How to Make Caffeine Free Chai Concentrate
There’s something extra cozy about curling up with a blanket and a mug of chai. This homemade caffeine free chai concentrate is the perfect combination of sweetness and warming flavors of cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, all spice, ginger and black pepper. By making this concentrate caffeine free, you can enjoy a cozy spiced tea any time of the day without the worry of staying up all night!
The Tea in Homemade Caffeine Free Chai Concentrate
Chai is traditionally made with a black tea. To make this a caffeine free version, an herbal alternative is used. For the closest flavor, I like to use rooibos tea. For some, using tea bags will be the easiest, most available or most affordable. If you enjoy loose leaf tea, feel free to find your favorite loose leaf rooibos for this concentrate.
If you don’t mind having some caffeine, feel free to swap the rooibos for your favorite black tea.
The spices of Homemade Chai Concentrate
Although the spices of chai are not one set of ingredients, the spices of this chai concentrate include cinnamon sticks, star anise, all spice, cloves, cardamom, black peppercorns and ginger. If you’re looking to purchase spices in bulk, Azure Standard is a great place to look!
Why make Caffeine Free Chai concentrate at home?
If you like to enjoy a chai latte on a regular basis or seasonally, you will quickly realize the cost to purchase the concentrate can add up. You may also see that the bagged/dried chai never turns out the same as the concentrate.
Making the concentrate at home full from scratch will allow you to control the flavor and ingredients used. If you find you really don’t like the addition of cardamom, or any of the other ingredients, you can always reduce or eliminate that ingredient. You are also able to change how sweet your chai is! If you prefer a spicier chai over sweet, you can reduce the sweetener used to your preference.
Looking for more kitchen inspiration? You might be interested in making Vanilla Bean Paste or Chocolate Chip Cookies!
Chai vs Chai Tea
In India where chai originates, chai is the Hindu word for tea. So, if you call this drink a “chai tea” the translation would mean you’ve said “tea tea”.
Ingredients for Caffeine Free Chai Concentrate
½ tsp dried ginger
2 Cinnamon sticks (3 inches per stick)
1 star anise
1 tsp Vanilla extract
4 allspice
7 cloves
10 Cardamom pods
15 black peppercorns
5 cups water
5 Rooibos tea bags or 5 tsp loose leaf Rooibos tea
¾ cup brown sugar or Maple syrup
Directions
In your medium stockpot, gently toast whole spices on medium heat until fragrant.
Add water to the spices.
Place on high heat until boiling then reduce to a simmer for 10 min.
After 10 minutes, remove from the heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
After resting for 5 minutes, add rooibos tea.
Steep the rooibos tea for at least 2 minutes. Since rooibos is an herbal tea, it’s not as likely to turn bitter when steeped for a long time.
Taste test to see if you want a stronger spice flavor.
If get a stronger spice flavor, return the pan to the stove and continue to simmer until you achieve the desired spice level.
After the water reaches the desired flavor, remove from the heat, add desired sweetener and let cool until about room temperature.
Strain all spices and transfer to an airtight jar.
Add vanilla extract and place into the fridge.
Using Your Caffeine Free Chai Concentrate
To make an iced chai latte, add one third to one half parts chai concentrate to milk of choice to a cup with ice and enjoy!
To make a hot chai latte, add equal parts chai concentrate and milk of choice to a sauce pan until it begins to steam. Add warm chai latte to your cup of choice and enjoy!
Homemade Caffeine Free Chai Concentrate FAQ:
What tea does caffeine free chai concentrate use?
Chai is traditionally made with a black tea. To make this a caffeine free version, an herbal alternative is used. For the closest flavor, I like to use rooibos tea. For some, using tea bags will be the easiest, most available or most affordable. If you enjoy loose leaf tea, feel free to find your favorite loose leaf rooibos for this concentrate.
What’s the difference between Chai and Chai Tea?
In India where chai originates, chai is the Hindu word for tea. So, if you call this drink a “chai tea” the translation would mean you’ve said “tea tea”.
What spices are in Homemade Caffeine Free Chai Concentrate?
The spices of this chai concentrate include cinnamon sticks, star anise, all spice, cloves, cardamom, black peppercorns and ginger.
Homemade Caffeine Free Chai Concentrate
Equipment
- Medium Saucepan
- Glass Jar with an airtight lid
- Small fine mesh strainer
- Funnel (optional)
Ingredients
- ½ tsp dried ginger
- 2 Cinnamon sticks 3 inches per stick
- 1 star anise
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 4 allspice
- 7 cloves
- 10 Cardamom pods
- 15 black peppercorns
- 5 cups water
- 5 Rooibos tea bags or 5 tsp loose leaf Rooibos tea
- ¾ cup brown sugar or Maple syrup
Instructions
- In your medium stockpot, gently toast whole spices on medium heat until fragrant.
- Add water to the spices.
- Place on high heat until boiling then reduce to a simmer for 10 min.
- After 10 minutes, remove from the heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
- After resting for 5 minutes, add rooibos tea.
- Steep the rooibos tea for at least 2 minutes. Since rooibos is an herbal tea, it’s not as likely to turn bitter when steeped for a long time.
- Taste test to see if you want a stronger spice flavor.
- If you want a stronger spice flavor, return the plan to the stove and continue to simmer until desired spice level is achieved.
- After the water reaches the desired flavor, remove from the heat, add desired sweetener and let cool until about room temperature.
- Strain all spices and transfer to an airtight jar.
- Add vanilla extract and use immediately or place into the fridge.
Using Your Caffeine Free Chai Concentrate
- To make an iced chai latte, add one third to one half parts chai concentrate to milk of choice to a cup with ice and enjoy!
- To make a hot chai latte, add equal parts chai concentrate and milk of choice to a sauce pan until it begins to steam. Add warm chai latte to your cup of choice and enjoy!
