Chai Tea {A Recipe}

In case you've ever wondered if I might be a tea snob, I'm about to lay all your fears to rest.

I do love tea.  And I do drink a lot of it.  And I most definitely have way too much of it on my shelf.  But I am absolutely not a tea snob.

Because I drink things like instant Chai tea.  And I like it.  A whole lot.

A couple months ago, while sipping some Russian Tea, I wondered if I could create a make-it-yourself instant Chai tea mix.  And after a little internet research, I soon had a recipe in hand and was headed to the store to pick up all the ingredients.

I followed the recipe for the first batch and was sorely disappointed by the overly sweet and creamy drink that resulted.  I couldn't taste the tea or the spices and wondered how anyone could actually label this as Chai tea.  But after another round or two of testing, I came up with a lovely version that was wonderfully spicy but still creamy and with just a touch of sweetness.

Since I've had rave reviews and requests for the recipe from everyone who has tried it so far, I thought I'd post the recipe here.  Enjoy!

Instant Chai Tea Mix

(Printable Version)

1 cup powdered milk
1 cup powdered coffee creamer (plain)
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 cups unsweetened instant tea (regular or decaffeinated)
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cardamom
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla powder (from vanilla beans, found in the spice section)


Combine all ingredients in a food processor (or blender) and process until well mixed.  Let the processor run for several minutes longer to ensure spices will dissolve when mixed with water.  Store mix in an airtight container.

To serve, add 1 tablespoon of the mix for every 4 ounces of boiling water and stir well to dissolve.  If iced Chai is desired, use a few ounces of boiling water to dissolve the mix (stirring very well) and then fill the cup with ice and cold water to the desired amount.