In my kitchen , sweetened concentrate milk is a staple . I grow up with this rich , creamy hook in my Vietnamese house , where a dollop was always drizzled into coffee , warmed and suffice with bread , or mixed into flan .

These day , I use it to make a very addictive Vietnamese deep brown every morning and in the spirit of the season , I use it to whip up a weekly spate of this very habit-forming homemade chai concentrate . judge it and I assure you ’ll be addicted , too .

Homemade chai can be a daunting formula to undertake , with a plethora of exotic spices to mix and equal to spicy perfection .

Closeup view of a spoonful of creamy chai concentrate liquid dripping down into a jar of more chai concentrate

But ! This homemade chai dressed ore is so casual , you still have time to make it as a endowment for Christmas . And so delicious , your loved ones will be affect at the endeavour they think you put into it !

Related:13 Cozy Scents That Make Your Home Smell Like Christmas

What other spices can you use in chai?

In my opinion , cardamom , ginger , cinnamon , and cloves are the core constituent of a good chai . Any other spicery you mix in simply kick up the flavor to your liking .

I like to play around with varying amounts of star anise , allspice , coriander , common fennel , black capsicum , mace , and nutmeg , count on what I have in my kitchen .

Most of these are whole spice that I also use for pickling , so I give them a ready whirl in my coffee grinder to add to my chai dressed ore . An old - fashioned trench mortar and pestle also works .

A glass bowl of condensed milk next to a small dish filled with ground chai spices, shot against a linen napkin background

Grind up only one batch at a time , since oils released from the spicery during travail cause the sapidity to deteriorate chop-chop .

What kind of sweetened condensed milk to buy

Once you get addicted to this chai , you ’ll probably start buy lots of sweetened condensed milk . It starts with a can . Then a few cans . Then you ’ll wish Costco carried them .

So here ’s a tip : Sweetened condensed Milk River is less expensive at a Chinese / Vietnamese market . There may be a bunch of lineament and words on the recording label that you do n’t realize , but it ’s the same stuff .

Just mind of trade name ( in any market ) that apply additives — the only ingredient should be milk and simoleons .

A jar of homemade chai concentrate with a spoon in it, cinnamon sticks and star anise in the foreground, and and mugs of hot tea in the background

Homemade chai concentrate

make 2 half - pints

Ingredients

1 ( 14 snow leopard ) can dulcorate condensed milk1 teaspoon land cardamom1 teaspoonful ground ginger1/2 teaspoonful drudge cinnamon1/2 teaspoon ground cloves1/2 teaspoon ground star anise ( optional )

Instructions

Pour dulcorate condensed milk into a mixing cupful . Add in all the spices . Stir well and decant into fresh jars . Done !

The chai concentrate should keep for several month in the icebox , but it wo n’t last that long anyway !

This recipe urinate two half - dry pint jar , which are enough for several mugs of chai ( depending on how sweet or strong you like your chai ) .

Various ground chai spices dropped in small spoonfuls in a glass bowl of condensed milk

To make your live tea , merely evoke a couple spoonfuls of your homemade chai concentrate into a cup of strong brewed black afternoon tea , such as Assam , English Breakfast , or Earl Grey . It ’s also delectable with Darjeeling ( a light disastrous afternoon tea ordinarily blended with greenish or oolong teatime ) or rooibos ( a red tea from Africa ) .

Super Creamy Homemade Chai Concentrate

Homemade chai can be a daunting recipe to take on , with a plethora of alien spicery to mix and match to naughty ne plus ultra . But ! This homemade chai dressed ore is so casual , you’re able to make a new batch every week for yourself and for gifting .

Notes

The chai concentrate should keep for several months in the refrigerator .

To make your tea , simply shift a couple spoon of your homemade chai concentrate into a cup of substantial brewed ignominious tea , such as Assam , English Breakfast , or Earl Grey . It ’s also yummy with Darjeeling ( a loose dark Camellia sinensis usually blended with green or oolong tea ) or Aspalathus cedcarbergensis ( a ruddy tea leaf from Africa ) .

Did you make this recipe?

This post updated from an article that earlier appeared on December 21 , 2011 .

View the Web Story onhomemade chai concentrate .

Overhead view of chai spices being whisked into a glass bowl of condensed milk, shot on a linen napkin

A whisk resting in a glass bowl of homemade chai concentrate

Overhead shot of two jars of homemade chai concentrate shot on a textured white surface with a linen napkin off to the side

Overhead shot of a mug of hot tea next to another mug with creamy chai concentrate stirred into it

A jar of homemade chai concentrate sitting in front of two mugs of chai, with cinnamon sticks, star anise, and brewed tea bags in the foreground