Chocolate Chai Recipe

Benefits of Chai

Chai tea is a staple in my diet, and a go-to drink when I want something healthy but also energizing. Not only is it high in antioxidants, it also contains a decent dose of caffeine to pick me up – without the jitters that come with coffee.

Chai is technically the Indian word for tea, but here in North America, we use the word chai to refer to spiced, Indian-style tea. If you go to an Indian restaurant or have the chance to visit India, you’ll also have the chance to try Masala Chai, which is chai tea with milk, a more popular drink than coffee there. In the West, most of us are familiar with the chai latte, which is simply sweetened chai tea with steamed milk.

But I’ve got a twist on chai tea that is sure to satisfy your biggest sweet tooth cravings. Add a little chocolate, and you’ve got yourself a delicious chocolate chai that can be drank hot or cold. Trust me, this recipe is totally refreshing and can make a healthy but light dessert.

Here’s how to get it right…

Chocolate Chai Recipe to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

For this chocolate chai recipe, you can use traditional cow’s milk or a milk alternative like soy or almond milk. I recommend trying almond milk – the nutty undertone in its flavor pairs well with the spices of the chai tea. But any dairy alternative will do, depending on your preference.

All of the ingredients in this recipe are also raw, which means you’ll get the maximum nutritional support from this tasty drink. Honey is an easy way to sweeten this drink naturally, but you can also use a little molasses or even raw dates.

For the chai spices, you have a few options. You can either use premade chai tea packets or loose leaf chai tea, or you can get a little more fancy with things and use the ingredients below. I like to use the fresh, raw ingredients whenever possible – again, to maximize the health benefits.

Ingredients (makes 4 servings):

  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 3 cardamom pods
  • 2 cloves
  • 2 fennel seeds
  • 1 pinch of ground nutmeg
  • 1 medium piece of fresh ginger
  • 2 cups of unsweetened almond milk
  • 2 tablespoons of raw honey (or more to taste)
  • 2 tablespoons of raw cacao powder
  • 1 cup of boiled water

Directions:

If you’re going with totally raw ingredients like those listed above, you need to start by grinding up the cardamom, cloves, fennel, and cinnamon. You can do this in a coffee grinder, a food processor, or using a mortar and pestle. Add in the nutmeg when things start to get fine.

In blender, add the almond milk, boiled water, ginger, cacao powder, honey, and ground spices. Blend on high for a minute or so, until all ingredients are integrated. For a twist on the flavor, you can also add a teaspoon of real vanilla extract.

That’s it, and you’re ready to serve. You can serve this drink hot (as is), or you can poor it over ice for a refreshing and delicious iced chocolate chai. Make sure you enjoy the scent of this drink too…the spices smell amazing!

And remember, if you’re short on time or a little overwhelmed by all the raw ingredients, you can definitely substitute the spices and just use some loose leaf chai tea or even a chai tea packet, boil it in a couple cups of water, drain, and mix with cacao powder, milk, and honey.

The Benefits of Tea

Whether it’s chai or green tea, all teas are packed full of healthy benefits. Antioxidants are one of the big ones, which help reverse the signs of aging and improve your metabolism. Many teas, like chai and green, also have caffeine for a natural source of energy. Other benefits that have been identified include improved cardiovascular health, boosted metabolism, and better focus and concentration.

If you’re looking for some serious metabolism-boosting results from tea, consider Green Foods Matcha Green Tea. It’s definitely the highest when it comes to caffeine content. Or you can also consider Irwin Naturals Green Tea Fat Metabolizer for daily metabolism-boosting support.

Have any questions or feedback about this Delicious Chocolate Chai Recipe? Please leave a comment below…