Description
This comforting Chai Tea recipe with a warming splash of bourbon combines robust black tea and aromatic spices with creamy vanilla almond milk and a touch of honey. Perfect for chilly evenings, this cozy drink offers a delightful blend of sweet, spicy, and boozy flavors in a soothing, brewed tea preparation.
Ingredients
Tea and Spices
- 3 cups hot water
- 4 black tea bags
- 4 green cardamom pods, crushed
- 4 whole allspice berries, crushed
- 4 whole cloves
- 1 star anise
- 2 whole cinnamon sticks
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Milk and Sweeteners
- 3 cups vanilla almond milk
- 1/4 cup honey
Alcohol
- 1/2 cup good quality bourbon
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium saucepan, combine the hot water, black tea bags, crushed cardamom pods, crushed allspice berries, whole cloves, star anise, cinnamon sticks, ground nutmeg, ground ginger, and vanilla extract. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer.
- Add Milk and Honey: Stir in the vanilla almond milk and honey, whisking thoroughly to blend all the flavors together.
- Steep: Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the chai mixture to steep for 10 minutes, enabling the spices and tea to fully infuse the liquid.
- Strain: Pour the chai through a fine mesh sieve to remove all the tea bags and spices, ensuring a smooth, clear liquid.
- Finish and Serve: Transfer the strained chai into a heatproof serving pitcher and stir in the bourbon. Serve warm for a cozy and comforting drink experience.
Notes
- Use crushed whole spices to maximize flavor extraction during boiling.
- Adjust honey amount based on your preferred sweetness level.
- Bourbon can be omitted or substituted with rum for a different flavor profile.
- Steeping the chai after removing from heat prevents bitterness.
- Vanilla almond milk adds a subtle sweetness and creaminess, but regular milk or other plant-based milks work well too.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Indian-inspired
