Learn how to make your own Homemade Chai Spice Mix using simple pantry spices. DIY chai spice blend can be used in drinks, desserts, pancakes, masala chai latte, and more!
Chai Spice is a perfect blend of warming flavors with a hint of spice. Chai actually means “tea” in India but has come to be synonymous with the blend of spices themselves without the addition of black tea.
Chai-flavored foods and desserts are widely popular these days and with good reason! While you can buy your own chai spice blend to use in recipes, making your own at home from scratch is a much better idea.
By making your own, you can control the amount of each spice you use creating a warmer or spicer taste depending on your preference. It’s also budget-friendly as the spices are easy to find in any grocery store or market.
Try this homemade chai spice blend that comes together in just minutes and can be stored in your pantry or given away as a homemade gift for the holiday season!
If you're looking for more warming spice blends for winter and fall, then be sure to try my Speculoos Spice (Biscoff!) and the classic Pumpkin Spice.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
The entire spice blend is made with just 6 simple spices you can find anywhere.
It's a great way to flavor drinks and desserts when you need a warming comfort flavor.
A tasty alternative to pumpkin spice.
You can make a large batch and keep some in your pantry and freeze the rest for later.
It's perfect in a Masala Chai Tea Latte (just add a little to a mug of warm, frothy milk along with your favorite sweetener).
Homemade chai tea spice in a jar is a perfect gift for family, friends, and neighbors for Christmas or any time.
It costs less to make your own than it does to buy a blend from the store.
Ingredients
The spices in chai seasoning use naturally warm flavors that have woody and spicy notes for a bold-flavored blend that pairs perfectly together. You’ll need a mix of the following dried and ground seasonings and spices to make chai spice.
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Ginger
- Cardamom
- Allspice
- Cloves
Please see the recipe card below for quantities.
Instructions
Wondering how to make this chai spice mix recipe? It's easy! Just follow this step-by-step photo tutorial. Then, scroll down for the recipe card for the full ingredients list and recipe method.
Measure out your spices: Using a measuring spoon, carefully add your spices to a small bowl.
Combine the spices: Using a whisk, combine all of the spices until they are evenly distributed into one blend.
Store: Add the homemade chai to a sanitized jar and seal with a lid. Store in the pantry or give away as a gift.
Tips & Variations
To ensure no bacteria forms in the spice blend, it’s important to make sure you add your chai spice to a sanitized jar with a tight lid.
When purchasing the spices for your chai blend, make sure they do not expire soon. Expired spices are much less potent and lessen the flavor of the chai.
Some chai spice blends contain black or white pepper. Feel free to add your desired amount to the spice blend to add a hint of spicy flavor.
Vanilla bean powder can be added to infuse the chai spice with a light vanilla flavor.
You can customize this chai spice blend to have more of the spices you enjoy and less of what you don’t. Feel free to experiment with various flavors.
Add sugar or brown sugar to the mix so it can easily be added to black tea or coffee already sweetened.
Serving Suggestions
Add to warm frothy milk for a Masala Chai Latte.
Use instead of pumpkin pie spice in baking recipes. It's great in Pumpkin Pie.
Use the blend to make Pumpkin Tarts with Chai Hazlenut Crust.
Sprinkle a bit on top of homemade ice cream for a cold chai flavored treat.
Add it to this vegan Pancake or Waffle batter to flavor your breakfast with homemade chai spice.
Storage
Storing: If sealed properly in an airtight container or jar with a lid, this chai spice will stay fresh to use in your pantry for up to 6 months.
Freezing: If you’d like to make a large batch to freeze for later use, add some into vacuum sealer bags and remove the air. Store in the freezer in a freezer-safe bag for up to 1 year.
FAQs
Originally, chai is a black tea mixed with spices that originated in India. These days the spice used is commonly referred to as chai and contains a variety of warming and bold spices.
While this is truly a personal preference, chai tea is technically better for you than coffee as the spices contain bitters and minerals which suit a healthy lifestyle.
Because of the special blend of spices, chai tea has been known to help boost heart health, reduce blood sugar, aid in digestion, and may help with weight loss.
More Spice Blend Recipes
Spice blends are an easy way to jazz up desserts and meals! Try some of these other spice mixes too.
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📖 Recipe
Chai Spice Mix
Ingredients
- 5 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 3 teaspoons ground ginger
- 3 teaspoons ground nutmeg
- 2 teaspoons ground cardamom
- 2 teaspoons ground allspice
- 2 teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight jar or container in a cool, dry place.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Kathy
Tastes great, but any suggestions how to not have a build up of sludge at the bottom of my cup?
DeAnn S Caylor
There isn't a way to avoid remnants in your cup. Not all the ingredients are liquid-soluble.
Lee Kaplan
This is what I do: mix the tea and spice in a measuring cup. Nuke if not already hot. Place a small strainer in your cup or mug. Pour in flavored tea, stirring and pressing down with a spoon in the strainer. Hope this helps.
Daniella
Love having this on hand to add spice to many things. I whipped a bit into cream to serve on pumpkin pie and it was incredible. I use it whereever I would use pumpkin spice now.
Roasana
Smelled and tasted amazing!
Lily
I sprinkled some in my morning espresso latte! I have been looking for a recipe that gives me the Fall Holiday feeling, and this is it.
Mirlene
I love the taste of chai! I switch from making tea or the lattes. I often forget I can just make my own and can save me dollars instead of buying the store bought version!
Tavo
I totally loved this chai spice mix! I just finished my cup and making a second one!
Nathan
I love this chai spice mix! Such a great blend of spices, and so perfect for the colder weather. I'm definitely going to try that suggestion of using it to make pumpkin pie, that sounds incredible!