On Secret Recipes . . .
Have you read our GUEST POST on Ashley's blog today? If not, you're missing out -- we share some of our tasty, but thrifty kitchen staples. You know, those foods that give us the most bang for our buck both in flavor AND nutrition. If you haven't, be sure to check it out at some point today!
Now, I'm not a coffee drinker. In fact, I rarely touch the stuff. My warm beverage of choice is herbal tea, more often than not. When the cooler months come around, chai tops the list. So, when I started feeling fall-ish this weekend, I craved -- you guessed it! -- chai. Problem is, one mug of the stuff costs almost $5 out. Make it with soy? You're asking for at least a $6 bill.
I mean. C'mon! What's IN this stuff?
A trip to the grocery store only yielded a carton of condensed/sweetened mix that cost, again, nearly $5. Of course, that carton boasts many more servings than a measly single one. Still, I thought, I could do better.
Homemade is always best -- am I right? Why not make my own batch? Yes! Why not?! And thus begins the story of why I drank 8 tall mugs of chai yesterday.
You see . . . broken into its component parts, chai is nothing more than black tea mixed with several spices. There are many different mixes I've consumed over the years -- some sweeter, some bolder, some garden-variety -- so when I set out to make my own, I also set out to make my VERY own.
A unique chai blend. A secret recipe, because I have only a mere few.
Today, my dear readers, I won't be sharing my secret recipe for maple-cocoa chai -- a mix that goes perfectly well with almond milk. Warms the body and spirit. But if you're just dying to make your own, here's a basic recipe that'll get the job done. From there, you can let your imagination (and taste-buds) go wild!
BASIC CHAI
What you'll need . . .
- 3/4 cup dry black tea (I just cut up some black tea bags we had around the house)
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Almond milk (or other)
- Agave or honey
Method . . .
- Mix all dry ingredients together in a small bowl. Put in a bag or other container to store.
- Use 1 teaspoon tea mix per 3/4 cup water (or so, depending on your preference). We used a French press to make ours -- I think it's the easiest method.
- Again, this part's all about preference, but I like to fill my glass about 2/3 full with tea, 1/3 with milk, and add a bit of sweetener. Mix. Enjoy.
It took me mug after mug to get this recipe to meet my specific tastes. But it's well worth the effort. We're talking probably less than 50 cents a mug versus almost $5. Plus, it's cool to make something that you love . . . that's specifically catered to your unique tastes. If you like your tea spicy, consider cayenne pepper and more ginger/cloves. More tame? Maybe some more cinnamon and sugar.
For me, THIS was the winning combo. It has it all -- spice, sweetness, AND a hint of chocolate . . .
Whatever you do: Don't share absolutely all your best recipes. Keep some sacred. Secret. Because as much as I love sharing with all of you (and I really, really do), there should be at least a few foods/drinks that I'm best at making -- right? :)
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29 comments:
I LOVE Chai, and was just looking last night for recipes to make my own.
I keep my scones recipe secret (the preliminary one is on my blog, but I have vastly improved it since then!). How about someday, we meet up for tea and scones? You provide the chai, and I'll bring the Coconut Chai scones ;)
What a tease!
All I know is that I am never happy with bagged chai teas. I am also slightly ashamed to say how much I love the Oregon stuff in the carton....
But I suppose you could say that your post was a success, because now I *must* make my own mix. We'll just see if I share it. ;-)
I am not a coffee drinker either, but I do drink like a dozen cups of tea a day. (just kidding, more like half a dozen ;) ) I just love the idea of making your own chai! I don't know why it never occurred to me to make my own. I can't wait to try it!
I totally agree!! Keep this one to yourself. It sounds like a winner. I just love the warm, still quality of your photos. sigh... <3
Homemade mixes are always this best - Chai definitely reminds me of cool weather!
It would be fun to make a huge batch of this around holiday time - put it in cute little jars with ribbon and homemade labels, and give it as small gifts to coworkers and neighbors. Great for all of those parties when you need a $5 gift!
Oooh exciting! I wonder how this would fare if I made a batch of it and kept it in the fridge for iced chai? The weather is still pretty steamy out here.
Chai is my warm drink of choice come fall as well, and I was looking into making some. As I checked (Never Home)maker this morning and you started talking about chai, I was like, "Can it be true?! Did Ashley really make chai?!"
And you did. I'm taking it as a sign, and therefore heading to my kitchen with my laptop as a recipe card.
Thanks, Ashley!
I will have to try this! I don't drink much chai but reading your recipe made me want to.
While I definitely agree with the idea of keeping a recipe secret, I just have to say that there's so much more to making something than following a recipe. I make the best black bean soup I've ever had and I invented the recipe myself. I share it with abandon; most of my friends and at least a third of the internet have tried it at some point...and from the batches I've gotten to sample, nobody has it down the way I do. Is it the way I stir the pot? The exact percentage of the soup that I put into the blender? Is the cumin I use just better than the cumin other people use? Who knows, but something in my technique is just different.
tl;dr: Good dishes (or drinks) are about so much more than the recipe so know that even if someone out there followed your exact directions and used your exact ingredients, it probably won't taste the same as when you made it :o)
Awww! I was so looking forward to this recipe! And I agree with Kat. As I've become a better cook, recipes act only as a guide. I always make them my own. At least tell us what you used for the chocolate component. Please?
Your Chai sounds wonderful! I also saw your guest post and it was great, comprehensive list. Seeing you like quinoa and pumpkin so much, just wondering if have you tried making Quinoa Pumpkin muffins? I think they are a great snack. There are lots of recipes online, but I like the one from The Daily Green. http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/recipes/461
I love a good chai. I don't drink them often but like them done right when I do. Good way to get my brain gears working, I can't wait to tweak around with this ;)
Chai is delicious!!! Thanks for sharing as much as you did. ;)
Oh my, thank you thank you for sharing this recipe, I love chai tea and this is going to save me a bomb! x
Very cool! I've had homemade chai before and it's definitely better
Hey, everyone! Glad you like this recipe. I apologize, Shakila -- I just can't share the chocolate part. :) But there are a variety of ways to get that flavor into the mix.
But you're so right -- USE RECIPES AS GUIDES. Make something your own. It's how you learn. Sure, there will be weird things you'll make. Maybe even things that don't taste so great. But, you'll learn.
I'm looking to make several special varieties of (never home)maker chai :) Can't wait!
I have a feeling I'm going to love you forever for sharing this. I'm out of black tea and might just run to the store right now to remedy that solely so I can make this recipe. :)
Loved your post on Ashley's blog today!
Mmm, chai. I am so ready for fall.
Mmm. I love chai, and thanks for sharing the basic recipe for it! I have a ton of black tea and all the spices and just might be making some chai of my own this week.
Thanks for sharing part of your chai recipe. I understand not wanting to divulge recipe secrets to the world. Just make sure you write it down somewhere, or share it with one person in your family...someday.
My grandfather was an excellent cook and he didn't want anyone to steal his recipes. They were his and he didn't want anyone else taking credit for them. He got his wish and took his culinary genious with him to the grave.
Looking forward to trying this ;0)
Chai is one of my very favorite drinks as well! I'm starting to get more into drinking coffee, but I've always been a tea drinker at heart. Lately, I've become very unsatisfied with bagged chai... I ventured out into the world of liquid chai, but it's waaaay too sweet for me. I'll definitely be trying this recipe - thanks for NOT keeping it secret!
As Rachel mentioned above, this would make a great gift... a little jar of chai, and a cute strainer... fun.
Mrsblocko -- Don't worry. I have it written down :) If I didn't, I'd forget!
And Charlotte: I plan to give it out as a gift this year. It's that good. Hope you enjoy. Cardamom is another good addition, btw.
Can't wait to try this out and make my own version!
And I agree, some aspects of certain recipes are better kept secret! I'll never share the real trick to my epic chocolate chip cookies.
Ahh sounds fabulous!! I love chai, but even the chai tea bags don't quite get it right. Need to give this a try- especially since you like it with almond milk, my fave:)
I love Chai! hot or iced. I drink it year round. I have made it from scratch once and didn't love the results, I'll try your recipe for a base this time.
I DO believe in secret recipes and yes, I have a few.
As a grad student living on a tight budget, I was tickled pink when I stumbled upon this recipe. I could easily spend $30 on soy chai lattes each week (which I NEVER have, by the way).
BUT I am having some difficulties! All my spices settle to the bottom of my container and no amount of stirring will coax them to distribute themselves proportionately among the tea leaves -- not even long enough to scoop up one serving!
Is this a common problem? Any suggestions?
Riss -- Hmm! First -- glad that you found this recipe. I usually just put the top on the container and shake it. That works for me. Hmmm. I'm sorry you're having trouble. Let me know if the shake method works!
Thank you for giving me the courage to try this myself. There are a couple of favorite spices I think of when I think of chai that are missing from your recipe, but your recipe definitely delivers the impetus to go for it. The prices of chai blends in the store are outrageous and the "exotic" cardamom can't be the only reason.
How had I missed this post? I love making my own chai. I like to brew a syrup from the whole spices, since I don't like the texture of ground spices in hot water. Also, I think using whole spices would be even *more* cost-effective. I wrote about my approach here: http://www.growandmake.com/make-chai-tea
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