A simple, flavorful way to make chai concentrate is to cold brew it in the refrigerator. Below is an easy recipe and practical tips to get consistent results every time.
Cold Brew Chai Concentrate
Cold brewing chai produces a mellow, smooth tea without the astringency that sometimes comes from hot brewing. This recipe makes a concentrate—using a higher ratio of chai to water—so the flavor remains bold even after adding ice, water, or milk. It’s ideal for iced chai lattes and other chilled drinks.
For this concentrate I use double the amount of loose chai compared to a standard brew. That extra strength ensures the spices and tea notes still shine through when diluted with milk or poured over ice.
Note from Jee
Every company blends chai differently, so blends will vary in spice balance and intensity.
In this recipe I used a Dishoom house chai blend I picked up in London. Any quality chai blend, tea sachets, or tea bags will work—just adjust the amount if the blend is particularly strong or weak.
Recipe Notes
Loose tea, sachets, or tea bags: Loose tea gives the most robust flavor, but chai tea bags or sachets are convenient and work well.
Visible spices indicate flavor: Blends with plenty of whole spices—cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, ginger—tend to yield more aromatic, flavorful chai.
Strain solids after 24 hours: Remove all tea leaves and spice solids within 24 hours. Leaving solids in the brew can speed bacterial growth.
Consume within 3 days after straining: For safety and best flavor, drink the cold brew within three days once solids are removed. From the start of refrigeration to your last serving, plan for a maximum of four days total.
Use filtered water: Filtered water improves clarity and taste.
Perfect for iced chai lattes: Pour the concentrate over ice and add milk to taste.
Glass Containers
This recipe is sized to fit nicely in a standard glass container. Use one container for steeping and a second clean container to strain the concentrate into for storage.
Related
- 3-2-1 Cold Brew Tea
- Watermelon Cold Brew Tea
- Peach Cold Brew Oolong Tea
- Strawberry Basil Cold Brew Tea
- Apple Cold Brew Earl Grey Tea
If you tried this Cold Brew Chai Concentrate, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating and share how you liked it in the comments below.
Cold Brew Chai Concentrate
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons chai, (or 8 tea bags/sachets)
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 4 cups water, cold or room temperature
Instructions
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In a container or pitcher, combine all ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for 12–24 hours.
Stir gently so the tea leaves or bags are fully in contact with the water.
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Strain out all solids.
Do not leave leaves or spices in the concentrate for longer than 24 hours.
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Serve over ice and add milk to taste.
The concentrate can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days after straining.
Notes
- Remove all solids within 24 hours to reduce the risk of bacterial growth.
- After straining, consume within three days for best quality and safety.
- Filtered water improves flavor and clarity.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.