Simple Chai Syrup – Homemade Tea Concentrate Recipe

Homemade chai syrup is an easy shortcut to your favorite chai-flavored drinks. Made in just 15 minutes, this concentrate allows you to enjoy your favorite chai tea lattes, iced teas, and masala chai in mere seconds. Not only that, you can even pour it over your breakfast waffles, pancakes, and oatmeal.

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This is such a smooth and flavorful syrup for fall and winter as well as spring and summer. Add it to your favorite fall coffee recipes, or drizzle the syrup over plain Greek yogurt for a healthy spring snack. Up the flavor of iced coffee or top vanilla or chai ice cream during summer.

Making this chai syrup recipe opens up a whole new possibility of instant gratification. With just a few seconds and a splash of hot or cold milk, you can transform an ordinary drink into a delicious, better-than-Starbucks chai tea latte.

The best part about homemade chai tea concentrate is its convenience and shelf life. It can easily last anywhere from four to five weeks in the refrigerator. Imagine how much time and effort you will save by not steeping the tea every single time once you have your own chai concentrate.

How to Make Chai Tea Syrup

To make this concentrate, you only need a handful of everyday ingredients and ten minutes of your time.

Ingredients You Need

• Chai tea bags – a shortcut to infusing all the best flavors of chai tea
• Brown sugar – Brown sugar lends a caramel flavor. Light brown sugar is naturally lighter, while dark brown sugar will give a deeper caramel flavor and color.
• White sugar 
• Vanilla extract

Ingredient Substitutions

Even though this is such a simple recipe, you might be missing one of the key ingredients. Review the recommendations here for quick and clever substitutions.

Here are suggested substitutions:

• Chai tea bags – If you do not have chai tea bags, use a loose-leaf chai tea mix or a combination of black tea and DIY mix of chai spices. To make a spice blend with whole spices, mix ten cardamom pods, one cinnamon stick, six whole cloves, two star anise pods, half a teaspoon of whole black peppercorn, and half a teaspoon of fennel seed.
• Brown sugar – Choose either light or dark brown sugar. You can also use coconut sugar for a similar flavor and look.
• White sugar – Substitute this with options like stevia or sugar-free sweeteners like monk fruit sweetener.
• Vanilla extract – Almond extract is a great budget-friendly vanilla substitute. 

Variations

Want to add your own spin? Make these fun variations and stretch this recipe into more delightful renditions.

Try these Chai tea syrup variations:

• Pumpkin Spice Chai Tea Concentrate – You can use pumpkin spice-flavored chai tea bags or add a teaspoon of pumpkin spice to your brew.
• Caffeine-Free Chai Syrup – Use decaffeinated chai tea bags.
• Citrus Chai Tea Syrup – Use fresh or dried orange peel or lemon peel to add a subtle citrus flavor to your simple syrup.

Step-By-Step Instructions

You can make this concentrate in under 15 minutes. However, you do have to let the syrup cool completely before putting it away in the refrigerator.

Follow these simple directions, and you can’t go wrong!

Step 1: Brew the tea

Add the water to a small saucepot over medium heat. Bring to a boil. 

Rip open the tea bags and add the tea blend to the pot.

Discard the bags. Simmer for five minutes.

Step 2: Add the sugar

Strain and discard the tea. 

Return the water to the pot and add the sugars over medium heat. Whisk continuously until the sugar is completely dissolved. 

Bring the liquid to a boil. Then, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for five minutes.

Step 3: Cool and store

Remove the syrup from the heat and set aside. Let it cool slightly before adding the vanilla extract.

Allow it to cool completely before storing it in a bottle or jar.

Expert Tips

• Taste and adjust! I always recommend tasting while cooking so you can get to know the dish and adjust the seasoning as you like best.
• Avoid a bitter infusion by simmering the tea for no more than 5 minutes.
• The thickness of the simple syrup can vary based on personal preference. If you prefer a thicker syrup, continue simmering and reducing the volume for a bit longer until it reaches your desired consistency.
• Double the recipe for a larger batch. If you love chai and want to have a ready supply of syrup on hand, consider doubling or even tripling the recipe. This way, you can store the extra syrup in the refrigerator and have it on hand whenever you crave chai flavor.
• Use this spice-infused syrup as a substitute for maple syrup in recipes like waffles and maple pumpkin pie.

How to Store This Syrup

This syrup is a great time saver. You can make a hot chai latte and iced chai at home better than any coffee shop.

I store the chai syrup in a clean, labeled, air-tight mason jar or a squeezy bottle. A transparent bottle helps, so I can see what’s inside and how much is left. 

The syrup can last for four to five weeks in the refrigerator.

Can I make Chai Syrup ahead of time?

Yes absolutely. That is the reason why we love this syrup. Make it ahead of time and keep in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Can I freeze Chai Syrup?

You can also freeze the syrup for up to three months. Instead of freezing it in one solid block, I like to freeze it in ice cube trays for smaller portions. It’s especially handy for making cold chai latte and blending in smoothies.

How to Serve Chai Tea Syrup  

• Iced Chai Latte – Fill a cup with ice, pour milk of your choice, dairy or non-dairy, and add about two tablespoons of chai tea syrup. Give it a good stir, taste, and serve immediately! 
• Hot Chai Latte – Steam milk, mix in syrup, and froth it by whisking briskly by hand, or with an electric frother or the milk frothing attachment on an espresso machine. If you love lattes, you should also make chocolate chai latte, pumpkin spice chai latte, or dirty chai tea latte.
• Instant Hot Tea – Add one cup of milk and two tablespoons of syrup in a microwave-safe mug. Microwave for one minute on high and serve hot. Or heat on the stovetop.
• Quick Ice Tea – A great thirst quencher on hot summer days. Mix lemon juice, syrup, a few slices of lemon, water, and ice in a glass or pitcher. You could also add chopped-up fruits like strawberries and peaches to the mix.
• On breakfast – Bored of your regular maple syrup? Add this tea and vanilla-flavored concentrate over your pancakes and oatmeal instead.
• Cocktails and drinks – Add this instead of regular simple syrup and make your own chai tea old-fashioned or chai dirty martini. You could also use this syrup to flavor your favorite winter cocktails and eggnog.

More Tea-Inspired Recipes To Try

• ​DIrty chai earthquake cookies
• Matcha sugar cookies
• Matcha brownies

If you make this chai tea syrup recipe, please leave a review. I appreciate each 5-star rating and review comment!