Chai Spice Recipes

By Food & Wine
January 05, 2017
© David Malosh
In the U.S., chai has become know as the tea flavor that incorporates satisfying notes of cinnamon and cardamom, but, in India, that's how all tea is prepared. Though chai can vary slightly from region to region—or based on personal preference—the basic ingredients are always the same: tea, milk, spices and sweetener. It's easy to make your own cup at home, but we also love to use this fragrant tea in sweet desserts and savory entrees. Here, our best recipes featuring chai. 
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Chasing Summer

DAVID MALOSH

"I love this drink so much that it seems like my glass is always empty," says Lacy Hawkins, bartender at The NoMad in New York City. Her favorite part is the balsamic vinegar. "It adds wonderful acidity to the drink and creates a caramelized finish."

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Chai Caramels with Salted Pepitas

© David Malosh

To achieve a perfectly smooth caramel, Jami Curl of Quin Candy in Portland, Oregon, suggests gradually incorporating, in this case "poking," the granulated sugar into the corn syrup base instead of stirring it in. "Stirring sugar encourages recrystallization," says Curl. "That will create a grainy texture in your finished candy that nobody wants." 

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Rooibus Chai

© ANTONIS ACHILLEOS

Rooibus chai leaves, which are grown in South Africa, resemble tea leaves but come from a different plant and don't have any tannins. They have recently made an appearance on store shelves here. You can substitute black tea in this recipe; add it during the last 5 minutes of simmering.

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Chai-Spiced Butter Cookies

These gently spiced butter cookies will remind you of a hot cup of chai.

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Stewed Apples with Chai-Spiced Cashew Cream

Shelly Westerhausen

These spiced stewed apples are super quick to make and works just as well as a quick breakfast as a healthy dessert.

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Pumpkin-Chai Muffins

© Christina Holmes

F&W's Justin Chapple adds fragrant chai tea to these muffins, which require just 15 minutes of prep.

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Whiskey Chai

For this warm, boozy nightcap, Linda Aldredge uses a blend of whole spices but home cooks can buy Chai Spice Blend from TeaSource.

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Chai-Spiced Chicken Breasts

This satisfying chicken dish from Justin Chapple calls for just five ingredients. One of them is chai tea, which is mixed into a paste with oil and spread under the chicken skin to flavor the meat as it roasts.

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Bourbon Chai Milk Punch

© David Malosh

To make this drink, which is like a delicious, boozy chai latte, Kenta Goto of New York City's Bar Goto infuses bourbon with chai tea, then shakes the drink with cream and maple syrup.

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