Masala Chai Tea Concentrate From Tea Bags Or Loose Tea

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Homemade chai concentrate or herbal black tea concentrate to make easy, quick masala chai or iced black herbal tea as you wish!

Prep Time5

Cook Time7

Total Time12

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American, Indian

Keyword: chai concentrate

Servings:

Calories: 143kcal

5 cups water more as needed while making individual cups of chai or tea
1 cup sugar
12 black tea bags English breakfast tea or any of your favorite tea or you can use 3 tablespoons of loose black tea leaves or powder
2 cinnamon sticks small sized
2 star anise
4 cardamom pods
1 ginger powder

Add the water and sugar to a saucepan, stir well and bring the mixture to a boil. While you boil the mixture, stir often so the sugar will dissolve easily.
Once it's boiling, reduce the heat to medium low, add all the spices (here we use cardamom pods, star anise, cinnamon sticks and ginger powder), stir well to combine.
Simmer the contents for about 3 to 4 minutes until the flavors are well blended. If you simmer for more time, that may cause bitterness to the tea from the spices used.
Keep in mind that the water will reduce in amount as you boil the contents, which is natural.
Once it is done, turn off the heat and add the tea bags. Let the tea steep for about 5 minutes.
Once the tea is steeped, discard the tea bags and allow the mixture to cool down (do not leave the tea bags in the water for more time, since that may cause bitter taste to the tea).
Once it is cooled enough, strain the prepared tea concentrate so the whole spices and any residue from boiling the spices is removed.
Transfer the filtered tea concentrate to a jar or pitcher and keep it refrigerated for about two weeks!
If you wish to store this tea concentrate for longer periods, you will need to transfer the concentrate to ice cube trays and store in freezer.
For more easier alternate method using masala tea bags just replace black tea bags with masala tea bags and no need to use any spices since the tea bags are already infused with spices!

If using masala tea bags instead of regular black tea bags, you do not need to add any spices while making chai concentrate.
Just boil the water and sugar mixture, then steep the tea using masala tea bags for 3 to 4 minutes time.
Once the tea is steeped, discard the masala tea bags and allow the mixture to cool down to store in refrigerator (for about two weeks just like when using regular black tea bags) or you can immediately prepare tea from concentrate and enjoy!

Pour ½ cup of tea concentrate to a cup. Add ½ cup of water to make black tea or add ½ cup of whole milk to make milk tea (masala chai).
Stir the ingredients to combine well. If you need more sugar, you can add more and stir well to dissolve.
If you want a warm cup of tea, use a microwave safe cup and heat in the microawave for about 1 minute or until the tea is hot enough, stir well and enjoy.

If you want iced tea, add ice cubes to a cup (about 2 to 3 or as you prefer for a cup of tea), and pour the prepared mixture (tea concentrated mixed with water or milk) over the ice cubes and stir well, enjoy.
You may also add more sugar and stir well to dissolve with the prepared tea to suit your taste and you may also squeeze in some fresh lemon juice if desired!