Iced chai is having a moment — and for good reason. Here's how to make a batch at home that's better than anything you'd order at a café, ready to share all week long.
There's a reason iced chai has quietly become the drink of the summer. Not the overly sweet, mystery-syrup version from the drive-through — the real kind. The kind that tastes like someone made it with care, that lingers just long enough to feel like a moment rather than a transaction.
We've been making chai this way our whole lives. And this summer, we wanted to share a version that's made for exactly that — sharing.
Make Once, Enjoy All Week
The secret to great iced chai at home isn't a complicated recipe. It's a concentrate.
Brew a batch on Sunday afternoon, chill it in the fridge, and you have the base for a perfect cup every morning — or a pitcher ready to go the moment friends show up at the door. No last-minute scrambling. No compromising on what goes into the glass.
The concentrate keeps in the fridge for 3–5 days, and the recipe scales as simply as you'd expect: double the batch, double the joy.
How to Make Malwa Chai Organic Iced Chai Concentrate
Makes 1 serving of concentrate — scales easily for a batch
What you'll need
- 12 fl oz water
- 1 Malwa Chai spice sachet
- 1 Malwa Chai tea sachet
- Ice
- 2 oz milk or dairy alternative (per serving)
- ½ tbsp Malwa Chai organic chai spice syrup (per serving)
Make the concentrate
- Bring 12 fl oz of water to a boil in a small pot. Add the spice sachet and boil for 3 minutes.
- Add the tea sachet and boil for 3 more minutes. Boil longer for a stronger cup.
- Remove from heat. Discard both sachets.
- Let the concentrate cool to room temperature, then transfer to a jar or pitcher and refrigerate until completely chilled. Concentrate keeps in the fridge for 3–5 days.
Build your glass
- Fill a glass with ice.
- Pour your chilled concentrate over the ice.
- Add 2 oz of milk or dairy alternative.
- Add ½ tbsp of Malwa Chai organic chai spice syrup.
- Stir gently and enjoy.
Want to see it come together? Watch us make it on Instagram.
Making a Batch for Friends
Scale it up by simply multiplying — 2 sachet sets + 24 oz water for two, 4 sets + 48 oz water for a small gathering. Keep the concentrate in a glass pitcher in the fridge and let people build their own glass. Set out the syrup, a little pitcher of milk, and a bowl of ice, and you have something that feels intentional without requiring a thing in the moment.
Iced chai as a hosting move is quietly underrated. It's not coffee (not everyone drinks it). It's not a cocktail (not everyone wants one). It's something warm in origin and cool in the glass — and it tends to make people slow down in the best way.
Why Concentrate Works So Well
The stovetop method — spices first, then tea, then milk — is the authentic way chai has always been made. Brewing it as a concentrate simply separates the milk step, which is what makes it so well suited to iced chai. The flavor comes through clean and bright over ice, without diluting or going flat the way a hot brew might if you just chilled it down.
Using our pre-measured spice and tea sachets means the prep work is already done. The method is still authentic. The ingredients are still organic. You're just making more of it, for more people, with less effort.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use oat milk or a non-dairy alternative?
Yes — oat milk is a particularly great match for iced chai. It's creamy enough to hold up against the concentrate and has a natural sweetness that pairs well with the spices. Any dairy-free milk works; just note that lighter milks like almond may be thinner in texture.
How long does the concentrate keep?
Stored in a sealed jar or pitcher in the fridge, your concentrate will stay fresh for 3–5 days. We recommend making it on a Sunday and enjoying it through the week.
Can I make it without the syrup?
You can — the concentrate has a full, spiced flavor on its own. The syrup adds a touch of sweetness and rounds out the chai flavor the way a traditional cup would finish. Start with ½ tbsp and adjust to taste.
What You'll Need from Malwa Chai
This recipe uses two things from our shop:
- The Classic Chai Kit — includes both the organic spice and organic tea sachets, pre-measured and ready to brew.
- Organic Chai Spice Syrup — made with organic ingredients, no artificial sweeteners or mystery flavors. Just the good stuff.
Shop the Classic Chai Starter Kit
Made this at home? Tag us on @malwachaico — we love seeing your cups.
