Homemade Chai Tea Concentrate anyone?

There's just something about Chai tea ... whether it's hot or cold, it's delicious! Sadly buying the concentrate in the box from the store is expensive so I only used to buy it as a treat once in a while. 

I am an avid reader of The Elliot Homestead blog (which you should all check out!) and Shaye Elliot posted her recipe for Chai tea concentrate. I based my recipe off of hers. 

I haven't done the cost calculation like I did for my Homemade Face Cream but I have to think it is either equivalent or cheaper. Plus it's fun to make, you can tweak it to your taste buds, and you know exactly what's in it! Shaye says hers is about $2 per batch.

My homemade chai tea served chilled with raw milk

Ingredients:

• 6 cinnamon sticks
• 15-20 allspice berries
• 5 cardamom pods
• 15 cloves
• 25 black peppercorns
• 2 teaspoon of dried ginger
• 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
• 6 tea bags of black tea
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup brown sugar (or sweetener of choice such as maple syrup, raw sugar, etc.)

Directions:

1. Crack the spices (excluding the cinnamon sticks and ginger). To do so, place the spices between plastic wrap and put a towel over it. Hit gently with a meat smasher/hammer/rolling pin/etc. (Or you can use a mortal and pestal if you have one).
2. Then, combine the cracked spices, cinnamon sticks, ginger, and 6 cups of filtered water in a pot.
3. Bring the water to a boil and allow it to slowly simmer for 25 minutes.
4. Remove from heat, add tea bags and steep for 5 minutes. 
5. Strain the tea (use cheese cloth or fine sieve) to remove all the spice and herb sediment. Add the vanilla. Then, mix in your sweetener.
6. Pour into containers. I use quart size mason jars. Store the chai tea concentrate in your refrigerator and enjoy!

I like to have my chai tea about 60% tea and 40% milk, served either warm or chilled over ice! How do you like yours?