Instant coziness in a mug.

There’s something about chai that feels like December.
Warm spices… steam rising… the way the house suddenly smells like you’ve been simmering magic all day.

But store-bought chai concentrates?
Loaded with gums, “natural flavors,” and more sugar than a Christmas cookie exchange.

Not here.
This homemade chai tea concentrate is whole-ingredient, warmly spiced, lightly sweetened, and brewed the way our ancestors would have done it—slow, fragrant, intentional. Perfect for gifting, perfect for sipping, perfect for those dark winter mornings when you need something gentle to pull you into the day.

Let’s make the coziest concentrate of the season.

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✨ Why You’ll Love This Chai Tea Concentrate

• Deep, authentic flavor — nothing artificial, just real spices.
• Naturally sweetened — use honey or maple syrup.
• Make once, drink all week — keeps in the fridge for 10–14 days.
• Cheaper than store-bought — and tastes a thousand times better.
• Gifting gold — pair with a small bottle of maple syrup and a gift tag.

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☕ What You’ll Need

All whole, real ingredients—simple and powerful.

Whole Spices

• 10 whole cardamom pods
• 10 whole cloves
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 star anise
• 1 inch fresh ginger, sliced
• 6 black peppercorns
• 1 tsp whole fennel seeds (optional but lovely)

Tea + Sweetener

• 6 cups water
• 6 black tea bags (or 6 tsp loose-leaf black tea in a tea ball)
• ¼–⅓ cup honey or maple syrup (sweeten to taste)
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract (Check out Day 24 Homemade Vanilla Extract)

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🫙 Step-by-Step: How to Make Chai Tea Concentrate

1. Toast the spices (optional but highly recommended).

Warm your pot over medium heat, toss in the spices, and toast for 2–3 minutes.
Your kitchen will smell like Christmas exploded.
This step deepens everything.

2. Add water and ginger.

Pour in 6 cups of water and the sliced ginger.
Bring to a simmer.

3. Simmer gently for 20 minutes.

Low and slow is the secret.
Let the spices release all their goodness.

4. Add the tea.

Turn off the heat. Add the black tea bags.
Steep for 10 minutes, no longer (or it will get bitter).

5. Strain + sweeten.

Strain out the spices and tea.
Stir in honey/maple syrup and vanilla while still warm.

6. Store.

Keep in a jar in the fridge 10–14 days.
Shake before using.

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☕ How to Use Your Chai Concentrate

Use a 1:1 ratio of concentrate to milk (or adjust to taste).

Try it with:

• Raw milk or homemade coconut milk
• Oat milk for extra creaminess
• Over ice for an iced chai latte
• Frothy milk for a cozy morning treat

Or add a splash to:

• Overnight oats
• Holiday cocktails
• Pancake batter (!! try it)
• Homemade granola

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🎁 Gifting Idea

Fill a small glass bottle, tie with twine, add a sprig of rosemary or cinnamon stick, and include a tag:

“Homemade Chai Concentrate — Mix 1:1 with milk. Warm, sip, enjoy.”

Simple. Natural. Heartfelt.

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🏡 Final Thoughts

Day 17 wraps your home in warmth.
It slows you down.
It reminds you that simple ingredients create the richest moments.

This chai concentrate embodies everything The Simple Pursuit is about—connection, comfort, and an intentional return to the basics.