Emulsifier Free Chai Spice Iced Tea
Warm chai spices meet a refreshing iced format in this deeply aromatic drink that feels like a treat without any of the fuss. Whole cinnamon, fresh ginger, crushed cardamom pods, cloves, and black peppercorns are simmered together until the water turns fragrant and lightly amber — building real, layered flavor from scratch. Black tea bags are then steeped right into that spiced base, so every sip carries that classic chai depth you'd expect from a café version. Maple syrup sweetens the whole thing naturally, and because every ingredient here is whole and unprocessed, you never have to second-guess what's actually in your glass. Store-bought chai concentrates and bottled iced teas are notorious for sneaking in additives and emulsifying agents, but this recipe sidesteps all of that entirely. Once strained, chilled, and poured over ice, it's clean, bold, and genuinely refreshing — the kind of drink you'll want to keep a pitcher of in the fridge all week.
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Learn more →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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