Dirty Chai Toddy Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Fall

by: gingerroot

December21,2010

3.8

4 Ratings

  • Prep time 10 minutes
  • Cook time 15 minutes
  • Serves 2

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Author Notes

My youngest brother is home from college for the holidays. He mentioned to me that during finals week, all he drank was dirty chai – chai with a shot of espresso. I love chai and I love espresso, so I was pretty sure I would like a dirty chai. Add a shot of bourbon, and you have a hot toddy that will erase the troubles of the day, even if it does not put you to sleep. My chai recipe is inspired by one I found at http://www.veetea.com/site/articles/Masala-Chai-Recipes/, with ingredients I had on hand. Note: While green cardamom pods are typically used, I only had black cardamom pods which have a smokier, more pungent quality. I was curious how it would affect the flavor, and I enjoyed the overall balance with the espresso and bourbon. - gingerroot —gingerroot

Test Kitchen Notes

This starts out as a fragrant and mildly indulgent chai -- it's made with half-n-half -- and then right before serving you sling in some espresso and bourbon, and suddenly it's a drink with purpose and conviction. —The Editors

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Watch This Recipe

Dirty ChaiToddy

Ingredients
  • For the Chai:
  • 8 ounceshalf and half
  • 4 ounceswater
  • 1 cinnamon stick, broken in half
  • 2 black cardamom pods, crushed with a mortar and pestle
  • 5 pink peppercorns, crushed with a mortar and pestle (up to 6)
  • 1 1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and flattened with the flat side of a large knife
  • 2 tablespoonsTurbinado sugar
  • 2 sachets of organic whole leaf black tea, preferably Assam
  • For the Dirty Toddy:
  • 2 ouncesespresso (I used Stumptown Roasters Hairbender), for the dirty toddy
  • 2 ouncesKnob Creek, or other good quality bourbon, for the dirty toddy
Directions
  1. Combine half and half, water, spices and sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Add black tea sachets and steep for 5 minutes. Remove tea sachets, strain out spices and split chai between two pre-warmed teacups. Add one ounce of espresso and one ounce of bourbon to each teacup. Sit back and enjoy.

Tags:

  • Hot Drink
  • American
  • Indian
  • Bourbon
  • Cheese
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Vegetarian
  • Hors D'Oeuvre
  • Breakfast
  • Dessert
Contest Entries
  • Your Best Recipe with Cardamom
  • Your Best Recipe with Coffee

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Rebecca @ Bring Back Delicious

  • juliunruly

  • TheWimpyVegetarian

  • dethbird

  • drbabs

Recipe by: gingerroot

My most vivid childhood memories have to do with family and food. As a kid, I had the good fortune of having a mom who always encouraged trying new things, and two grandmothers who invited me into their kitchens at a young age. I enjoy cooking for the joy it brings me - sharing food with loved ones - and as a stress release. I turn to it equally during good times and bad. Now that I have two young children, I try to be conscientious about what we cook and eat. Right about the time I joined food52, I planted my first raised bed garden and joined a CSA; between the two I try to cook as sustainably and organically as I can. Although I'm usually cooking alone, my children are my favorite kitchen companions and I love cooking with them. I hope when they are grown they will look back fondly at our time spent in the kitchen, as they teach their loved ones about food-love. Best of all, after years on the mainland for college and graduate school, I get to eat and cook and raise my children in my hometown of Honolulu, HI. When I'm not cooking, I am helping others grow their own organic food or teaching schoolchildren about art.

Popular on Food52

72 Reviews

LULULAND October 6, 2018

How much is a sachet of tea? thanks

Rebecca @. January 12, 2015

This looks like a good slightly sweet alternative to many whipped-cream topped spiked drinks out there that I'm sure curdled right after they snapped the picture...Thanks for sharing!

Lauri September 8, 2014

Just came across this and tried it. While I have to say it was good, it was more work than this k-cuper wants to spend. May I offer my lazy version? Brew an 8oz kcup of Cafe Escape's Chai Latte into the mug you're going to drink from, brew 4oz any brand of espresso kcup into a separate cup. Pour only 2oz of the espresso into the main mug, followed by the amount of half and half you prefer (I use about 2oz) and the amount bourbon you want. As an added treat, top with whipped cream.

juliunruly January 12, 2014

I found this much too sweet with the 2 tbsp of sugar, and also didn't like the taste of the bourbon with it. However, I love this recipe for plain chai without the coffee or booze (and with half the sugar). Super simple and delicious. Thank you!

gingerroot February 3, 2014

Thanks for letting me know! Glad you enjoy the chai recipe.

Amber November 1, 2013

Fantastic! Not too sweet and the perfect blend of spice and creaminess with the added bonus of a coffee layer. Do you know if this can be increased without compromising the integrity of the recipe?

gingerroot November 6, 2013

Hi Amber! Check out JenLeePA's question thread. Thanks for your comment, I'm thrilled you enjoyed it.

MomofChef October 20, 2013

So while wandering though the tea plantations of Sri Lanka, my husband and our young friend would identify mysterious plants and call them "coftea" thinking that coffee and tea together would be pretty funny. Now I will have to make this for them and see how chai and coffee go together. Little did they knowabout dirty chai. I have been making my own chai spices based on my Tibetan nieces recipe for more than a decade. This will be an interesting modification on our standard winter time drink.

gingerroot November 6, 2013

Hi MomofChef! Somehow your comment snuck right by me. I hope you enjoy this and would love to hear your thoughts about it.

Ruthlessmess July 6, 2013

My husband and I are big chai latte fans and loved this. Instead of assam black tea we used a 'spicy chai masala' blend we had bought in a fancy tea shop. Wonderfully fragrant and fulfilling recipe, thankyou. And all the comments helped, otherwise I probably wouldn't have gotten over my negative ideas about mixing tea& coffee

gingerroot July 7, 2013

Thanks so much for letting me know! I'm thrilled you and your husband enjoyed this.

katybeth May 12, 2013

how do you get the half and half not to curdle? I made this and could barely strain all the spices out because it got so thick. hmmmmm.......

gingerroot May 13, 2013

Hi katybeth, Sorry to hear that happened. Although it has never happened when I've made it (I keep the heat at the barest simmer and whisk for a minute or two) someone on the question thread attached to this recipe thought it might be the fresh ginger. She suggested getting everything else simmering first, before adding the ginger. I'd love to know if that solves the curdling issue for you.

Katya April 12, 2013

Where did you get the mug? I love it and can't stop thinking about it.

fayeballs April 17, 2013

me too!!!!

gingerroot April 17, 2013

I'd love to know too. It's gorgeous.

juleeclip November 7, 2013

Looks similar to the faceted boulder mugs from leif shop, and if memory serves me I believe they used to make a low, cappuccino variation... http://www.leifshop.com/products/faceted-boulder-mug

juliunruly January 6, 2014

Katya there's a somewhat similar mug for sale here on Food52 http://food52.com/provisions/products/313-wheel-thrown-stoneware-mug

beejay45 March 28, 2013

Just came across this, and it sounds amazing. I'm going to try subbing my herbal coffee for the espresso. Sad, I know, but I'm allergic to coffee. Our days are warming up, but the nights up here in the Valley are still chilly enough to justify this lovely tipple.

gingerroot April 17, 2013

Thank you beejay45! Apologies for the belated response, I just found your comment. This will definitely keep you warm on a chilly night.

RandyPickles January 7, 2013

This reminds me of a spicy, earthy twist on Singaporean coffee!

gingerroot April 17, 2013

Thank you!

Jenniferino December 26, 2011

so good! i used only 1 tbsp turbinado sugar and it was perfect :)

gingerroot December 26, 2011

So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for letting me know.

TheWimpyVegetarian December 26, 2011

Oh wow! I totally missed this! Huge congratulations on your wildcard win - well deserved!!!! I was looking at hot toddy recipes and am totally on this one. Happy Holidays gingerroot!!!

gingerroot December 26, 2011

Thank you, ChezSuzanne! I hope you enjoy this if you give it a whirl. Happy Holidays to you and yours as well!!

dethbird December 7, 2011

I drank just the bourbon part. Does that count? :) just kidding
This sounds fantastic

gingerroot December 9, 2011

Thank you, dethbird! Personally, I love the bourbon part.

drbabs October 31, 2011

I'm sorry it took me so long to write you--congratulations on the wildcard win! I had never heard of dirty chai before, but I'm dying to try this!

gingerroot November 1, 2011

Hi drbabs, No apologies - thank you so much! I'd love to hear your thoughts if you try it!

EmilyC October 24, 2011

Congrats, gingerroot, on your wildcard win! This looks like the perfect cold weather pick-me-up!

gingerroot October 25, 2011

Thanks so much, EmilyC!

hardlikearmour October 24, 2011

This is really good! Not to sweet, not too strong, just perfect! Cheers!

gingerroot October 25, 2011

I'm thrilled that you tried this, and it means a lot to me that you enjoyed it!

Lisa H. October 24, 2011

Hi, What is half & half ? I'm guessing milk of some kind? I haven't seen it in Australia.
Cheers
LIsa

hardlikearmour October 24, 2011

Half milk & half cream.

susan G. October 23, 2011

I made this at 3 AM last night, and drank just the chai. In the morning I added the expresso. So good either way. Eventually, the bourbon. Wonderful how the Wildcard makes treasures like this pop up.

gingerroot October 25, 2011

Thank you, susan g! So glad you enjoyed the Dirty Chai and hope you like the toddy version too.

Kitchen B. October 23, 2011

Congrats ginger root. It looks wonderful and is beautifully captured

Nicole Franzen/Photo composer/A&M - that photo is worthy of high praise. Simply, stunning. I love the hint of grey wool in the background, the hands wrapped around the cup to receive warmth and the gorgeousness of the cup itself.

gingerroot October 25, 2011

Thank you, KB. I could not agree more about the photo - it is gorgeous!

Dirty Chai Toddy Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

Dirty Chai Toddy Recipe on Food52? ›

Add black tea sachets and steep for 5 minutes. Remove tea sachets, strain out spices and split chai between two pre-warmed teacups. Add one ounce of espresso and one ounce of bourbon to each teacup. Sit back and enjoy.

What makes a dirty chai dirty? ›

A Dirty Chai Latte is a traditional chai tea with an added shot of espresso.

What is a dirty chai alcoholic drink? ›

Celebrating the holiday season with this festive Christmas Vacation Dirty Chai co*cktail. Homemade spiced vanilla chai and honey simple syrup, mixed with vodka, Kahlúa, an extra shot of espresso, and a bit of molasses. A shot of coconut milk makes the drink creamy and just that much more delicious.

Is dirty chai better hot or cold? ›

Spices frequently used in dirty chai are black pepper, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and cardamom. Dirty chai latte can be served hot or cold, depending on your preference.

What are the flavors in a dirty chai latte? ›

Additionally, the aged and fermented dark tea provides a full and earthy base, complemented by cinnamon bark, ginger root, anise, and orange peel. Consequently, the sweet cinnamon extract adds a touch of sweetness and spice, creating a well-balanced and vigorous blend.

What is the difference between filthy chai and dirty chai? ›

Using a single shot of espresso, a dirty chai latte typically contains anywhere from 140 milligrams to 170 milligrams of caffeine. A filthy chai latte could easily land over 200 milligrams thanks to that extra shot of espresso. So, if you thought this tea-based beverage might not give you a buzz, you were dead wrong!

What is a dirty hippie chai? ›

A Dirty Chai is a regular cup of chai latte with a shot of espresso. Double the espresso shot, and you have a Filthy Chai Latte. Make with non-dairy milk, and you have a Dirty Hippie Chai Latte.

Why is dirty chai so good? ›

In conclusion, Dirty Chai transcends the boundaries of a regular beverage, offering a unique blend of flavors that tantalize the taste buds and provide a delightful experience. Similarly, its enticing taste may bring potential health benefits, from immune-boosting properties to digestion support.

How many shots are in a dirty chai? ›

Dirty chai is a popular espresso drink served in coffee shops. It consists of a shot of espresso mixed into a spiced "chai tea" (or masala chai). It's usually made with a chai concentrate or tea, steamed milk, and a single shot of espresso, and the result is a cross between a regular latte and a chai tea latte.

Why is chai addictive? ›

The problem is that tea contains caffeine which normally makes you feel alert, active, and buoyant. The problem though is that tea drinkers often become addicted to the substance without even realizing that they are addicted to tea.

Is a dirty chai good for sore throat? ›

Soothes sore throats

If you're suffering from a sore throat, a cup of warm, spicy chai can help to soothe the symptoms. Ingredients like black tea, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves all contain antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help to soothe a sore throat.

What flavors go well with dirty chai? ›

This dirty chai has robust flavors of cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, star anise, and clove which pairs perfectly with some freshly brewed coffee or espresso. Add in some frothy vanilla nutpods and you have a sure fire winner!

Is chai good for anything? ›

Chai tea is a fragrant, spicy tea that may help boost heart health, reduce blood sugar levels, aid digestion and help with weight loss. Although most of these health benefits are backed by science, it's worth noting that they are generally linked to the ingredients used in chai tea rather than chai tea itself.

What does dirty chai taste like Starbucks? ›

A dirty chai latte is the perfect blend of coffee and chai spice flavors. It has a bold and robust flavor, with a stronger coffee taste than a regular chai latte. The spices from the chai give it a spicy and aromatic flavor. All of these flavors combine to create a unique and delicious drink that is sure to please.

Does dirty chai have vanilla? ›

To make a dirty vanilla chai, simply add ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract. You could also use about 1 to 2 teaspoons of vanilla syrup instead of maple syrup. Instead of a chai tea bag, you can use 2 teaspoons of loose leaf chai tea, or 2 to 3 tablespoons of chai tea concentrate (leave out the water if using concentrate).

Is dirty chai yummy? ›

This dirty chai is the tastiest pick-me-up for the season. It has all the fall flavors of chai with an extra dose of espresso to get you going. With the right choice of milk, it can easily be made paleo or vegan. If you'd rather not have the added espresso, you can always have a plain but delicious Chai Tea Latte.

What is in a dirty chai at Starbucks? ›

Traditionally, a Chai Latte is a blend of spicy chai tea concentrate and steamed milk. When you add a shot (or two) of espresso, it becomes "dirty," representing the bold addition of coffee to the equation. While undeniably delicious, ordering a Dirty Chai Tea Latte can be pricier due to the combined costs.

What is the difference between dirty chai and coffee? ›

Dirty chai lattes, which include a shot of espresso, can have at least 135 milligrams of caffeine per serving. Thus, per ounce, chai lattes have less caffeine than coffee or espresso, but per serving, chai lattes can have more caffeine than espresso.

Why does chai make me go to the bathroom? ›

Chai tea also contains compounds that can help to relieve constipation. Constipation is a condition in which there is difficulty passing stool or having a bowel movement. Chai black tea contains compounds that can help to increase intestinal motility, which is the movement of the intestines.

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