Burnt Honey Chai
My variation on an authentic masala chai, this rich and delicious tea ups the satisfaction and flavour with the addition of burnt honey.
In India masala means spice, and chai means tea. Put together, they quite literally mean spiced tea. Though I will always love a good old cup of black tea, a properly-made cup of chai is just one of those drinks that warms you from the heart out, with every sip feeling like a softly-spiced hug.
Enjoy this chai hot or cold, made using your favourite black tea. Feel free to use decaf tea leaves or bags as well! This recipe is so adaptable and is equally delicious made with plant-based milk as it is with dairy milk. The burnt honey adds a delightful caramelised, savoury note to an otherwise sweet and spicy drink, complementing the flavours of traditional chai perfectly.
If you try this recipe, let us know how it goes! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag your photo #theculinarycartel on Instagram so we can see what you come up with. You can also view the video here. Happy cooking!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this vegan?
Absolutely! Feel free to make this recipe with any plant-based milk you like. You can use maple syrup in place of the honey if you do not eat honey.
Burnt Honey Chai
- Total Time: 20 Minutes
- Yield: 2 Mugs
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
My variation on an authentic masala chai, this rich and delicious tea ups the satisfaction and flavour with the addition of burnt honey. View the video here.
Ingredients
- 4 green cardamom pods
- 3–4 whole cloves
- 1–2 star anise (optional )
- 5–7 peppercorns (optional)
- 1.5 cups water
- 2 cm knob of ginger
- 1/2 cinnamon stick – split lengthwise (use your fingers to separate)
- 1–2 tablespoons loose leaf black tea, or 1–2 tea bags
- 2 cups milk of your choice – organic whole milk, almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, cashew milk, hemp milk.
- 60ml honey
Instructions
Burnt Honey
- Cook the 60ml honey until it starts to caramelise. Once the honey is dark, golden, and nearly smoking, add the water to stop the cooking process.
Chai
- Lightly crush the cardamom pods, whole cloves, star anise and peppercorns, and place them into a small pot.
- Add the caramelised honey mixture to the spices.
- Chop the ginger into slices and add to the pot along with the cinnamon and black tea.
- Bring to a boil and turn off the heat (don’t continue to boil the tea, it may get bitter) and let it steep for at least 10 minutes, or for several hours. The longer it steeps, the more intense the flavour!
- Add your choice of milk. Bring to a simmer once more, then turn off the heat.
- Strain into a chai glass or mug, and enjoy!
- Prep Time: 5 Minutes
- Cook Time: 15 Minutes
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Indian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 246.02kcal
- Sugar: 51.02g
- Sodium: 183.37mg
- Fat: 3.37g
- Saturated Fat: 0.2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2,45
- Trans Fat: 0.01g
- Carbohydrates: 55.87g
- Fiber: 3.58g
- Protein: 1.63g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
