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An easy homemade chai spice mix that you can add to everything from cookies, breads, coffee, tea and cinnamon rolls. The perfect mix of flavors sweet and spicy flavors.

Lately I’ve been obsessed with tea. I’ll drink it any time of year, but I especially crave it in the fall and winter. In the evenings I love a soothing herbal tea, but after tasting chai in Portland a few years ago, I acquired a love for all things chai! I couldn’t get enough of it’s sweet and spicy flavor. It’s what we call “swicy!”

Add our homemade chai spice mix to just about any baked good that typically has cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice. It will instantly boost the flavor profile and make an traditional dessert have unforgettable warmth.

What is chai?

In India, “chai” means “tea”. It is often served with milk, such as in a chai latte. There are different types of chai, but masala chai is heavily spicy, aromatic and loaded with flavor.

Is chai spice the same as tea?

No. The tea is dried herbs and spices that you steep in water in tea bags. Chai spice blend is a mix of the spices that are found in chai itself. So think of this as a chai spice powder, just like cinnamon is a powder.

What is chai powder made of?

We use ground spices from the store rather than buying whole spices and grinding them with a mortar and pestle. You’ll need:

cinnamon
cardamom
cloves
coriander
ginger
white pepper (yes use white instead of black pepper!)
salt

The great thing about making your own spice blends at home is that you can tweak them as you’d like. Take down the pepper and add more cardamom. Add a touch more cloves or cinnamon. Try a dash of nutmeg, star anise or allspice. Whatever you’d like to make the perfect spice mix for your family.

Most of these spices aren’t too expensive, but cardamom can be a little pricey, so watch for a sale.

How to Store Chai Spice Mix

Store this mix in an airtight container in a cool, dry place such as a glass jar. It’s best to use spice blends within a month since they can lose some potency over time.

How to Make Chai Tea

Steep a bag of black tea and add about ½ teaspoon of this chai spice mix to the tea. You can also add a touch of milk and sweetener such as maple syrup if you’d like.

Please note that this spice mix will not totally dissolve in the tea. Some of the spices may float on top or on the bottom. Stir well before drinking.

What can you add chai spice to?

Here are just a few ideas: banana bread, snickerdoodles, cinnamon rolls, peach bread, muffins, and something as simple as toast. You can even use it as a pork rub!

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