Spicy Chai Tea

[textragickingdom]

I was just wondering what kind of milk everyone uses for this recipe. I still drink 2% cow milk. Would that work okay? I have tried soy milk and didn't like it. Although mixed with all the other stuff, it might taste fine.

[JessaCita]

I was just wondering what kind of milk everyone uses for this recipe. I still drink 2% cow milk. Would that work okay? I have tried soy milk and didn't like it. Although mixed with all the other stuff, it might taste fine.

If you want to use regular cow's milk, I'm sure it would be okay... But as a vegan, of course I have to urge you not to. I don't typically like plain soy milk by the glass, but I really like it mixed into things. Truly, I couldn't taste the soy in this recipe. It's such a small amount that it just adds a nice creaminess to the tea.

You could also try almond or rice milk! Or vanilla soy! Don't be afraid to try different kinds!

[healthymomma]

I use rice milk or almond milk for this. Traditionally, chai is made with cream. This recipe is really good with soy creamer. Try different kinds of soy milk before swearing it off, cause they all taste so different.

[biodancer]

I want to try this so bad, but I'm not allowed to have caffeine.  I am having a hard time finding decaffeinated black tea, they all have something else in them, like vanilla, or an earl grey one which will have a hint of bergamot, or something. I don't want anything except straight black tea i don't want any other flavors in it to throw off the taste. anyone have any suggestions? what kind of tea is everyone using?

I know this is a delayed reply, but Tazo brand tea makes a decaffeinated chai.  I can find them in my supermarket.  I think Starbucks still sells it too.

[textragickingdom]

well, my computer died the day after i posted my message. so this is the first day i'm back online-- bought a new puter. anyway, i made this chai tea with 2% cow milk and it is sooooo yummy!!!  i mostly wanted to make it for my daughter. she's 19 yrs old and has always loved chai...that's what she gets at Starbuck's. This recipe is 100 times better than Starbuck's...thanks!

[XhardcoreveganX]

Om nom nom sooo good!!

[VeganSapien]

Stunning. Simply stunning is all I can say. This is the best tea I have ever had.

[VeganSapien]

Also, I used about 2 TBS fresh ginger and coconut milk.... I made a batch yesterday and evening, and drank it all...had to make more!

[aniyunwiya]

WOW!  It was very, very difficult to wait the entire hour while the spices simmered---I may just make this recipe to make the house smell good.  I left out the fennel because I hate fennel and sweetened with a little bit of agave nectar instead of sugar.  I will make this again, thanks!

would it be possible to grind the spices and steep them in a tea bag to speed up the process?

[JessaCita]

You could also try almond or rice milk! Or vanilla soy! Don't be afraid to try different kinds!

Or oat milk.  Or hazelnut milk.  Or coconut milk.  Or hemp milk.  No offense, but there's really no excuse to drink breast milk once you've been weaned unless it's all you can afford.

I have made this with light coconut milk, soy milk, and rice milk. Like you said, filmjunkie, I'm sure hazelnut, oat, or hemp would also be delicious. The milk is just there to add creaminess, so even if someone doesn't like non-dairy milk straight-up, it's undetectable in this recipe except for adding depth of flavor & creaminess.

[yabbitgirl]

I thought, 7 cups of water, wow that's going to make a lot, so I used a quart. NOT. If you cook the spices for an hour the water evaporates. I had to add the remaining 3 cups before I put in the tea. As per someone's suggestion I used coconut milk and it. is. great. Well worth the effort. Besides, it makes a good room freshener! The house smells like incense.

[estefania_belle]

Wow, not one bad revew for this recipe.  Actually, not one person said it was just ok.  Only tried chai twice: didnt like it the first time, and second time found it addicting!  Got to get what I need to make this tomorow...will report back.  I'm drooling already!

[fruityn-nutty]

this chai looks great. I can't wait to try it.

but instead of cardamom seeds, can I use cardamom pods? or is it the same thing?

oh, and I'll bet that almond milk tastes really good in this.
oooh and Vitasoy's egg nog soymilk would be extra yumbles. 

[yabbitgirl]

The seeds are inside the pods. You can either crack them and brew as is, or split them and let the seeds out.

[estefania_belle]

Well I finally made this recipe...and I didnt like it.  The first 20 minutes of simmering, the smell was mouth watering.  And then it smelled too strong for me.  I didnt have cardamom, so i dont know if it would have made a big differenceit might grow on me.