Dairy-Free Chai Tea

Dairy-Free Chai Tea is a warm, comforting beverage that’s perfect for chilly mornings, while reading books, and just about everything else in between! Black tea, spices, almond milk, and honey or agave nectar come together for a delightful drink! {GF + DF}

Spiriteds, what is even happening with the weather? One minute it’s 20 degrees outside, cold but expected in the Midwest during the winter. The next minute it’s 20 degrees below zero, and the day after that it’s sunny and 45. Y’all, I can’t even with this. WHAT SEASON ARE WE IN? And what do I even make for dinner? Should I be grilling or making soup? I still can’t decide. It depends on the day. But one recipe I’m all over right now, no matter the weather, is Dairy-Free Chai Tea. Rich in flavor, free of the allergens, and ready in minutes, this tea is another welcome addition to my warm beverage arsenal. And it keeps my hands warm while I sip a hot mug of it.

I found a traditional chai tea recipe in my Better Homes and Gardens cookbook, the one I got as a wedding shower gift. It’s also the one with torn, smudged pages. You can tell just by looking at it which recipes are favorites. As you can guess, however, many of the recipes no longer fit our dietary needs. So, I went to work, recreating and adapting the recipe I found there to meet our needs. After several attempts, I found the right balance of ingredients, Spiriteds.

And the result is *chef’s kiss*!

Dairy-Free Chai Tea is

• Gluten-free, grain-free, and soy-free
• Vegan-friendly
• Refined sugar-free

It also takes just minutes to make, but I confess, I let mine simmer and then steep a little longer than necessary. I want rich, robust flavors and deep brownish, reddish hues. Possibly, I also maybe go a little wild with the allspice, and I add a little more honey or agave nectar to get just the right amount of kick. I add a pinch of cardamom, but that’s a personal choice. You may want considerably more in your mug.

I love that this breakfast beverage is so easy to customize. Being able to control the spices in this chai recipe is wonderful because many of the chai tea brands on the market just don’t sit well with me. Some gave me heartburn, others were too full of sugar, and others were downright expensive. This Dairy-Free Chai Tea recipe is easy on the budget, low on sweets, and big on taste.

Tips to make your own Dairy-Free Chai Tea

• Double the batch. Not all recipes double easily, but this chai recipe does!
• Add sweetener in small quantities. Then add more as desired until the right flavor is reached.
• Simmer and steep for longer periods to create a stronger chai. Alternatively, reduce the simmering and steeping times for a miler tea.
• If the tea is too stronger or bitter, then add a little more milk and sweetener.
• Store leftovers in a glass jar for 1-2 days. Add a cinnamon stick to the jar for added measure and flavor.

I also use generic black tea. We aren’t exactly fancy here, and since I wear a bathrobe and slippers with my sweatshirt and jeans on really cold winter/polar vortex days, rest assured I never lift my pinkie to sip a tea. Almost never.

More comforting beverage recipes

• Vegan Golden Milk
• Cinnamon Orange Tea
• Lemon Ginger Tea
• Dairy-Free Vanilla Cashew Coffee

This is how we do crazy, unpredictable weather in the Midwest. Or at least, this is how I do it. All the clothing layers and a cup of hot tea. Stay warm and happy sipping, Spiriteds! Winter is tasting pretty good right about now! ❤️

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