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How to make chai concentrate from tea bags.

You can make this homemade chai concentrate recipe using tea bags, instead of making your own chai spice mix.

You will only need water and your chosen brand of chai tea bags!

In this post I’m going to share with you two easy methods to make homemade chai tea concentrate using tea bags.

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If you are a regular visitor here, you most likely agree that homemade food (or homemade anything) is always best.

When you cook from scratch or make DIY products for cleaning and personal care, you: 

• have total control over the ingredients used;
• don’t need any added preservative to prolong shelf life;
• can skip adding sugar to your prepared meals;
• need not worry about hidden ingredients;
• will save money, as homemade is generally cheaper than store bought;
• can totally customise recipes to suit your preferences.

However, sometimes it’s perfectly ok to rely on convenience food (pizza night anyone?). Every mum needs a break from cooking now and then!

CAN YOU MAKE CHAI CONCENTRATE FROM TEA BAGS?

When it comes to preparing your chai tea concentrate, of course homemade is best, but sometimes it is just not possible.

There are those days when you have run out of spices, or are just in a rush and can’t face all the dish washing after making your own concoction. And that’s perfectly ok!

For those days, you can easily make your own chai concentrate using chai tea bags from your local grocery store.

I’ll show you how easy it is, with two simple methods that you can choose from!

IF YOU HAVE TIME AND WOULD PREFER TO MAKE YOUR OWN CHAI SPICE MIX, MAKE SURE TO CHECK THIS POST.

Here I share the step by step process on how to create your very own, homemade chai spice mix. 

Also, make sure to print out the FREE RECIPE. Next time you fancy a cup of chai latte, instead of hitting your local coffee shop, you could make the perfect chai latte at home!

FOR THIS RECIPE YOU WILL NEED:

• cinnamon sticks
• cardamom pods
• black pepper (black peppercorns)
• star anise
• cloves
• fresh ginger
• nutmeg

You can use whole spices or ground ones (such as ground ginger instead of the fresh root).

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How do you use chai concentrate?

Chai concentrate is the base for a chai latte.

You can’t make a chai latte without a chai concentrate.

Because making a chai concentrate can be time consuming, it is of course better to have it ready in the fridge for whenever you feel like having a cup of latte at home.

In this post I’m going to show you exactly how to make a chai concentrate from tea bags.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO MAKE CHAI CONCENTRATE FROM TEA BAGS?

The most important thing in this process is to choose the right ingredients in order to make your chai concentrate.

As you might know, there is not one chai tea recipe. Indeed, the beauty of chai tea is that you can use the spices you prefer and completely come up with a version you love. Some people like to add more cinnamon, while others prefer to omit fennel.

If you make your own spice mix, obviously you have complete control over what you use. On the other hand, if you are using store bought tea bags you don’t. Therefore it is very important you purchase a product you really like as the base for this recipe.

WHICH BRAND OF CHAI TEA IS BEST?

You are the only person that can answer this question.

There are so many brands on the market and you will most certainly find one that you like.

In this part of the world, I have tried a few different options and I can honestly say that I really love “Tesco chai tea bags”. They are not expensive and are always available at my local supermarket. I find that they make a strong and flavoursome chai tea and we all use them in my home.

You could experiment with several brands and see which one you prefer. 

What chai tea bags does Starbucks use?

In case you are a frequent Starbucks customer, and you are wondering what they use to make their own chai concentrate, I have been told that Tazo Chai Concentrate is what they add to their chai drinks.

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HOW TO MAKE CHAI CONCENTRATE FROM TEA BAGS

After you have selected the store bought chai tea bags of your choice, it’s time to make your own concentrate.

Let’s go through the process together.

The ingredients used are the same, but I’m going to give you two different methods:

• a hot brew;
• a cold brew.

Choose the one you prefer, and feel free to try the other method another day!

INGREDIENTS

You will need:

• 1 litre of water;
• 4 chai tea bags;
• sugar, maple syrup or honey, to sweeten (optional).

HOT BREW METHOD

In a medium pot, pour the water and bring to the boil over medium heat. When the water boils, remove from the heat and add the tea bags. Let them steep for at least 5- 10 minutes.

Once the tea has steeped, squeeze the tea bags and throw them away.

Add a little sugar (or honey) to sweeten the tea if you prefer. Mix well in order to dissolve the sugar completely.

Let the tea cool down completely before pouring it in a glass jar with tight lid.

Make sure to close the jar before placing it in the fridge.

Now the chai concentrate is ready for you to use whenever you want. 

COLD BREW METHOD

If you, like me, are a born pepper and like to be always organised, you might want to opt for a cold brew method.

This method is very, very easy as it only requires you to pour room temperature water in a large glass jar (select the jar you will be storing in the fridge later) and add the tea bags to it. Close the lid tightly (so that nothing can get into the water and contaminate it) and let the tea bags to steep overnight (or for a minimum of 8 hours).

The following morning, squeeze out the tea bags, add sugar to taste (optional), and  simply store the closed jar in the fridge.

MY TIPS

This recipe is what I normally would use if making my chai concentrate using tea bags.

Bear in mind that it is only a guideline to you. In fact, the amount of tea bags used will very much depend on how strong you like your chai concentrate, and on the brand you use. Feel free to use more tea bags if you prefer a stronger concentrate, or less, for a weaker one.

PERFECT HOMEMADE CHAI TEA LATTE

Once your chai concentrate is ready, it’s time to make your own chai latte and enjoy it!

For the full recipe for the best homemade chai latte, make sure to download my FREE RECIPE here!

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Does refrigerated chai tea go bad? How long does chai tea concentrate last?

This chai concentrate made from tea bags will last in the fridge for up to a week, if left in a sealed jar.

Discard any left over concentrate after max 7 days.

Indeed, as the concentrate contains water, it will spoil even if refrigerated. The fridge can only slow down exposure to bacteria, but cannot prevent it altogether.

It is very important that you don’t risk it. It’s not worth it. Just discard what is left in the jar after a week.

why is my chai concentrate cloudy?

Your chai concentrate may become cloudy while stored in the fridge. This is perfectly normal and to be expected after you use the hot brew method.

As explained in this article: “Cloudiness in tea is caused by caffeine and tannins bonding with each other when tea is refrigerated or iced. The hotter the original brewing water, the more caffeine and tannins are extracted from the tea leaves, and the murkier the beverage will be.”

In order to prevent cloudiness, and for a clear chai concentrate, you could use the cold brew method instead.

CAN YOU DRINK CLOUDY TEA?

It is perfectly fine to consume your chia concentrate if it becomes cloudy. However, make sure to drink it within a week since brewing it. Your homemade concentrate can and will go bad after max 7 days, so you will need to discard any left over after that period of time.

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Can I freeze chai tea concentrate?

You might choose to make large batches of chai concentrate on a day when you have the time.

This of course will be very cost and time effective for you, as you will be able to prepare large quantities using the least amount of ingredients, energy and time.

When making up a big amount of chai concentrate, it is handy to know you can freeze it.

how to freeze chai concentrate at home?

Freezing your homemade chai concentrate is very easy.

Wait until the hot tea has cooled down completely and then, with the help of a pitcher or jug, slowly pour it in ice cube trays (the ones you would normally use for your cold drinks). Place the molds in the freezer for a few hours and until the contents are hard and completely frozen.

Once frozen, take the moulds out of the freezer, and remove the ice cubes from them. Place the ice cubes in freezer bags, seal them, label them and place them back in the freezer.

Dispose of the ice cubes after 3 months max.

HOW TO MAKE CHAI LATTE FROM FROZEN CHAI CONCENTRATE

When you are ready to use them, simply take out of the freezer the amount of ice cubes you need (one or two ice cubes are enough for a cup of chai latte).

For a hot chai latte 

You can melt your ice cubes in a pot over the stove, or in the microwave (always use a microwave safe container!). When the concentrate has melted, simply add hot milk of your choice over it. Add you preferred sweetener (optional), and sprinkle with cinnamon for extra flavor. Enjoy!

For an iced chai tea latte

If you prefer to enjoy an iced chai latte, instead of the hot brew, you don’t need to melt your ice cubes beforehand. Simply grab a tall glass, add a few ice cubes to it, and then pour hot milk (yes, hot milk, not cold) over them. The ice cubes will slowly melt, giving you that lovely chai flavour as they mix with the hot milk.

What kind of milk do you use in a chai latte?

Both dairy milk and plant based ones will work well in a chai latte.

When using cow’s milk, opt for whole milk if possible.

If you follow a vegan diet, or simply avoid dairy products, you have many options to choose from:

• soy milk;
• oat milk;
• coconut milk;
• almond milk;
• macadamia milk;
• hazelnut milk;
• etc.

Choosing the best plant based milk is obviously down to personal preference and diet requirements (food intolerances or allergies). However, I personally think that oat milk works best as a milk substitute. In fact, this milk has a creamy consistency and a neutral taste that will not overpower the flavour of the spices.

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Is chai tea concentrate healthy?

Provided you make your own chai concentrate, yes, it can be healthy.

Chai tea is packed with health benefits, and you can learn all about them in this post.

However, if you use a pre made concentrate, there is always the concern of what ingredients were actually used in it. 

If you can, making your own chai spice mix is preferable. Alternatively, make sure to use a brand you can trust, and look for organic ingredients and low amounts of added sugar.

Does chai concentrate have caffeine?

Although in limited amounts, chai concentrate does indeed contain caffeine, because its main ingredient is tea.

However, a typical chai tea latte doesn’t contain much caffeine. With only about 25 mg of it, a cup provides about a quarter of the amount present in a regular coffee. 

As a result, if you’re looking to cut down on your coffee intake because of the high amounts of caffeine in it, then chai latte is a very good alternative.

Is it OK to drink chai tea everyday?

It is perfectly ok to drink chai tea everyday. Thanks to its many health benefits, and reduced caffeine levels, there are no contra indications to consuming this drink daily.

However, you should be mindful of the amount of sugar present in this drink, especially if you are consuming a pre-made blend. A high intake of sugar can have very detrimental consequences on your overall health.

Furthermore, remember that chai latte contains tea and therefore caffeine, although in small amounts. Some people may be particularly sensitive to caffeine, so they should limit their daily intake. 

From healthline.com:

“For these reasons, individuals should avoid consuming more than 400 mg of caffeine per day — and during pregnancy, no more than 200 mg.

That said, typical intakes of chai tea are unlikely to exceed these recommendations.

Each cup (240 ml) of chai tea is expected to contain around 25 mg of caffeine. That’s half the caffeine dose provided by the same quantity of black tea, and one-quarter that of the typical cup of coffee.

Due to chai tea’s ginger content, individuals prone to low blood pressure or low blood sugar, or who are taking blood-thinning medication, may want to limit their intake or keep it in the lower end of the range.

Individuals who are lactose intolerant may want to opt for chai teas made from plant-based milks or only water”.

HOW TO MAKE CHAI CONCENTRATE FROM TEA BAGS

I hope you will try this homemade version of a chai concentrate using tea bags instead of a spice mix.

It is handy to know that you can always prepare a homemade chai concentrate even if you have little time or if you are missing some spices!

Please let me know in the comments below if you try the hot or cold method. I’d love to hear from you.