Free Recipe · Thermomix Drinks
That spiced, syrupy café magic, made at home: a sticky honey-soaked chai mix that is always just a few minutes from a comforting cuppa.
If you have ever ordered a sticky chai at your favourite café and wondered how to recreate that spiced, syrupy magic at home, this one is for you.
Sticky chai is a rich, aromatic blend of loose black tea leaves and whole spices like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and cloves, all soaked in sweet, golden honey. The result? A ready-to-brew chai mix that is sticky to the touch, bursting with flavour, and just a little bit indulgent. It is kind of like the lovechild of traditional chai and a spiced tea concentrate, only more natural, more fragrant and far more delicious.
To enjoy it, simply scoop a tablespoonful into a pot with your favourite milk (dairy or plant-based), gently warm it through, strain, and sip (I have Thermomix and teapot instructions below). Because the spices have been steeping in honey, the flavour is beautifully deep and balanced, no need to simmer for ages or guess your spice ratios.
Best of all, once you make a batch, it stores beautifully in the fridge, so you are never more than a few minutes away from a comforting, soul-soothing cuppa. Whether it is part of your slow morning ritual or your mid-afternoon pick-me-up, this sticky chai is a little luxury you will quickly fall in love with.
Here's a quick video showing you just how easy it is to make.
Meet the product
Strain it like a pro
Filtix Thermo Tea Filter
Strains your brewed chai straight from the bowl into the cup, no loose tea leaves or spices left behind.
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Sticky Chai (for Thermomix)
Makes 3 cups sticky mixture, approximately 24 serves · Thermomix or thermo cooker
Ingredients
The Tools
Strains the brewed chai straight from the bowl, no loose leaves left behind.
Shop now →Method
Place cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, star anise and fennel in TC bowl, chop 5 sec / speed 8.
Add ginger, chop 3 sec / speed 5.
Add honey, warm 5 min / 37°C / speed soft. Scrape down the sides of the TC bowl using a Thermo Spoon Spatula.
Add tea leaves and nutmeg, mix 12 sec / reverse / speed 1. Transfer to an airtight jar or container and store in the fridge for up to two months.
A note on sweetness
Adjust the honey to suit your taste. Our recipe gives a lightly sweetened chai: 100g is very mild, 200g is moderately sweet with room to go sweeter if you like. Use maple syrup instead of honey for a vegan option.
Brewing your chai: Thermomix method
Brewing sticky chai in your Thermomix is, in my opinion, the most flavourful method. The gentle agitation helps release even more of the spices' natural goodness, resulting in a rich, aromatic brew. It is also wonderfully convenient: everything happens in one jug, from brewing to heating the milk. While it may lack the slow, soothing ritual of the teapot, it more than makes up for it with ease and intensity.
You will need
Method
Place sticky chai into your TC bowl, 2 heaped teaspoons per person. Add your chosen liquid combination.
For a single serve, heat 6 min / 80°C / speed 3. Add an extra 1 minute for each additional serve (eg. for 3 serves, heat for 8 minutes instead of 6 minutes).
Pour through a strainer into mugs.
Tip: want to batch brew? Make extra and store in the fridge, it is so easy to make up to 2L in the Thermomix. Enjoy it cold over ice or gently reheat when needed. It is chai your way, any day.
Brewing your chai: Teapot method
Brewing sticky chai in a teapot is a calming ritual: slow, simple, and soul-soothing. It may not extract quite as much intensity as the Thermomix, but it makes up for it in charm. There is something special about letting the spices steep gently, filling the kitchen with their warming aroma. Perfect for those slow mornings or cosy afternoons when the process is just as comforting as the final cup.
You will need
Method
Add your sticky chai straight into the teapot, 2 heaped teaspoons per person. Pour in a small splash of boiling water, just enough to cover the chai. Let it sit for 30 seconds to bloom; this releases the aromatics and softens the honey.
Option 1: top up the teapot with hot (not boiling) milk, about three quarters of a cup per person. Let it steep with the lid on for 5 to 10 minutes. If heating your milk in the Thermomix, heat 5 min / 80°C / speed 3, or until 80°C is reached (if doing multiple serves at once, you will need a couple of minutes longer).
Option 2: fill your teapot with freshly boiled water. Steep for 5 to 10 minutes, then add a generous splash of milk to your cup when serving.
Pour through a strainer into mugs. Sweet, spiced, and oh-so-satisfying.
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Want the perfect cuppa every time?
Brew and strain your sticky chai right in your Thermomix with the Filtix Thermo Tea Filter, no loose leaves, no mess, just a smooth, spiced cup every time.
