Capsaicin Free Chai Spice Iced Tea

Total time45 min

Prep time5 min

Cook time10 min

4.5

(23)

Warm spices and bold black tea come together in this chilled drink that feels indulgent without a single drop of heat. Cinnamon, fresh ginger, cardamom, cloves, and black peppercorns are simmered together until the liquid turns fragrant and lightly amber — a process that coaxes out deep, layered flavor before the tea bags even hit the pot. Maple syrup rounds everything out with a gentle sweetness that plays beautifully against the aromatic spice blend. For anyone avoiding capsaicin, chai-style drinks can feel off-limits because so many commercial blends sneak in chili or pepper extracts for that signature "kick" — but this recipe builds all its complexity from spices that are naturally free of that heat. The result is a drink that's warming in spirit but genuinely cool and refreshing in the glass. Straining out the solids leaves you with a silky, clean tea that looks as good as it tastes poured over a tall glass of ice. It's the kind of drink you'll want to keep a pitcher of in the fridge all week.

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Ingredients

4 servings

3 cups water
3 black tea bags
1 cinnamon stick
1 tsp fresh ginger, thinly sliced
6 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
4 whole cloves
¼ tsp black peppercorns
3 tbsp maple syrup

For serving

1 cup ice cubes, for serving

Instructions

1
Combine the water, cinnamon stick, sliced ginger, crushed cardamom pods, whole cloves, and black peppercorns in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 5 minutes, until the liquid is fragrant and lightly amber.
2
Remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the tea bags and steep for 4 minutes, then remove and discard the tea bags.

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