Lucie says
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.
Hannah says
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!
Valérie says
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!!
Morgan says
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!!
Milla says
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!
Aoife says
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!
Carolin says
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.
Vanessa says
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 :))
Julie says
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!
Stephanie says
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!
Shannon says
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!
Jo Beck says
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
Sarah says
So yummy! Thank you, it’s the perfect balance of spices- one very happy chai drinker!
Katie says
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!
Nicole says
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.
Sarah says
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
Molly says
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!
Lilith says
I can’t wait to try this!
Natalie says
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. :)
Anna says
Absolutely delicious! And so easy to make
Katie-Lou says
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