Turmeric Free Chai Spice Iced Tea
Chai spice flavors are bold, warming, and deeply satisfying — and this iced version proves they translate beautifully into a cold, refreshing drink. The blend of cinnamon, fresh ginger, cardamom, cloves, and black peppercorns creates that signature layered spice profile without a single drop of the yellow root that so many chai blends rely on. Black tea forms the backbone, giving the drink depth and a gentle caffeine kick, while maple syrup rounds everything out with a naturally sweet finish. Simmering the whole spices before steeping the tea is the key move here — it coaxes out maximum flavor and turns the liquid a gorgeous amber before the tea bags even hit the pot. Straining everything through a fine-mesh sieve leaves you with a perfectly clear, clean brew that looks as good as it tastes. Poured over ice, it's the kind of drink that feels a little special without requiring much effort at all — ideal for a slow afternoon or impressing guests without breaking a sweat.
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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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