Sticky Chai Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Indian

by: Sana Javeri Kadri

November27,2020

4.7

3 Ratings

  • Prep time 5 minutes
  • makes 1 small jar of sticky chai (which then makes 4 cups of liquid chai)

Jump to Recipe

Author Notes

When I first heard about sticky chai—it seemed like a bizarre concoction that did good old stovetop chai as it’s been made for hundreds of years a great injustice. But as we prepare to spend this holiday season away from the ones we love, the possibilities of sticky chai masala (that can be mailed across the country and then stored in the fridge for a month!) began to intrigue me.

So I’m taking a note out of the Aussie sticky chai book and gifting little jars to all my family this year. I’ve never found a chai masala that I really love or that can recreate the experience of making a hot cup of chai to curl up and catch up with loved ones over. But I’ve now tested several versions to get this as close as possible to the from-scratch experience!

P.S.: This recipe scales very well! —Sana Javeri Kadri

Test Kitchen Notes

This chai masala is part of , a collection of perfectly packable holiday treats that we're sending to our loved ones this year. —The Editors

  • Test Kitchen-Approved
Ingredients
  • 2 inches of fresh ginger, or 2 teaspoons of dried tea cut ginger
  • 1 teaspoonwhole Aranya peppercorns
  • 10 pods Baraka Cardamom (or more if you're using old/stale cardamom!)
  • 1 large cinnamon stick
  • 4 whole cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoonwhole fennel seeds
  • 1 teaspoonloose-leaf black tea
  • 2 teaspoonshoney (or date syrup or maple syrup!), plus more as needed
Directions
  1. If using fresh ginger, mince it as finely as you can manage. I promise that this extra step is worth the time!
  2. In a mortar and pestle, gently crush the cardamom pods, pepper and fennel. Just enough to release some oils and break ‘em up, not to powder.
  3. Break up your cinnamon stick into small pieces.
  4. In the jar, mix your spices, black tea and sweetener with a spoon. You want it to be the texture of wet granola, so add more sweetener if it looks too dry after a thorough mix.
  5. The masala will keep in your fridge for up to a month.
  6. To use one batch of sticky chai masala to make 4 small cups of chai, bring 4 cups of your choice of dairy or nondairy milk plus 1 cup of water to a boil. Add the entire batch of chai masala and stir. Boil on high heat until the mixture bubbles up once, or even twice if you like a creamier chai. I know chai is done to my preferred consistency when it looks a little darker than iced coffee. Strain through a fine mesh strainer and enjoy!

Tags:

  • Indian
  • Drink

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • judy

  • A. Ray

  • TMB

Popular on Food52

3 Reviews

judy February 24, 2021

I have experimented with chai spice myself for many years. Spice combinations are sure a personal preference. I leave out the cinnamon and peppercorn, but keep all the rest. I really like licorice and cardamom so add extra. I cannot tolerate tea leaves, so I have been using in in Roiboos red African herb tea for several years now. I guess I am saying, don't be afraid to mix it up or modify to taste. I also do not add the honey. I keep the spice blend in a jar in the freezer, adding a small spoonful to my cup with some honey and pouring over the hot water. It steeps with the rooibos, and has a wonderful mellow flavor. I generally do not add milk, but if I have evaporated milk I will add a dollop of that. So good. Thanks for this recipe.

A. R. December 7, 2020

Delicious! I couldn't find the exact types of cardamon or pepper, so I substituted rainbow peppercorns and black cardamon. I made 6 jars and used one for taste-testing. 5 will be the first batch for teachers (along with the Torrone recipe also in this collection) - a little sweet and spicy chai and a dark chocolate candy - sweeten up anyone's day. I rolled up cheesecloth and tied it with bakery twine and tied that to the jars for a sieve in case someone doesn't have a fine mesh strainer at home!

TMB December 13, 2023

Do you mind me asking what size jars you used?

Sticky Chai Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

What makes a sticky chai sticky? ›

What is the difference between Sticky Chai and other chai? Simply the addition of a wet ingredient! Tea supplies can make any spice blend 'sticky' by adding in honey or agave (the go-to choice for vegan sticky chai). Moreover, while loose leaf chai is considered more traditional, wet chai comes with its own perks!

What is the difference between wet chai and sticky chai? ›

While the classic base of a chai consists of aromatic seasoning, wet chai tea adds natural sweetness and charm to every cup brewed. The biggest difference between sticky or wet chai is the additional sweetener. Adding honey, agave, or preferred sugar/sweetener instantly changes the composition of the chai.

How long does sticky chai last? ›

Once that's been achieved, simply seal your jar and refrigerate until you're ready to enjoy sticky chai again! It will still taste as fresh and delicious as sealed for up to one month. Sticky chai is also brewed the same way as traditional stovetop chai.

How to make chai serious eats? ›

In a small saucepan, bring the tea, water, milk ginger, cloves, cardamom and cinnamon stick and peppercorns (if using) to a boil. Quickly reduce heat and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes, until flavor is your desired intensity. Add sweetener to taste. Strain the mixture into a cup and serve hot.

Why is it called a dirty chai? ›

A Dirty Chai is a mix of coffee and chai tea, named “dirty” chai because of the addition of coffee muddying up the color of the tea. It is usually made with a concentrated chai tea, a shot of espresso, and steamed milk or cream (this is, therefore, a latte).

How do you thicken chai tea? ›

Bring the tea to a rolling boil and simmer on a medium heat until the tea turns dark, for 2 mins. Simmering helps the tea to thicken. I usually simmer until it reduces to 1¾ cups. Fresh holy basil (tulsi) or mint leaves can also be used for variations.

What is dirty chai? ›

Dirty chai is a popular espresso beverage made with tea or chai concentrate, one shot of espresso, and steamed milk. Unlike ordinary chai (masala chai) or sticky chai, the outcome is a blend of regular latte and chai. Spices frequently used in dirty chai are black pepper, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and cardamom.

What makes chai tea taste better? ›

A tip from my mom: fresh spices make the best chai. Always try and start with the purest version of each spice—like cinnamon sticks, whole cloves and cardamom pods. Plain white sugar is the most common sweetener for chai.

What is a dirty chai vs chai? ›

A Dirty Chai consists of a Chai Latte with the addition of an espresso shot. This extra element brings a robust coffee taste to the drink, differentiating it from a traditional Chai Latte. A Chai Latte is simply made with concentrated tea and various spices, creating a unique balance between flavors.

Can you freeze sticky chai? ›

Place two tablespoons of Chai Spice Sticky Chai and 250ml water into a saucepan. Heat and bring to boil, stirring constantly. Allow a few minutes so tea brews. Using mesh strainer pour into a jug to cool down to room temperature, then pour into an ice-cube tray and freeze.

How do you store sticky chai tea? ›

Ingredients: Black tea, Australian honey, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, anise, nutmeg, ginger, black pepper. Storage: StickyChai must be stored in a dry cool place (preferably in the fridge) to prevent the potential of any spoiling.

Can you drink old chai? ›

Let's consider dry mix chai products:

Particularly, if packaged dry chai mix is stored in a cool, dry environment, it may be enjoyed long after the printed "best by" date, and will retain all the flavor of fresh packed.

What are the damaging effects of chai? ›

Tea contains caffeine, which is a diuretic and can cause increased urination. This can lead to dehydration if you don't compensate by drinking enough water. Dehydration can make your skin appear dry, flaky, and less radiant. Excessive chai consumption can sometimes lead to digestive discomfort for certain individuals.

Why does my chai turn bitter? ›

If you are making tea without milk and squeezing the tea bag against the side of the cup or teapot, then your tea will taste bitter. However, if you are making tea with milk and the water and milk have been boiled together then you must steep the tea bag for a longer period, for the flavour of tea to blossom.

Why does chai make my mouth feel weird? ›

Tannins In Tea

Another reason that tea could be liable for making your mouth try is due to its tannin content. Tannins are naturally occurring compounds found in tea leaves. They are responsible for the bitter taste and astringency that can be found in tea.

What is sticky Prana Chai? ›

This blend is lovingly handcrafted in Melbourne with premium black tea, whole spices, and ginger. This wet chai tea is coated with 100% Australian pure honey to bind all the aromatic flavours together.

What is a wet chai latte? ›

This sticky tea, also known as 'Wet Chai,' is brewed in the same manner as leaf tea, yielding a delicious honey sweet chai straight from the teapot. For added decadence, add a splash of cold or steamed milk.

References

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