Chai Spice Blend

Chai spices on wooden table

Lai Morris / Getty Images

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 5 mins
Servings: 15 servings

Chai spice is a warming and comforting mix of spices that serves many purposes. From delicious chai lattes to chewy chai muffins, the mixture drives the flavor of many recipes across traditions from around the world. Mainly made out of ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and coriander, depending on the variation, chai spice can also include all-spice, vanilla, or coriander. Our easy recipe for this delicious ingredient has two versions, one that can be made quickly with easy-to-find ground spices, and a more complex one that may require a trip to a specialty foods store or a health food store that carries a nice variety of whole spices. Either way, this recipe should be a staple in your pantry because chai spice makes beverages and treats delicious. The beauty of chai spice is that you can adjust it to your liking and add or subtract the spices to suit your palate.

Chai spice can be added to various dishes, sweet and savory. Making lots of our recipe isn't a bad idea, as a sprinkle on everyday dishes like porridge or oatmeal can transform any dish with its deep fragrance and flavor. Use it on your favorite quick breads, like banana or blueberry, add it to your morning cereal, or sprinkle it in your favorite pancake or waffle batter. Use it to make your own granola, chocolate cake, or biscotti. Add it to nut butters when making protein cookies, or blend it with fruit for tasty smoothies. Both versions of our chai spice make wonderful beverages: add it to hot milk or water for a comforting break, use it in hot or cold coffee for a twist on your daily cup of joe, or blend it with plant-based milk, coffee, and powdered cocoa for a spiced chai mocha latte. This mixture is also amazing on roasted butternut squash or sweet potatoes.

When buying spices, consider buying organic as a guarantee that the ingredients weren't treated with pesticides or additives. Secondly, buying less is always best; if you aren't a regular user of a certain spice, it's better to buy just enough, as spices lose flavor and aroma over time. Sitting in your cupboard unutilized for months is a waste. If possible, buy whole organic and get a good spice grinder to grind as needed, but buying ground organic is fine as well. Lastly, always trust your nose and eyes when using spices, and if the smell isn't strong or the spices look dull it might be time to replace them. Store this chai mix, and all spices, in an airtight glass container, away from heat and sunlight.

Ingredients

Pre-Ground Chai Spice Mix:

  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon

  • 2 teaspoons ginger

  • 2 teaspoons cardamom

  • 1 teaspoon cloves

  • 1 teaspoon coriander

Hand Ground Chai Spice Blend:

  • 1 tablespoon cardamom pod seeds

  • 1 tablespoon coriander seeds

  • 1/2 vanilla bean, finely chopped

  • 3 pod star anise

  • 1 stick cinnamon stick, broken into small pieces

  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

  • 4 whole cloves

  • 7 allspice berries

  • 1 teaspoon white peppercorns

Steps to Make It

Pre-Ground Spice Mix

  1. Mix the spices together and store in an airtight container.

  2. Makes about 2 tablespoons of mixed spice.

Hand Ground Chai Spice Blend

  1. Place all ingredients into a mortar and pestle or spice grinder and grind to a powder.​

  2. Store in an airtight container.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
9 Calories
0g Fat
2g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 15
Amount per serving
Calories 9
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 2mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 2g 1%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 1mg 4%
Calcium 18mg 1%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 33mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)