Vanilla Chai Tea Recipe: Make This Easy Spice Mix for DIY Holiday Gifts

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November 11, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 2 Comments

Whether you enjoy the delicious flavor of a vanilla chai tea latte or need ideas for DIY holiday gifts, this vanilla chai tea mix is the perfect recipe to spice things up this winter. Keep reading to learn how to make your own easy vanilla chai tea mix for lattes for a cozy winter treat or to package as budget friendly DIY Christmas for friends, family and coworkers.

DIY Holiday Gifts: Vanilla Chai Tea Mix

I first discovered loose leaf tea during my first marriage. Once I’d tried tea this way, it was over. There was no looking back. I soon had an entire shelf in my pantry that was nothing but flavored loose leaf teas. Once I tried my first chai tea, well. That was the ultimate luxury. And truth be told, I wasn’t even a coffee drinker at this point. That came years later.

While my vanilla chai tea mix is a powdered mix, not a loose leaf tea, it’s still as yummy as the real deal. The advantage of the powdered mix however is that it travels well, it’s super quick, there’s less waste and it’s easy to gift. Simply package your chai tea mix in a mason jar to give as holiday food gifts or for easy storage in your pantry.

While I prefer to brew fresh assam tea for my chai latte recipe, an easy alternative is to mix an instant tea into vanilla chai latte spice mix. (I give directions for both ways.)

Want to know why you should drink chai tea? Learn about the natural health benefits of chai tea here.

Vanilla Chai Tea Mix Recipe

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons cardamom powder
1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon allspice powder
1 Tablespoon nutmeg powder
3 Tablespoons ginger root powder
2 teaspoons clove powder
2 teaspoons sweet cinnamon powder
1 whole vanilla bean pod (or 1 teaspoon vanilla bean powder)
1 1/2 cups unsweetened black instant tea, optional (see below)

Directions for A Making Vanilla Chai Tea Mix:

To make this vanilla chai tea mix, begin by scraping the vanilla beans out of the vanilla bean pod, if using. Then measure out the remaining spices, and instant tea if using, into a glass bowl. Mix well.

Evenly divide the vanilla chai mix between three 4 oz. mason jars for gifts. Alternately you also use a large jar for your own personal storage.

Alternate directions for DIY Vanilla Chai Tea Mix:

If you prefer to brew fresh assam tea for your vanilla chai lattes, then omit the instant tea. Instead, increase amounts of the spices to fit inside mason jars in your choice of size. Then gift the mix with a box of Assam tea bags. Alternately you can also gift your chai tea mix with loose leaf Assam tea or vanilla black assam tea (and omit the vanilla from the spice mix recipe.) Just be sure to include a tea strainer or disposable tea bags with your gift if you opt for gifting loose leaf tea.

(You can store your vanilla chai latte mix in an airtight container for up to a month.)

Don’t forget to include instructions with your DIY holiday gifts on how to use the vanilla chai tea spice mix to make the lattes! You can find the directions for brewing a latte (with dairy or non-dairy milk) using my spiced tea mix below.

Vanilla Chai Tea Latte Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup milk (or dairy free coconut milk or almond milk)
organic sugar, coconut sugar or maple syrup, to taste
2 1/2 Tablespoons vanilla chai tea mix (or 1 Tablespoon if you omitted the instant tea)
2 Assam tea bags or 2 teaspoons loose leaf assam tea, optional (dependent on mix)

Directions with instant tea:

If you included instant black tea in your vanilla chai latte mix recipe, you’ll need to follow these directions for making your latte.

Mix 2 1/2 Tablespoons of the chai latte mix with two cups (or 8 oz.) of warm milk or a dairy free alternative.

Mix well with an immersion blender, then sweeten to taste.

Directions with loose leaf tea:

Add the milk or milk alternative to a double boiler or small saucepan. Then add one Tablespoon vanilla chai tea mix. Mix with an immersion blender.

Heat the milk and spices over low until the milk reaches 130°F, stirring often to avoid scorching.

Next, add the chai tea bags (or loose leaf tea in a strainer or disposable tea bag.) Steep the tea in the milk and spices for 5-minutes or to desired strength.

Then strain the tea bags and add your choice of sweetener to suit. Mix again for good measure.

Now pour the latte into an 8 oz. mug. Then sip and enjoy.

Yield: About 2 cups vanilla chai tea latte spice mix

Vanilla Chai Tea Recipe (A Spice Mix for Lattes)

Name: Vanilla Chai Tea Recipe (A Spice Mix for Lattes)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: About 2 cups vanilla chai tea latte spice mix
Cuisine: tea
Ingredients: 2 Tablespoons cardamom powder; 1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon allspice powder; 1 Tablespoon nutmeg powder; 3 Tablespoons ginger root powder; 2 teaspoons clove powder; 2 teaspoons sweet cinnamon powder; 1 whole vanilla bean pod (or 1 teaspoon vanilla bean powder); 1 1/2 cups unsweetened black instant tea

Spice things up this winter with a delicious vanilla chai latte recipe for a cozy winter treat. Or make a vanilla chai tea mix for easy DIY holiday gifts.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

2 Tablespoons cardamom powder
1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon allspice powder
1 Tablespoon nutmeg powder
3 Tablespoons ginger root powder
2 teaspoons clove powder
2 teaspoons sweet cinnamon powder
1 whole vanilla bean pod (or 1 teaspoon vanilla bean powder)
1 1/2 cups unsweetened black instant tea

Instructions

Scrape the vanilla beans out of the vanilla bean pod.
Measure out the remaining spices and combine in a glass bowl with the instant tea. Mix well.
Place the vanilla chai mix in a large mason jar.

Notes

To brew, mix 2 1/2 Tablespoons of the vanilla chai tea latte mix with two cups (or 8 oz.) of warm milk or a dairy free alternative. Mix with an immersion blender until the ingredients are evenly dispersed, then sweeten to taste.

This vanilla chai latte mix can be stored in an airtight container for up to a month.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 9 Total Fat: 0g Saturated Fat: 0g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 0g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 2mg Carbohydrates: 2g Net Carbohydrates: 0g Fiber: 1g Sugar: 0g Sugar Alcohols: 0g Protein: 0g

Vanilla Chai Tea Mix Recipe for Lattes: Make this easy DIY chai tea spice mix recipe for DIY holiday gifts. Spice things up this winter with a delicious vanilla chai latte recipe for a cozy winter treat. Or make an easy DIY vanilla chai tea mix for easy DIY holiday gifts for friends, family, teachers, neighbors and coworkers. The perfect homemade holiday gift for Christmas. Learn how to make DIY holiday food gifts now.

If you love my easy latte mix recipe, then don’t forget to pin this spicy, winter holiday drink recipe to Pinterest for later.

More DIY Holiday Food Gifts

What are some other ideas for making DIY holiday food gifts for friends and family? There are so many options for gifting food throughout the holiday season. Here are more of my yummy recipes for your DIY holiday gifts this winter. Also be sure to check out these homemade food gift ideas on Pinterest.

For more recipes from Soap Deli News, follow me across your favorite social media platforms. You can find me on Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up for my newsletter.

Filed Under: Food Recipes, Holiday DIY, Homemade Gift Ideas Tagged With: artisan tea, black tea, chai tea, christmas, diy, drink, drink mix, drink recipe, easy, food, food gift, food recipe, gift idea, holiday gift, organic, recipe, spice, tea

Cooking & Baking with Mace: The Vintage Spice You Need to Try

October 9, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 1 Comment

Have you ever used mace in a recipe? No, mace isn’t just a deterrent from assailants. It’s actually a lesser known vintage spice. Mace is closely related to nutmeg and is similar in both aroma and flavor. It is often used in teas and tinctures. And it also makes a great addition to foods and baking recipes. Keep reading to learn more about the vintage spice mace. And to discover food, dessert and drink recipes that call for mace as an ingredient.

Many years back I read what I thought to be a rather interesting article on Etsy’s blog titled The Historic Spice Cupboard. It contained some really neat information on vintage spices – rather the spices our great and great great grandparents probably used – in cooking and baking. Some of the spices are still used today, while others are a lot less common. For example, mace, is not a spice I had ever heard of.

What is the Spice Mace?

I’ve always thought of mace as pepper spray so I was a little confused at first. But as it turns out, mace is a very close relative of nutmeg. Mace is actually the red membrane that surrounds the nutmeg seed. It’s very similar to the taste of nutmeg, but rather has a more red pepper reminiscent heat. It was very common in the 18th and 19th centuries, but has since fallen by the way side. Like nutmeg, mace can be used in baking. However it is also served well in savory dishes for flavoring meats, stews, curries, savory sauces, and even homemade pickles. You can also use it in teas, tinctures and beverages.

What are the Health Benefits?

Additionally, it’s believed that mace has an antioxidant effect in the liver, helping it conserve glutathione and increasing protection against free radicals. theKitchn has additional information on this amazing vintage spice. You can also find out more information on mace from Mountain Rose Herbs including both contemporary and folklore info.

Where Can I Buy It?

If you want to try mace, be sure to buy it from a reputable source that guarantees that the powder is not made from previously BWP (broken-wormy-punky) nuts. It’s also better not to use an irradiated product which breaks down the fatty acids that contain the essential oils that give it aroma and flavor. Mountain Rose Herbs is great place to buy ground organic mace. In fact, I have it on my next shopping list of things to buy from them since it’s so versatile and can be used in so many different types of recipes. I’ve also found it to be a common ingredient in many Indian dishes.

Recipes That Call for Mace

Following are just a few of the many recipes I’ve found that can be made with mace.

Baking & Dessert Recipes

Drink Recipes

Dinner Recipes

Spice Mix Recipes

Have you ever cooked with mace? I’d love to hear what your favorite recipes are for this wonderful vintage spice!

For more DIY ideas and food recipes, be sure to follow Soap Deli News across your favorite social media channels. You can find and follow me on Blog Lovin‘, pinterest, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up for my semi-weekly newsletter.

Filed Under: Food Recipes, Health & Wellness Tagged With: baking, dessert, dinner, drink, drink recipe, food, food recipe, mace, spice, vintage spice

Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe: A Healthy Non-Dairy 2-Ingredient Recipe

August 7, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 1 Comment

This healthy dairy and gluten free pumpkin spice latte recipe is the perfect treat for fall. A vegan latte packed with healthy fats from coconut and almonds, this pumpkin spice latte makes a quick and easy breakfast swap whether you’re running behind from back to school or just feeling run down. All with just two simple ingredients and only 76 calories per 12.5 fl oz. serving.

A Better Pumpkin Spice Latte

Apparently pumpkin spice season comes earlier every year. Starbucks, in fact, announced that their pumpkin spice latte will be released early this year – on August 28th. While there’s a certain celebrity (hey, Martha!) who thinks pumpkin spice is basic, I disagree. Even so, we like what we like, and I for one, refused to be shamed for treating myself to a classic fall flavor.

However, if I’m being totally honest, I just don’t like Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte. The flavoring is off and tastes artificial. Which, for me, ruins the whole experience. Therefore, I came up with my own pumpkin spice latte recipe. And believe it or not, it’s literally just 2-ingredients if you don’t count the water to brew the coffee.

I’ve been trying to cut back on dairy as my eczema had been coming back more recently. I’d actually given up milk all together more than a few years ago. If not for butter and cheese, I could easily have cut it from my diet entirely. But for obvious reasons – cheese if F-ING DELICIOUS – I found that not drinking milk did keep the eczema at bay. I even learned to take my coffee black. When I wanted to indulge in a flavored coffee, however, drinking it black leaves something to be desired. So I’ve had my eye out for a good non-dairy coffee creamer to replace my regular half and half for some time.

The first dairy free latte I tried making was a caramel and coconut cream latte. I combined Archer Farms Buttery Caramel Coffee with Califia Farms Vanilla Almondmilk Creamer. It’s made with real almond and coconut cream. This non-dairy creamer is also non-GMO, kosher, vegan, gluten-free, soy-free and carrageenan-free. It’s also crazy delicious and tastes SO much better than butter coffee, which I just couldn’t wrap my taste buds around.

Luckily, the simple combination of almond milk, can sugar, coconut cream and vanilla extract goes well with so many different bakery inspired and caramel flavored coffees. It also tastes great with pumpkin spice flavored coffees! Thus, a simple combination of your favorite, fresh brewed pumpkin spice coffee combined with vanilla almondmilk creamer makes a pumpkin spice latte that is to die for!

I’ve started catching this non-dairy creamer on sale at Target and buying them two at a time because it’s just that good! It’s seriously my favorite food discovery of the year. Which I guess seems sad – or basic maybe? – but I’ve been trying a lot of everything since my mid-thirties. There’s little I haven’t tried at least once at this point.

If you’re ready to jump on this fall pumpkin spice latte train, then let’s get rolling!

Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe

Ingredients:

10 fl. oz. fresh brewed pumpkin spice coffee, or flavor of choice
2.5 fl. oz. Califia Farms Vanilla Almondmilk Creamer

Directions:

Brew your pumpkin spice coffee using one rounded Tablespoon per cup of water.

Once brewed, stir in the vanilla almondmilk creamer. Then sip, relax and enjoy!

Yield: 12.5 oz.

Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe

This healthy dairy and gluten free pumpkin spice latte recipe is the perfect treat for fall. A vegan latte packed with healthy fats from coconut and almonds, this pumpkin spice latte makes a quick and easy breakfast swap whether you're running behind from back to school or just feeling run down. All with just two simple ingredients.

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

10 fl. oz. fresh brewed pumpkin spice coffee
2.5 fl. oz. Califia Farms Vanilla Almondmilk Creamer

Instructions

Brew your pumpkin spice coffee using one rounded Tablespoon per cup of water.

Once brewed, stir in the vanilla almondmilk creamer. Then sip, relax and enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 76 Total Fat: 2.5g Saturated Fat: 0g Trans Fat: 0g Cholesterol: 0mg Carbohydrates: 10g Sugar: 10g

For another low calorie treat, be sure to check out my post on why hard seltzer is the new wine substitute. Or pair my pumpkin spice latte with these delicious, natural brown sugar drop cookies. They’re also the perfect treat for fall with lightly crunchy exteriors paired with soft fluffy centers! You can discover more drink recipes for fall via my Drink Recipe Pinterest board.

And don’t forget to follow me via facebook, twitter and instagram for more great recipes and ideas. You can also sign up to receive my newsletter to stay in the loop.

Filed Under: Food Recipes, Health & Wellness Tagged With: almond milk, coconut milk, coffee, dairy free, drink, drink recipe, food recipe, gluten free, health and wellness, latte, low calories, non-GMO, pumpkin spice, soy free, vegan

Boozy Popsicles with Edible Lilac Flowers

April 9, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 1 Comment

Learn how to make “I’m all grown up” boozy popsicles with edible lilac flowers with a simple gin and tonic popsicle recipe. It’s perfect for spring brunch with your lady friends and a fun way to enjoy a summer treat a season early!

A Traditional Summer Treat

I still have fond memories of my parents giving me change to buy ice cream throughout summers as a child. Every year the ice cream truck would circle through our cul-de-sac to deliver treats to a neighborhood full of kids. I think my favorites were the chocolate Good Humor ice cream bars and, of course, bomb pops. These days, however, ice cream truck sightings are rare. They’re also the talk of the town. Just not for the reason you may think.

The only ice cream truck we ever see circling the block plays Christmas music. As if that wasn’t bizarre enough, the combination of Christmas tunes in the summer paired with the distortion from a pair of way back speakers sounds pretty f-ing creepy. I swear it reminds me of that movie, Killer Clown from Outer Space. It has that same eerie level of creep factor that’s both amusing and terrifying at the same time.

There are also no bright pictures or prices for ice cream painted onto the sides of this particular truck. Therefore, my friends and I always wonder what that ice cream truck is really a front for. We’ve never actually seen anyone buy ice cream from this truck. So for all we know the person inside could be selling drugs. Or perhaps it’s a secret gateway to hell. (I mean hey, I did grow up in the 80’s. Anything is possible!) I’ve also wondered if other towns and cities like mine have experienced the same sort of killer clown ice cream truck phenomenon.

Luckily, all of the other food trucks in our area seem to legit. It’s just that one ice cream trucks that creeps me out more than the massage parlors dotted throughout our strip malls. Those, at least, aren’t emitting eery music or maneuvering through our neighborhoods.

These days I’m obviously no longer dependant on quarters and dimes from my parents to get my ice cream fix. However, seeing as how I’m all grown up – in number not in heart – I enjoy making my own homemade popsicles from time to time. And what better way to celebrate the arrival of spring than with your own boozy popsicles speckled with edible flowers?

Benefits of Edible Lilac Flowers

One of my favorite spring flowers are lilacs. Lilac shrubs, which typically bloom in late spring, offer more than just their beautiful blooms. This flowering shrub yields a plethora of fragrant blooms that are not only pretty to look at, they are also edible and medicinal. A beautiful touch to garnish drinks for a spring brunch, lilac blooms offer a slightly bitter, floral flavor. (Much like some of my favorite cocktails. I am after all, a gin and tonic girl with an undying love for elderflowers and juniper berries.)

Medicinally, lilacs make a lovely ingredient in facial toners due to their astringent properties. (Next time you’re thinking of making rose water, why not try lilacs instead?) A warm or cold lilac infusion also makes a nice compress for rashes, cuts and other skin ailments due to its natural astringency. As a home remedy, lilacs have often been used to bring down fevers as well as to help with gastric issues such as gas, bloating and constipation.

Boozy Popsicles: A Twist on a Summer Treat (A Season Early)

Following is a simple and easy recipe for making boozy popsicles with gin and tonic. And of course a few (or a lot!) of fresh lilac flowers thrown into the mix. Not a fan of gin? Try swapping it with your favorite organic vodka instead!

Gin and Tonic Boozy Popsicles Recipe

Ingredients:

3 cups Fever Tree tonic water
1 1/2 oz. Botanica gin (or similar)
Squeeze of fresh lime juice
Fresh lilac blossoms, to suit

Directions:

Combine all the ingredient in a small pitcher and mix to combine. Then pour the mixture into popsicles molds of your choice. Pop into the freezer, then enjoy once frozen!

For slightly sweeter boozy popsicles, try using sugared lilac blossoms instead! Or try the Fever Tree elderflower tonic water in place of regular tonic water.

You can also use pretty spoons in place of a traditional wooden popsicle stick to make your boozy popsicles the perfect addition to your spring wedding or event.

Not a fan of flowers? You can also make this recipe using fresh lime slices for a fun visual twist.

More Ways to Enjoy Edible Flowers

Want more ideas on edible flowers to add to your boozy popsicles, drinks and desserts? Then be sure to check out the book, The Art of Edible Flowers, by Rebecca Sullivan. This floral inspired cookbook is a wonderful guide to just some of many ways in which flowers can be used in a range of delicious recipes. Readers will discover recipes for delightfully sweet concoctions such as a rose & lavender cocktail syrup and jasmine & green tea ice cream. Or learn how to make homemade drinks such as a fermented elderflower fizz or a soothing poppy milk. You can purchase The Art of Edible Flowers here.

Explore Other Cocktail Recipes

Following are some of my favorite cocktail recipes that are perfect for entertaining or simply enjoying a drink on a warm evening.

Or check out this post to learn how to make your own handcrafted cocktail bitters.

For more great recipes and DIY ideas for your eco-friendly lifestyle, you can find and follow me across your favorite social media platforms including Pinterest, Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram so you never miss a post. Or sign up for my semi-weekly newsletter.

Filed Under: Food Recipes, Lifestyle Tagged With: adult drink recipe, alcohol, brunch, drink, drink recipe, edible flowers, entertaining, food recipe, lilacs, medicinal, popsicles, spring, spring brunch, spring entertaining, summer

Limoncello & Violette Spritzer Recipe with Healthy Probiotics

April 2, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon

This limoncello & violette spritzer recipe is the perfect cocktail for your spring brunch! Not only does it blend bright spring flavors into a refreshing drink, it also contains the same natural probiotics that you find in raw apple cider vinegar.

Truth be told, this cocktail recipe came out of my desire to find a way to use up the leftover Liqueur de Violette from a long ago party and limoncello. So I took a peek at similar cocktail recipes that were already out there and gave them my own twist with two of my favorite cocktail ingredients – vodka and drinking vinegar.

While I’m a huge fan of Pok Pok Som drinking vinegar, I chose to use Vermont Village Sipping Vinegar for my Limoncello & Violette Spritzer recipe instead. Not only is Vermont Village Sipping Vinegar available in smaller quantities (and at a better price point when purchasing from Thrive Market which is how I save on natural and organic products) but they are also sugar free.

I chose to use their blueberry & honey sipping vinegar which simply contains blueberry, honey and raw apple cider vinegar. This is also the one and only EVER sipping vinegar that my roommate will drink.

While she agrees with me that this sipping vinegar is quite delicious, especially in the craft cocktails I make up in our kitchen, she will still only drink it while holding her breath so as not to smell the vinegar. With that said, I’m quite sure half of you are nodding your heads in agreement and the other half are laughing your tooshies off.

Either way, if you’d like to give my Limoncello & Violette Spritzer a try, here’s how to make it…

Limoncello & Violette Spritzer Recipe

Ingredients:

1 oz. vodka
.5 oz. limoncello
.5 oz. liqueur de violette
2 oz. prosecco
1 oz. Vermont Village Blueberry & Honey Sipping Vinegar
1.5 oz. club soda

Directions:

Combine all ingredients and stir. Then pour over ice into a cocktail glass and enjoy! (I’m currently crushing on these Luminarc® 9oz Lowball Glasses available at Target.)

More Cocktail Recipes to Try

If you like my Limoncello & Violette Spritzer Recipe, then you may also enjoy some of these other cocktail recipes.

You can also check out my Cocktail Recipes Pinterest Board. Or learn how to make your own homemade cocktail bitters. (It’s a lot easier than you might think!)

For more great recipes and DIY ideas, be sure to follow Soap Deli News across all of your favorite social media platforms!

You can find me on Pinterest, G+, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’, and Instagram as well as subscribe to Soap Deli News via email for future updates, DIY projects and recipes.

Filed Under: Food Recipes, Lifestyle, Party Ideas Tagged With: adult drink recipe, cocktail, drink recipe, drinking vinegar, party ideas, probiotics, recipes, spritzer