Spiced Chai Concentrate

Nothing says Fall, like a hot Chai Latte! 

The one thing that I love in the fall is a Chai Latte. Milk and chai tea. The best chai lattes are made from a concentrate. I often make chai lattes at home because for the cost for the cost of one at a coffee shop, you can get a box of concentrate. However I made this concentrate, and like it better than the boxed store bought. It has a great spice to it and a lot of flavor. A bonus is it has less sugar.

Spiced Chai Concentrate

Slight change from A Wooden Nest

4 1/2 cups water
1 stick cinnamon
1 3-inch piece of fresh ginger, chopped
7 whole cardamom pods
2 whole star anise pods
10 whole cloves
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon orange zest
10 bags of black tea (like English Breakfast)
1/4 cup brown sugar
4 Tablespoon honey
2 Tablespoon vanilla

Add the spices in a big pot, add the water. Bring the water to a boil, and remove from heat. Add all the tea bags, and allow the mixture to steep for 15 minutes.

Strain the mixture into a 4-cup glass measuring cup or large bowl, discarding the spices and tea bags. Add the sugar, honey and the vanilla, and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Pour the mixture into a jar and store in the refrigerator.

To serve, mix 1 part concentrate with 1 part milk (like 1/2 a cup concentrate and 1/2 cup milk). Heat for a warm beverage, if over the stove use a whisk to "froth" the milk, or in the microwave. Just pour over ice for a cold Chai Latte.