A glass mug filled with a chai latte sits in front of a jar of loose leaf chai mix.

There are few things in the world that I love more than a perfectly spicy, slightly sweet, super creamy chai tea latte! I first discovered chai in college when a friend recommended I try a โ€œdirty chaiโ€ from the local coffee shop (which is a regular chai latte, but caffeinated to the max with one or more shots of espresso). Dirty Chais got me through many a finals week!

Since then, I have a lot less caffeine in my life (like, none), but chai tea lattes have stayed steady! Iโ€™ve made my own decaf chai tea at home for years, and itโ€™s easy, affordable, and super flavorful. It also happens to make an incredibly thoughtful holiday gift for the tea lover in your life!

A glass jar filled with loose leaf is tied to a tea ball with baker's twine. The jar is surrounded by spices.

First of all, letโ€™s get this out of the way: yes, when you say โ€œchai tea,โ€ it technically translates to โ€œtea teaโ€ because chai means โ€œteaโ€ in Hindi. What weโ€™re talking about here (and what we in the West associate with โ€œchaiโ€) is technically Indian masala chaiโ€”or black tea with spices.

People in India and surrounding countries have been drinking chai as a common household beverage for centuries! Itโ€™s only in the past 10-15 years that itโ€™s become popular here in the West. Like many traditional foods (like Dublin Coddle or Herbal Chicken Soup), the exact recipe varies from family to family and region to region. Here is a great article that talks about how there is no such thing as an โ€œauthentic chaiโ€ because it varies so greatly depending on where you are! Iโ€™ve nailed down the chai flavors that I like the best here, but feel free to experiment and have some fun perfecting your chai.

Crushed spices fill a gray mortar, after being crushed with a pestle.

What spices and ingredients make up chai tea?

Like I said, what is included in chai varies from person to person and region to region, but there are some constants:

  • Black tea: A bold, strong black tea is the base of almost all chai recipes. In fact, the reason Indian masala chai even exists is because British colonists pushed their leftover low-grade bitter tea to people in the Indian subcontinent to increase sales on a less-than-desirable product. The spices, milk, and sweetener were added to tamp down the bitternessโ€”and now you need a strong tea to get a good flavor! You can also use decaf here if youโ€™re caffeine sensitive, although admittedly itโ€™s a bit trickier to track down strong-flavored decaf black tea. This is the decaf black tea I use, and this is the caffeinated black tea. Assam, Yunnan, and Ceylon black teas should all be strong enough to hold up to the spices for this chai. PG Tips is a good strong black tea that is available in some American supermarkets in loose leaf form, so thatโ€™d work too!
  • Cardamom: This spice is really what gives chai its distinctive flavor. If you donโ€™t use the cardamom, your chai wonโ€™t taste like a chai. I purchase my whole cardamom pods from the bulk section at my local health food store.
  • Ginger: Ginger is another cornerstone flavor to good chai. When Iโ€™m making myself chai in my kitchen, I tend to use fresh ginger (prepared the same way I do for fresh ginger tea), but in this loose leaf blend, I recommend using dried cut and sifted ginger. You can use crystalized/candied ginger (which should be available in the spice section or the candy section of your grocery store), but it wonโ€™t give as strong of a ginger punch.
  • Cinnamon, black pepper, fennel, coriander, cloves, other spices: Here is where you can start to experiment! I like my chai with a lot of cinnamon and black pepper (I like it spicy!) and just a touch of cloves. I also like the earthy flavor of fennel in there. You figure out what works for you!
Whole spices sit on a white plate next to a mug of chai and a bowl of black tea.

Is chai tea good for you?

Like all things we talk about here on Wholefully, chai can be as nourishing as you want it to be! I recommend sticking with grass-fed organic milk or plant-based milks and unrefined sweeteners (like honey or maple syrup) if youโ€™re looking for a healthy chai tea latte. But remember: just the simple act of taking the time to make yourself a cup of tea and enjoying it is nourishing in and of itself! Regardless of what ingredients you use.

Can you make this homemade chai tea decaf?

You sure can! In fact, I almost exclusively make my chai decaf because Iโ€™m super sensitive to caffeine. I use decaf black tea in mine. One caveat: Iโ€™ve yet to find a truly strong and bold decaf black tea (suggestions welcome!), so I tend to use a bit more in my mix when using decaf.

A glass jar filled with loose leaf tea is labeled as "Chai" and tied to a tea ball with baker's twine.

How long should you steep chai tea?

The beauty of chai is that the spices, milk, and sweetener help to mask any bitterness youโ€™d get from oversteeping a black teaโ€”in fact, you almost need a little bit of bitterness to help balance the flavors! I tend to steep my caffeinated chai tea for 7-8 minutes and my decaf chai tea for 10+ minutes.

Whatโ€™s the best way to drink chai?

Chai is meant to be made into a latteโ€”in fact, saying โ€œchai tea latteโ€ is doubly redundant, because a traditional Indian masala chai always includes milk and sweetener. You could, in theory, drink this homemade chai tea straight, but the silkiness from milk and added sweetener really rounds out the true chai flavor youโ€™re looking for.

A glass mug filled with a chai latte sits next to a jar of loose leaf chai mix.

How do you make a chai tea latte?

Weโ€™ve included instructions for how to make a perfect homemade chai tea latte in the printable recipe below and on our printable labels below, too. But hereโ€™s the gist:

  1. Steep the chai tea blend in boiling water (7-8 minutes for caffeinated, 10+ for decaf).
  2. Strain tea or remove the bag.
  3. Combine with milk and sweetener.
  4. Go sit somewhere cozy and enjoy a little nourishing self-care moment.

What milk should you use?

As an omnivore, Iโ€™m going to suggest that the most glorious, silky, rich chai comes from using raw, organic, grass-fed whole cowโ€™s milk. I buy mine from a local farm, and it really does make just the perfect chai! If youโ€™re dairy-free, you can also make an excellent chai using full-fat coconut milk from the can or a thin cashew cream. Both have the fatty richness you need to get the right chai texture and flavor.

A wooden spoon scoops chai tea mix into fillable tea bags.
A hand holds a tea bag filled with homemade chai tea blend.

How do you package this tea up for gifting?

Packaging up chai tea (or any loose leaf tea) is a fun, easy, and thoughtful gift for the tea lovers in your life! Here are a few ideas:

  • Package the loose leaf tea with a tea ball. This easy handmade tea gift set costs just a couple dollars, and is super thoughtful. Everything is reusable, making this a 100% zero-waste gift!
  • Make chai tea bags. Filling tea bags at home is a super fun family project. We ordered 200 of these fillable tea bags, and my kindergartener loves making tea bags! Itโ€™s a gift that she can give to her friends and family without much help from me.

For both options, I packaged in wide-mouth pint mason jars, and tied with red bakerโ€™s twine. We have printable labels available for both the tea bags and loose leaf tea. They print on 2 1/2โ€ round labelsโ€”I used these Avery kraft paper labels. They fit perfectly on the top of a wide-mouth canning jar!

Tea bags filled with chai mix are in a glass mason jar surrounded by spices.

Looking for some other edible gift ideas?

We have tons of great holiday food gift ideas that are easy to make, affordable, and incredibly thoughtful! Here are three you might like:

If you decide to make this chai tea blend for you or for your favorite tea lover, I know youโ€™ll enjoy the flavors of chai in your life. Enjoy!

 
A glass mug filled with a chai latte sits in front of a jar of loose leaf chai mix.

Homemade Chai Tea Blend (Bags or Loose Leaf)

Yield: 10-12 cups of tea
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Additional Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Give the gift of a hot cup of tea with this Homemade Chai Tea! Package it up in an easy (and affordable) gift set for the tea lovers in your life.

Ingredients

Instructions

    To Make the Chai Tea Blend

    1. Combine the cardamom pods, peppercorns, fennel seeds, cloves, and cinnamon stick in a mortar and pestle and roughly crush. Alternatively, place spices in a gallon size zip-top bag and crush with a rolling pin.
    2. Add the spice mixture to a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Toast until the spices are fragrant, about five minutes.
    3. In a bowl, combine the crushed spices with the dried or crystallized/candied ginger and black tea.
    4. To fill tea bags: Place 1 1/2 tablespoons of the mixture into a fillable tea bag. Tie closed.

    To Make a Chai Tea Latte

    1. Brew the tea using the ratio of 1 1/2 tablespoons of tea mixture per 8 ounces (1 cup) of boiling water. Brew by either using a tea bag, filling a tea ball, or using a tea pot. Steep for 7-8 minutes for caffeinated tea, and 10+ minutes for decaf tea.
    2. Add 1/4 cup milk (non-dairy is fine) and natural sweetener (maple syrup, honey, and coconut sugar are all good options) to taste. Top with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon.

    Notes

    • We have printable labels available for both the tea bags and loose leaf tea. They print on 2 1/2โ€ round labelsโ€”I used these Avery kraft paper labels. They fit perfectly on the top of a wide-mouth canning jar! I used wide-mouth pint mason jars to package the tea in these photos.
    • Decaf black tea tends to not be as strong as caffeinated tea. Feel free to add a touch more tea to the mixture (2-4 more tablespoons) and/or fill your tea bags and tea ball with more tea (2 full tablespoons).
    • In place of the dried cut and sifted ginger, you may use crystalized/candied ginger, roughly chopped.
    • Optional other spice additions: red peppercorns (for fun, festive color!), coriander seeds, allspice berries, and star anise. Have fun trying different combos!

    Nutrition Information:
    Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1
    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 4Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 1mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g

    At Wholefully, we believe that good nutrition is about much more than just the numbers on the nutrition facts panel. Please use the above information as only a small part of what helps you decide what foods are nourishing for you.

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    14 Comments

    1. How many wide mouth pint jars does this recipe fill? I am trying to calculate how much of each whole spice I need to make several gifts. Do I toast before placing the spices in the jars, or right before serving?

      1. Hi Emily! We package up one full batch in one wide-mouth pint jar (either loose or in bags). If you’re leaving the tea loose, it will fill between half and three-quarters of the jar or so, depending on how much of each ingredient you use (we add more black tea when we use decaf, for example) and how much you crush the spices. You’ll want to toast your crushed spices before mixing them with the ginger and tea and packagingโ€”which is how it’s written up in the recipe instructions so you won’t forget! We hope your giftees love the mix!

    2. Hi Cassie, is it necessary to roast the spices before added them to the rest of the chai tea mix.

      1. Hi, Rosalie! Toasting the spices isn’t strictly necessary, but it’s definitely how we prefer it! By heating the dry spices in the pan, you’re bringing out richer, nuttier, toastier flavors and making the overall flavor more pronounced. But the best part of making your own chai blend is making it exactly the way YOU like it! So you can try toasted vs. untoasted (and even crushed vs. whole) spices to see what makes the best cup for you. For us, lightly crushed and toasted are absolutely worth the extra steps =)

      1. Hi, Julia! We don’t usually recommend ground spices for this mix as it could make the tea gritty. Also, if you’re using a mix of whole spices and ground spices, they might not mix together as well. The ground spices would most likely settle on the bottom of the jar and make getting a well balanced cup of chai more difficult!

        If you still want to include the optional allspice berries or star anise, we would recommend adding to taste and trying it to get the best blend. We think 1/2 teaspoon of allspice berries and two star anise pods is a good place to start! Add those in with the other whole spices that you lightly crush then toast. I hope this helps! Let us know how it turns out for you!

    3. I am going to follow your recipe for Xmas presents for neighbors and friends. I have one question: what if I mix in some raw sugar to the mixture when I jar it? I got dried ginger as well as candied ginger and will see what will work best. I was hoping to make it so only milk and hot water would need to be added. Tell me what you think about the pros and cons of mixing sugar into the dried mixture. Thank you!

      1. Hi, Karen! If you’re planning to gift the loose tea in your jars, it’s likely that your raw sugar will just settle on the bottom of the jar and not incorporate well into the dry mix. You can avoid that by gifting the tea in refillable tea bags, but then your giftee doesn’t have the option to choose what kind of sweetener (honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, etc.) or how sweet to make it. Leaving out the sweetener gives the person you’re gifting it to the most control over their perfect cuppa!

      1. Cut and sifted generally means that it was chopped up and then sifted to take out the tiniest pieces. As long as your ginger is dried enough that it won’t mold in the mix, it should be fine to use!

    4. So glad to see you clear the air about ‘chai tea’. Every time I read these words together, the Indian in me cringes!
      That’s a wonderful gift idea ๐Ÿ™‚