Nutmeg Free Chai Spice Iced Tea
Chai spice iced tea is the kind of drink that makes you feel like you've unlocked a secret — deeply aromatic, warmly spiced, and refreshing all at once. Black tea gets simmered with cinnamon, fresh ginger, cardamom, cloves, and black peppercorns, building a layered, complex base that tastes far more impressive than the short ingredient list suggests. Maple syrup rounds everything out with a gentle sweetness that feels more interesting than plain sugar. For anyone avoiding nutmeg, this recipe is a natural fit — the spice blend is bold and satisfying without it, and every ingredient is clearly listed so there's no guessing involved. Bottled chai concentrates and pre-made mixes often sneak in unexpected spices, so brewing your own from scratch is genuinely the smarter move. Strain it, chill it, and pour it over ice for a glass that's cool, spiced, and completely your own.
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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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