Description
This homemade chai teabags recipe offers a fragrant and flavorful blend of traditional Indian spices combined with robust Assam black tea leaves, perfect for brewing a comforting chai latte or a simple spiced tea. The spice mix is toasted to enhance the aroma, then combined with tea leaves and packed into individual teabags for convenient brewing anytime.
Ingredients
Scale
Spices
- 18 cardamom pods, cracked
- 2 tbsp ground ginger
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tbsp ground black pepper
- ½ nutmeg, grated
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
Tea
- 150g black Assam tea leaves
Instructions
- Toast the spices: Heat a dry frying pan over medium heat, then add the cracked cardamom pods, ground ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, grated nutmeg, and ground cloves. Toast them gently for 1 minute, stirring constantly until they release their aroma but do not burn.
- Combine spices with tea leaves: Transfer the toasted spices to a bowl and mix well with the black Assam tea leaves, ensuring an even distribution of spices throughout the tea blend.
- Fill the teabags: Using empty, food-safe tea bags, fill each with the prepared chai tea and spice mixture. Seal each teabag securely to prevent contents from spilling out.
- Store properly: Place the filled teabags in an airtight container or sealed jar. Store in a cool, dry place where they will remain fresh for up to six months.
- Brewing instructions: To make a chai latte, steep one teabag in 200ml of boiling whole milk or coconut milk for 5 minutes, then sweeten with honey to taste. Alternatively, brew the teabag in boiling water for a traditional spiced tea.
Notes
- Toast the spices gently to avoid burning, which can cause bitterness.
- Using whole spices broken or ground fresh enhances flavor compared to pre-ground commercial blends.
- Empty teabags can be purchased online or at specialty kitchen stores.
- Store in a sealed container away from moisture and sunlight to maintain freshness for up to six months.
- Adjust sweetness and milk type to suit dietary preferences.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 minute
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Indian
Keywords: chai tea, homemade chai, spiced tea, Assam tea, chai latte, Indian spices, diet tea bags
