Use this chai spice blend to make your own spiced tea at home or add a warm chai flavor to your next recipe. It's made with ginger, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and just a pinch of black pepper.
Chai spice blend is an Indian spice blend made with warm, aromatic spices and has a wide variety of uses. Chai spices can be added to warm tea or milk or mixed into baked goods to add a complex, cozy flavor.
While a traditional chai spice blend is made by roasting whole spices and crushing them into a powder, this easy recipe can be whipped up in minutes and is ready to use immediately.
I love adding chai spice blend to my favorite sweet recipes, like cookies, muffins, and quick breads. I've even created chai spiced oatmeal cookies and chai spiced granola with this spice blend in mind.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Ginger - Slightly sweet and spicy with an intense aroma, especially when fresh.
- Cinnamon - Sweet and woody with a spicy taste.
- Cloves - Strong and pungent. If you're sensitive to the flavor of cloves, it can be cut in half.
- Cardamom - Has a unique fruity and floral flavor that balances well with the spicy flavors in the blend.
- Pepper - Adds a hint of spicy heat.
Tips and tricks
Use new spices - I recommend buying new spices before assembling your chai spice blend. Ground spices taste best within the first six months and continually lose their flavor over time.
Only make what you'll use in six months - If you don't cook with chai spice blend frequently, I recommend making a smaller batch. To reduce the measurements in the recipe card, hover over the serving size and use the sliding bar.
Give as a gift - A spice blend makes an excellent gift. Funnel into a decorative spice jar, tie a ribbon around the jar with a tag, and pair with tea bags or a coffee mug.
Ways to use chai spices
- Add 1 to 1.5 teaspoons of chai spices to hot tea or milk and whisk to incorporate.
- Make chai spiced oatmeal cookies.
- Make a batch of chai spiced granola.
- In any recipe that calls for cinnamon, like cinnamon walnut muffins or cinnamon rolls, use chai spice blend instead. Chai spice blend adds a more complex flavor and can work well in any sweet recipe that calls for cinnamon or ginger.
- Add a pinch to your morning oatmeal or breakfast smoothie.
Frequently asked questions
Chai spice blends can include a variety of spices. Cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger are common ingredients, and some variations include cloves, nutmeg, pepper, star anise, lemongrass, bay leaf, or fennel. Many families have their own variation that includes different ingredients.
Did you know that chai means "tea" in Hindi? So when we ask for a "chai tea" we are literally asking for "tea tea." Kind of silly, right? However, this is how chai was marketed to Americans, so that's what people most often call it. You can simply call it "chai" if you prefer.
Chai has been around for such a long time that it's difficult to pin down any 'standard' recipe. Chai is made differently all around the world and even differs by family. Thousands of years ago, chai was a sweet, spiced drink that didn't even contain tea leaves. In the 1800s, what we now call masala chai made its first appearance and was made with tea, sweetener, milk, and spices.
For more information, check out this article: Teatulia: What is Chai?
Ground herbs and spices are best used within the first six months (ideally 3 months) for best flavor, but will keep for 2 to 3 years in airtight containers. I recommend making a quantity of chai spice blend that you think you'll use within about 6 months. This recipe can easily be scaled down by hovering over the servings in the recipe card and using the sliding bar.
Here's an article with more helpful information:
USDA: Will spices used beyond their shelf life be safe?
Recommended
📖 Recipe
Chai Spice Blend
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine all ingredients until well blended.
- Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- Spice blend will keep for 1 year or more in a sealed container. Flavor is best if used within six months when made with new spices.
- This seasoning can be used in any recipe that calls for chai spice blend as an ingredient.
- To use in baking: In recipes like muffins, pancakes, or cookies that call for cinnamon, substitute with chai spice blend for a more complex flavor.
- To use in beverages: Add 1 to 1 ½ teaspoons to 8 ounces of hot beverage, like tea or milk, and whisk to incorporate.
That is a nice blend! Just made some and now baking the Chai Spice Oatmeal Cookies recipe of yours that I found on Foodgawker. Tic toc can't wait!
I love those cookies! Let me know how they turn out. Hope you enjoy them!