Cooking With Heinen’s| Spicy Chai Milkshake

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3 mins read

There are times when a simple scent can take you back to a different time in a different place, remove the haste and worry of the moment and surround you in comfort. I wish you were in my kitchen this very moment to fully understand what I am describing. I am making fresh Chai.

I didn’t think I was a chai fan to be honest. The combination of spices and tea seemed too heavy for me. I like the simplicity of robust coffee or black breakfast tea with just a hint of cream but today was a game changer.

You know the feeling when you have something that suits you so perfectly that you are completely comfortable with it THEN something else comes along and makes you pause and question, “What did I see in that?”

Move over pumpkin spice. I’m not going to say I’m done with you but I’m not rushing to the drive-through.

The scent of my kitchen is filled with cinnamon, anise, ginger and cardamom, steeping milk, black tea and vanilla.


Into that I have added just a hint of cayenne. Don’t worry, it’s just enough to give you a note of wonder and warmth but not enough to recognize.

Maybe the reason I’ve never developed a taste for chai is that I’ve only ever ordered it in coffee shops where it’s prepared with a prepackaged mix that, to me, usually tastes dusty and stale. Maybe the reason I’m so enjoying this flavor profile is because today I’m making chai with all fresh whole spices. You can certainly buy chai teabags or chai mix but I can’t recommend strongly enough investing in a collection of fresh spices and steeping in your own black tea with your favorite milk. This is equally as delicious made with nut milk as it is in dairy.

Today is one of those autumn days where it is cool enough for the warmth of these spices yet warm enough to still justify ice cream. I making chai milkshakes.

I’m making my shake with vanilla ice cream but I’ve also tried it with coffee ice cream and that was also delicious. Sorry tea drinkers, I did feel a little guilty mixing tea and coffee but it was really good.

I haven’t yet experimented but because I like rye whiskey’s spicy undertones, I’m assuming a bit of bourbon mixed with chai just might be delicious. After all, great teabags steeped in simple syrup make a wonderful addition to a classic old fashioned. I might have to do some testing…stay tuned.

By the way, did you know that chai simply means tea so if you go into your favorite barista and order chai tea you’re really ordering tea tea.

Chai Milk Shake

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 1/2 cup milk (or almond milk)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 4 black chai tea bags
  • 2 4-inch cinnamon stick
  • 2 star anise
  • 10 pieces of whole cardamom
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 pint (2 cups) vanilla ice cream
  • Ground cinnamon sugar for topping, equal part raw sugar and cinnamon.
  • whipped cream optional

DIRECTIONS:

  • Pour milk into a small saucepan set over medium heat. Stir in ginger and cayenne. Add the tea bags and cinnamon stick, star anise and cardamom. Dunk the teabags to submerge. Tip: Remove paper tabs from tea bags. Heat, stirring occasionally, until steaming and just below a simmer, about 5 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and let steep for 5 minutes. Remove tea bags. Stir in vanilla extract. Let cool to room temperature. With a slotted spoon remove whole spices.
  • Add ice cream to the pitcher of a blender and pour some chai milk mixture over the top. Blend until smooth add more milk as necessary for desired thickness. Pour into a large glass, top with whipped cream if desired. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Serve.

About the Author

Photographer Sally Roeckell specializes in contemporary lifestyle portraiture with an emphasis on food photography. Her Blog, Table and Dish is a website devoted to celebrating and curating the many ways that food binds us. Sally hopes that her recipes and images will inspire you to gather your friends and family in the kitchen to make memories, use the time to connect with busy kids, chat over mixing bowls, get messy, laugh, sing, set the table, clear the table, pass the salt, debate the days topics and pray. You can follow her here as a weekly contributor to 365Barrington and Heinen’s as well as via Table and Dish on Instagram and on her website at TableAndDish.com.


Have you heard about Heinen’s Tasteful Rewards™ program? Sign up for free to receive exclusive weekly specials via email and earn Heinen’s rewards. As a Tasteful Rewards™ membership benefit, Heinen’s will donate up to 1% of your qualified purchases made between September and April to a local school of your choice through their Teaming Up for Education Program. CLICK HERE to sign up for Heinen’s Tasteful Rewards™ and, trust me, this is one email that will always please your palate!


Heinen’s Grocery is located at 500 N. Hough Street, between E. Main Street and Route 14 (next to Meatheads) in Barrington, Illinois. They’re open 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more information, visit Heinens.com.

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