Foodie Friday (A Day Early) : My Vanilla Chai

I have sat down numerous times in the last 4-5 months to write about things I was passionate about, but after sitting at the computer and writing I would decide not to post after all. I just didn't feel it.  I knew at some point there would be a subject I was both passionate about and "felt it.".... and here we are!

Yes, I am seriously passionate about my chai.

I blame thank my stepdaughter.  Twelve years ago when her dad and I were engaged a wedding shower was given for us and one of the gifts she gave me was Tastefully Simple Oh My! Chai.  I wasn't new to this product.  I had it in the past and it was okay, but when I tried it again after our shower I was hooked (to say the least).  Since she was a consultant for the company I felt the least I could do was buy more and support her business. :)

A few years later the company discontinued the chai.  I tried numerous other vanilla chai versions on the market:  powders, refrigerated drinks, unrefrigerated drinks.... but they were either too spicy or too watery. It was like Goldilocks and the Three Bears;  they just were not right. 

Then I finally found one at a warehouse store and Michael  encouraged me to try it.  I was sure I was going to be disappointed and it would be a waste of money as it was each time I tried a new chai, but I reluctantly picked up a can.  To my surprise I LOVED it!  That became my trusted go-to chai the last few years.

Michael says I am addicted.  I tell him "addicted" is a pretty strong word. Over the years I have come to grips with the idea this could be true.  Are there healthier things I could be drinking?  Absolutely.  Are there worse things I could be drinking?  Definitely. I guess if chai is my worst vice I'll take that. 

We won't talk about how much chai I drink.  Let's just say morning, mid-morning, noon, mid-afternoon, night, middle of the night... there's no wrong time for chai.  

So when I ordered more chai a couple of  months ago, the same old routine, I expected the same old result.  However, upon opening the can it didn't smell like it usually did and I knew the recipe wasn't "right".  After making a cup and taking one sip it confirmed that I had received what I felt was a "bad batch."  I tried stirring it up to make sure the ingredients were fully blended and making a second... and third cup, only to get the same result. Blech!  You know that feeling when you are so anticipating something and it ends up not at all what you expected? 

Well not only was I disappointed (and chai-less), but  my husband got worried. Honestly he was starting to panic at the thought of me without chai.  He kept saying, "What are you going to do?"  He definitely was concerned, although I am not sure if he was more concerned for me or himself. 

He says I am "crabitable" when I don't have my chai.  I have no  clue what he is talking about!  First of all, that isn't even a word... and secondly I say HE is crabitable when I don't have chai! 

I contacted the company about my bad batch.  After looking at my order history they realized I was really serious about this stuff and they offered to send me some from  a different lot and asked me to let them know how it tasted.  Yep, I was that good of a customer.

So like a kid at Christmas I waited for that chai to arrive.  When the FedEx guy brought it I told him I had been waiting for him all day.  To say I was giddy would be an understatement.  However, all I had to do was open the can and smell it and I knew it was not going to be good.  I made some and yes, the second batch they sent also tasted "off",  although not as bad.  I contacted the company with the results and they are going to get back to me  with  the  analysis of the lots in question and will  let me  know if they hear of issues from other customers. 

In the meantime life goes on and this woman needs chai!

At this point you have to be agreeing with my husband and thinking "addicted" may be too subtle of a word.  I can live with that.

So  with  no idea of when "the good stuff" would be available again  I decided it was time to start making my own chai and not rely on others to supply me with it.  Yes, I know how that sounds. I had attempted making my own a few years ago before I had my food processor and it just didn't  work out well.  I realized I now had the right kitchen appliance and there was definitely a need as we were in full crisis mode here!

I searched online for vanilla chai recipes and found one that matched the ingredients in the one I had been drinking and headed to the store.  I compared the recipes to determine what ingredient should be first, second, etc., in order to come up with a recipe that came closest to the recipe I loved.  I have made several batches and tweaked the recipe each time.  I loved the last batch I made and felt it was worthy of sharing.

If you love a subtle, creamy, vanilla chai like I do, try this recipe I came  up with.

My Vanilla Chai

3-3/4 cups sugar

3-1/2 cups dry milk

1 cup french vanilla creamer

1-1/2 cup regular creamer

1-1/4 cup unsweetened tea

2-1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp cloves

1/8 tsp cardamom

I have a 13-cup food processor and blend the sugar and milk first.  Once those are blended and reduced to a fine powder I add the creamers and tea and blend again.  Last, add the spices and blend.  I hand stir at the end as well to make sure ingredients are well blended.

Put 3 T. of mix in a 10-12 oz mug and add hot water.  Stir and enjoy.

This recipe can easily be fine-tuned to your taste.  If you like a sweeter chai add a bit more sugar (go in 1/4-cup increments as it doesn't  take much to add sweetness).  If you prefer more vanilla flavor switch the amounts of the creamers around.  Prefer more spices?  Increase the spices. Also, use more mix per cup if that is your preference.

I have not measured how many cups of chai mix I get from a batch, but would guess it to be about 8 cups. 

I haven't figured out the nutritional information on this either.

Sometimes ignorance is bliss.

So is chai.