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Easy Pumpkin Chai Latte Concentrate (Starbucks Copycat)

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This Easy Pumpkin Chai Latte Concentrate is a Starbucks copycat recipe that delivers deep, layered warmth without any weird additives or the sticker shock. Made with simple pantry ingredients, it’s perfect for cozy mornings and holiday brunches.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
  • 4–6 chai tea bags
  • 1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 2 whole cinnamon sticks
  • 4–5 whole cloves
  • 4–5 whole cardamom pods, lightly crushed
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt
  • For serving: milk of choice (whole milk, oat milk, or almond milk)
  • For serving: whipped cream (optional)
  • For serving: ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a medium saucepan, combine 2 cups of water and 1 cup of granulated sugar. Place over medium heat and whisk gently until the sugar is completely dissolved, about 2-3 minutes.
  2. Whisk in ½ cup of pumpkin puree until fully incorporated. Add the thinly sliced fresh ginger, 2 cinnamon sticks, 4-5 whole cloves, and 4-5 lightly crushed cardamom pods. Stir together.
  3. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer (small bubbles around the edges). Reduce heat to low and let it simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. After 10 minutes, remove the pot from the heat. Add 4-6 chai tea bags and let them steep for 5-7 minutes.
  5. Remove the tea bags, gently squeezing them to extract all the flavor. Stir in ½ teaspoon of ground nutmeg, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and a tiny pinch of salt.
  6. Set a fine-mesh strainer over a heat-safe glass jar or bowl. Carefully pour the concentrate through the strainer to catch all the whole spices and ginger slices. Use the back of a spoon to press any liquid out of the solids. Discard the solids.
  7. Let the concentrate cool to room temperature before sealing the jar. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

Don’t boil the tea bags as it will extract bitter tannins. Crush cardamom pods before adding to release flavor. The concentrate will keep for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator and flavors will deepen over the first 24-48 hours. For serving, combine ½ cup concentrate with ½ cup milk and heat until steaming.

Nutrition

Keywords: pumpkin chai latte, Starbucks copycat, chai concentrate, pumpkin spice, fall drink, homemade chai, easy chai recipe

Find it online: https://gleefulfork.com/easy-pumpkin-chai-latte-concentrate-starbucks-copycat/