Chai Simple Syrup

By
Lindsey Goodwin
Lindsey Goodwin
Lindsey Goodwin is a food writer and tea consultant with more than 12 years of experience exploring tea production and culture.
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Updated on 07/11/21
Elements of masara chai tea
Sakura Photography/Getty Images
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 20 mins
Servings: 16 servings

This easy simple syrup recipe is flavored with chai (also known as masala chai or chai tea). Chai spices commonly include ginger, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and black pepper, but can also include other aromatic spices, such as licorice-like fennel, sweet coriander seeds, and soothing vanilla.
After making chai-flavored simple syrup, you can use it to flavor and sweeten iced drinks and hot drinks, or to add flavor to baked goods and other sweets.

Keep refrigerated. Has a shelf life of about six months. To extend the shelf life, mix in about one ounce of vodka as the syrup cools.

Ingredients

  • 12 green cardamom pods

  • 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns

  • 1/2 teaspoon whole cloves

  • 1 cinnamon stick

  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds, optional

  • 1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds, optional

  • 3 tablespoons fresh ginger, chopped

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract optional

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1 cup water

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Preheat oven to 350 F.

  3. Lightly crush cardamom and black pepper.

  4. Place cardamom, peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon, as well as fennel and coriander, if using, on a cookie sheet or in a baking pan, and toast until very aromatic (about five minutes).

  5. Place spices, ginger, vanilla (if using), sugar, and water into a small pot on medium heat.

  6. Bring to a boil, then simmer gently for five to ten minutes, stirring often. The longer the mixture simmers, the stronger the spice flavors will become, but be careful not to make the syrup too thick or it will be difficult to use and may crystallize when cool.

  7. Strain syrup through a fine-meshed sieve and pour into a very clean jar with a tight-fitting lid.

Tips

  • You can use this syrup in a wide variety of drinks, including cocktails, milk steamers, dirty chais, other chai drinks, ice creams, cakes, and other baked goods.
  • To make a chai-flavored milk steamer, follow a basic steamer recipe, using about one tablespoon syrup per 1 1/4 cups milk. Similarly, for one serving of dirty chai, use one to two tablespoons of syrup.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
51 Calories
0g Fat
13g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 16
Amount per serving
Calories 51
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 13g 5%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 13g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 3mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 7mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)