Homemade Chai Concentrate

I am a not huge chai drinker nor am I a huge chai tea fan but my best friend and the majority of my family are. I often buy a chai tea at Target just in case my family shows up for a visit, but I loved the idea of making this concentrate at home. One simple scoop gives ordinary black tea an instant chai makeover.

One tablespoon into a basic black tea created a really lovely, sweet, creamy instant cup o’ chai. A lot of people couldn't believe how incredibly delicious the beverage was, far less bitter (and cheaper!) than the Tazo tea from Starbucks, and not quite as sweet as the Oregon Chai mix found on most store shelves. I adjusted the spices a bit to suit my sisters tastes so she could have her own perfect blend and you should feel free to do the same. Best of all, the little effort I put into making this yielded enough concentrate for nearly a month’s worth of tea. The remaining half a mason jar is currently in my refrigerator.

Now I know this isn't a recipe kids can drink all the time but it is delicious and easy for them to help create. I find that a little on the weekends is a wonderful treat for my son and since it doesn't have a lot of bad things, not too much sugar and not harsh on the body, I let him have a cup.

Ingredients

• 1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 teaspoon raw sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Instructions

1. Mix all the ingredients together and store in the refrigerator. To use, mix two teaspoons of concentrate into your preferred cup of strong black tea and enjoy.