Make your own spiced tea at home, or add a warm chai flavor to your next recipe with this chai spice blend. Made with ginger, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and just a pinch of black pepper. A versatile spice blend to keep in your kitchen.
Are you a chai fan? Or do you love spices like cinnamon, ginger, and cloves? Either way, I think you'll love this chai spice blend. It's filled with all of your favorite winter spices, and a must have for your spice rack.
You'll love this spice blend because it's easy to customize and perfect for adding to baked goods like cookies and muffins, or your morning oatmeal.
Chai origin
Chai has been around for such a long time, it was hard for me to pin down any 'standard' recipe. From what I found, 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: The Spruce Eats: The History of Chai Tea
In short - customize your spice blend however you'd enjoy it best. If you love ginger, feel free to add more ginger and less cinnamon, or vice versa. You can even add a teaspoon or two of brown sugar for a sweet blend.
What does chai mean?
Did you know: 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. Therefore, this is what we call it. You can simply call it "chai" if you prefer.
Gift giving
A spice blend makes an excellent gift. Find a decorative spice jar, tie a ribbon around the jar with a tag, and pair with tea or a coffee mug. Everyone loves and appreciates a gift they can eat, right?
How to use chai spices
How else can you use chai spice blend? I like to add it to my favorite cookie recipes. For a standard 36 cookie recipe, try adding 1-2 teaspoons to your dough.
Try my recipe: Chai Spiced Oatmeal Cookies
You can also add it to your morning oatmeal, muffins, or a breakfast smoothie. Any recipe where you might add cinnamon, try adding chai spices instead!
To add chai spices to a beverage - add 1 to 1 ½ teaspoons of spice blend to your preferred beverage. 1 cup of tea or hot milk are both excellent choices.
Whisk or blend to incorporate spices - recommended for a smooth drink without lumps.
Chai Spice Blend
Ingredients
- 3 teaspoons 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.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- Ground spices will keep anywhere from 2 to 4 years. However, I recommend using ground herbs and spices within the first year, or six months if possible. They gradually lose flavor over time, so you'll get the best flavor within the first six months.
- Try adding chai spice blend to any recipe that calls for cinnamon, like muffins, cookies, quick breads, pancakes, or morning oatmeal.
- Add 1 to 1 ½ teaspoons to 8 ounces of hot beverage, like tea or milk, and whisk or blend 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!