Vanilla Spiced Chai | Mindfulness & Recipe
An opportunity to practice presence and intentionality through the art of crafting your own cup of tea.
Clear your mind, lose track of time, and indulge your senses in aroma and flavor so divine.
The recipe below is simply a guideline. The flavors you love will reveal themselves as you continue your chai practice over time 🫖💜
𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬:
1 cup water
7 cardamom pods
4 cloves
7 black peppercorns
7 fennel seeds
Pinch of nutmeg
1/2” piece of ginger
1-2tsp vanilla bean paste (extract works too)
2 tsp looseleaf black tea
1 cup milk
2 Tbsp pure cane sugar
𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝:
• Add water into a pot over medium heat. Crush the cardamom pods, cloves, black peppercorns, fennel seeds, and cinnamon with a mortar and pestle. Peel and crush the ginger.
• Once the water is simmering, add in your crushed spices, ginger, and black tea.
• Once the tea liquor is boiling, add in the milk.
**NOTE: Once you add the milk, make sure to keep a close eye on it so it doesn’t boil over and make a mess on your stovetop!
• Once the tea mixture comes to a rapid rolling boil, cut the heat and add sugar to the pot, making sure to stir well.
• Strain, aerate, serve, and enjoy!
Feel free to adjust the spice and sugar amounts per your tastebud’s preference.
Cheers and here’s to the good life through good chai!
#homemadechai #vanillachai #chairecipe #masalachairecipe #mindfulnesspractice #mindfulnessandchai #meditationpractice
Beyond just a drink, vanilla chai is an experience. If you've ever wondered 'what is vanilla chai?', it's a delightful blend of black tea, aromatic spices, and the comforting sweetness of vanilla. While you can find vanilla chai tea bags or vanilla chai tea powder in stores, making it from scratch, especially a vanilla bean chai, truly elevates the flavor and allows for a unique, mindful practice. For me, the process of making vanilla spice tea at home is a ritual. There's something incredibly satisfying about crushing the whole spices, feeling their fragrant oils release, and watching the tea brew. It’s a sensory journey that quickly fills my kitchen with a warm, inviting aroma, a stark contrast to the often muted scent from pre-packaged vanilla chai bags. The control you gain over the intensity of spices and the quality of ingredients is unmatched, allowing for a much fresher and more vibrant cup than any pre-made mix. Don't be afraid to adjust the spices in your chai tea with vanilla! My recipe is a guideline, but if you love a bolder flavor, feel free to add an extra cardamom pod or a hint more ginger. That's the beauty of homemade – you're the chef! You won't get this level of customization with a standard vanilla chai tea bag. When it comes to the vanilla, using vanilla bean paste or a good quality extract truly makes all the difference for a true vanilla bean chai. It imparts a depth of flavor that a simple vanilla flavoring often misses. Experiment with different types of milk too – dairy, almond, oat, or cashew all lend unique textures and flavors to your brew. Once you master how to make vanilla chai tea, you might want to experiment further. Consider adding a slice of fresh orange peel during the steeping process for a citrusy hint, or a star anise for a subtle licorice note. Some even enjoy a pinch of saffron for an exotic twist. This level of exploration is hard to achieve with generic vanilla chai bags. Remember that important note about watching your milk! A rapid rolling boil can happen quickly, and a messy stovetop is not part of the mindful experience. Stay present with your brew. This simple act of preparing your vanilla chai becomes a moment to clear your mind and focus on the present. It’s an invitation to slow down, savor the process, and then enjoy the fruits of your labor – a delicious, soul-warming cup of homemade vanilla spiced chai. It's more than just a drink; it's a little daily dose of peace.