Does anything say "fall" like a warm Chai on a chilly day? I adore Chai tea lattes but am turned off by how excessively sugary most Chai concentrates are. My solution? Cheater's DIY- not from scratch, but still homemade!
You'll need:
2 cups water
2 cinnamon sticks
6 Chai Teabags (I like Tazo)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 dash allspice
5 drops liquid stevia
1 teaspoon agave nectar
2 teaspoons Sun Crystals (or other low/ no- sugar natural sweetener)
*Note- I like differentiating my sweeteners- you could theoretically use any one of these (agave, stevia, Sun Crystals... and just increase the quantity to taste)
Begin to bring water to a boil. Add cinnamon sticks. As water starts to boil, add teabags and sprinkle in allspice.
After boiling for a minute, remove from heat and allow to steep for four minutes (over-steeping can lead to over-extraction which makes black teas taste exceedingly bitter- don't leave it in too long). Remove tea bags and cinnamon sticks.
Add sweeteners.
And vanilla.
Transfer to a jar or container and store in your fridge!
Add as much as you'd like to your favorite warm milk- I added mine to soy! Hot, steamy goodness with a hint of sweetness and plenty of Chai flavor!
