Iced Chiya Chai 16 Oz Recipe

Combine liquids and spices

In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup water and 1 cup whole milk. Add crushed cardamom pods, cloves, peppercorns (if using), sliced ginger, and cinnamon. Heat over medium until just below a simmer (small bubbles at edges).

Brew the tea

Once the milk-water mixture is hot, add the 3 black tea bags and remove saucepan from heat. Let steep for 5 minutes, covered, for a strong concentrate.

Sweeten and strain

After steeping, stir in 2 tablespoons brown sugar until dissolved. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a heatproof container, pressing lightly on the solids to extract liquid. Discard solids and allow the concentrate to cool to room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator (about 20–30 minutes) if time allows.

Bloom chia seeds

While the chai concentrate cools, combine 2 tablespoons chia seeds with 4 tablespoons cold water in a small bowl. Stir well to avoid clumps. Add 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract if using. Let sit 10–15 minutes, stirring once or twice during that time, until the chia has swollen and the mixture is gel-like.

Adjust thickness

If the chia mixture is too thick for your preference, stir in up to 1 tablespoon additional water or milk to reach a pourable but noticeably textured consistency.

Prepare glass

Fill a 16 oz serving glass with about 1 cup ice cubes (or to roughly 3/4 full).

Layer chia

Spoon the bloomed chia mixture into the bottom of the glass (about 2 tablespoons of the mixture; adjust if you prefer more). Gently tamp to create an even layer.

Add chai concentrate

Pour 1/2 cup of the chilled chai concentrate over the chia layer.

Add milk and sweeten

Pour 1/2 cup cold milk (or plant milk) into the glass to fill most of the remainder. Taste and if you want it sweeter, add up to 1 tablespoon simple syrup or sweetener and stir gently to combine. The drink should total about 16 oz when accounting for ice and air; adjust milk by a tablespoon or two if needed.

Garnish and serve

Sprinkle a pinch (about 1/4 teaspoon) cinnamon powder on top. Insert a straw and serve immediately, stirring before drinking so the chai and milk mix with the chia pearls.