Spicy Iced Chai Tea

I was a caffeine newbie until I hit college. That’s when it all started.

Sure, I had sodas every now and then growing up, but I wasn’t really a tea or coffee drinker until I was in the middle of finals, cram sessions and late nights at the library. Suddenly, chai lattes and white chocolate mochas became a regular in my daily routine.

I still remember the first time I ever had a chai latte. I didn’t even know what it was when I ordered it. I had no idea if it was tea or coffee! But as soon as I had the first sip, I was hooked. From that spring break trip in California all the way back to school in Arkansas and home in Virginia, chai tea became one of my favorites, no matter where I was.

On most days, I’m a coffee purist – just a little bit of milk in my coffee, and I’m set. But when I want chai tea, I want it one of two ways. Either steaming hot with lots of milk or iced, kicked up with extra spices, and a couple glugs of milk to make it just a bit creamier.

I’ve done hot chai tea at home lots of times, so I’m not sure why it took me so long to make my own iced chai. And this certainly won’t be the last time. You can buy chai tea that’s ready to brew or you can make your own spiced tea mix, making it as spicy (or non-spicy) as you like!

I like a little extra kick in mine, so I added a bit more cayenne. This is also delicious if you steep some fresh orange peel in with the tea bags, too.

Basically – brew some black tea. Add your favorite spices. Pour into a large glass with ice and add some ice cold low-fat or fat-free milk or lactose-free milk for a spicy way to start (or end!) your day.

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Spicy Iced Chai Tea

Yield: 8-10 glasses of tea

Prep Time: 0 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Why buy chai tea when you can make your own mix? Add as much (or as little) spice as you like and make it exactly how you like it.

Ingredients:

• 4 black tea bags (I like Oolong)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp cayenne or black pepper
• pinch of salt
• 1 cup water
• low-fat or fat-free milk or lactose-free milk, for serving

Directions:

1. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil, then pour over the 4 tea bags and let the tea steep for 5 minutes.
2. Stir the cinnamon, ginger, vanilla, cayenne (or black pepper) and salt into the tea.
3. Pour this mixture into a large container/pitcher and fill with ice. Add water to the tea and refrigerate until chilled.
4. To serve, pour tea into a glass with ice, then add milk. Stir and enjoy!

Whether you’re talking about a cold glass of milk, creamy yogurt or flavorful cheese, dairy foods taste great and offer a powerful nutritional punch. But those who are lactose intolerant or showing lactose ​intolerance symptoms don’t have to miss out on the great taste and health benefits of low-fat and fat-free dairy foods.

Different people can handle different amounts of lactose, and there’s a solution to meet most needs in the dairy case – from lactose-free milk to dairy foods that are typically easier to digest. If you’re lactose intolerant, lactose-free milk is a great choice in this spicy iced chai tea –creamy, cold, and delicious, just like it should be.

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by NDC – all recipes and opinions are my own, as always.