Lactose Free Chai Spice Iced Tea
Warm spices meet a cool, refreshing glass in this homemade chai spice iced tea that tastes like a café drink you made yourself — because you did. Cinnamon, fresh ginger, cardamom, cloves, and black peppercorns are simmered together until the kitchen smells absolutely incredible, then black tea is steeped right into that spiced base for a deeply aromatic brew. Maple syrup brings a gentle, rounded sweetness that ties everything together without any dairy in sight — no cream, no milk, no worries. The whole thing is naturally free of lactose since every single ingredient is plant-based and straightforward, making it a great option when you want something indulgent-tasting but totally clean. Once strained and chilled, it pours over ice into one of the most satisfying cold drinks you can put together at home. It's the kind of recipe that looks impressive but comes together with pantry staples and a little patience.
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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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