Chai sugar captures the taste of masala chai in a simple spoonful of sweetness. Stir it into lattes, bake it into your favourite treats or package it up as an edible gift. It is an easy pantry staple that adds warmth and comfort to just about anything.
What is Chai Sugar?
Chai sugar is granulated sugar infused with classic chai spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves and more. Some versions, like mine, also include finely ground tea leaves.
Unlike a chai spice blend, chai sugar acts as both a sweetener and a flavouring. That means you can simply stir it into a hot drink and instantly get those cozy notes you love from a cup of chai. It can also be used in many recipes, outside of drinks. Think of it as an easy way to add chai to your day and spice up your life!
Why You’ll Love this Tea Infused Sugar
There are so many reasons this tea infused sugar gets a lot of love in my house:
- Easy to use: Just scoop, stir or sprinkle.
- Quick chai flavour: No steeping required!
- Versatile: Use it in drinks, baking and more.
- Homemade gift: Shelf-stable and perfect for gifting
- Customizable: You can change up the spices and just use what you have on hand.
How to Use Chai Sugar
Hot Drinks: Make your tea, coffee or hot chocolate even more flavourful by sweetening with this sugar instead of plain sugar!
Baking: Replace part or all of the sugar in cookies, muffins, cakes, etc. for a chai twist. This chai sugar is especially great to roll sugar cookie dough in, too!
Toppings: Sprinkle on top of lattes, yogurt, oatmeal, fruit, granola and more.
Cocktails & Mocktails: Rim glasses for spiced cocktails or mocktails. You can also stir into simple syrups for chai-inspired drinks.
Whipped Cream: Mix into whipping cream for a quick tea infused whipped cream treat.
Breakfast: Add to pancake, waffles or crepe mixes.
Edible Gift: This tea infused sugar can be added to little jars and wrapped with twine or ribbon with a label for easy gifting. Gift it for the holidays or even as a party favour for bridal showers or weddings. Friends and family members will love something unique like this.
Ingredient Notes
It doesn’t take much to make homemade chai sugar. Here are the handful of ingredients that you need:
- Sugar: This easy recipe uses granulated sugar only as it works well for general use.
- Black Tea: Orange Pekoe or English Breakfast tea works well. The tea leaves should be very fine, that’s why I recommend using tea bags. Simply cut the tea bags open and use the fine leaves inside. If you only have loose leaf black tea, grind the leaves a bit in a coffee grinder before using.
- Ground Spices: Cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, nutmeg and black pepper are the spices I like to use, but you can omit any or add others as well. I recommend using spices that you typically like when you drink masala chai.
Homemade Chai Sugar Recipe
This recipe couldn’t be any simpler! As always, find the full ingredient measurements and directions in the printable recipe card towards the end of this post.
STEP ONE: In a mixing bowl, combine the granulated sugar, the black tea leaves from inside the tea bag and ground spices.
STEP TWO: Pour into a clean, airtight container. This chai sugar can be used immediately or stored at room temperature for up to 6 months. Add a label with a best before date, if desired. Enjoy!
Variations
You can adjust this recipe to suit your preferences. Here are a few different ideas:
- No Tea/Caffeine-Free: If you want all the chai flavour without any caffeine, simply skip the tea leaves and rely on the spice blend alone. This version is perfect for evening drinks, kids’ treats or anyone avoiding caffeine. Alternatively, you can use rooibos (naturally caffeine-free) instead of black tea bags.
- Extra-Spicy: If you like a little heat, increase the ginger and black pepper or add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Vanilla: For a creamy taste, you can add a bit of vanilla bean powder to the spiced sugar mixture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is chai sugar caffeinated?
If it contains black tea, yes. If you use rooibos or no tea leaves, it will be caffeine-free.
Can I make chai sugar refined-sugar free?
You can try different sugar options, but the flavour profile and texture won’t be the same. I recommend testing in small batches first.
How long does chai sugar last?
When stored properly, homemade chai sugar lasts up to six months.
Homemade Chai Sugar
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 black tea bags or 2 teaspoons loose leaf black tea that is ground finely
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine the granulated sugar, black tea bag contents and ground spices.
- Pour the chai sugar into an airtight container. It can be used right away or stored at room temperature for up to 6 months. Add a label with a best before date, if desired. Enjoy!