How to Make the Perfect Spiced Chai Lemonade
Indian-American · Easy · 18 min · 2 servings
This unique spiced chai lemonade combines the warm aromatic spices of traditional masala chai with bright tangy lemon juice for an unexpected and deeply satisfying drink. This easy homemade chai lemonade recipe also known as a London Fog lemonade variation is perfect served hot or iced.
Why this recipe works
This Spiced Chai Lemonade recipe has been crafted to deliver restaurant-quality results in your home kitchen. At just 18 minutes from start to finish, it fits perfectly into a busy schedule without sacrificing flavor. Each serving comes in at 95 calories with 1g of protein, making it a balanced choice for any meal.
What you will need
This recipe uses 6 simple ingredients that you can find at any grocery store:
- 2 bags chai spice tea bags
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 480 ml boiling water
- 60 ml fresh lemon juice
- 4 tbsp honey
- 2 cups ice cubes
Step by step instructions
Step 1: Brew the Spiced Chai
Place both chai tea bags and ground cinnamon in a heatproof pitcher and pour boiling water over them. Steep for 5 minutes to extract the full depth of spice flavors, then remove the tea bags and stir in honey while the tea is still hot to fully dissolve it.
Step 2: Cool and Add Lemon
Allow the spiced chai to cool to room temperature and then refrigerate until fully chilled. Once chilled, add fresh lemon juice to the tea and stir well to integrate the citrus with the warm spice notes.
Step 3: Serve Over Ice
Fill two tall glasses generously with ice cubes and pour the spiced chai lemonade over the ice. Stir gently and optionally garnish with a cinnamon stick and a thin lemon wheel on the rim of each glass.
Easy substitutions
Missing an ingredient? Here are some swaps that work perfectly:
- chai spice tea bags → homemade chai blend with cardamom, clove, and black pepper
- honey → brown sugar simple syrup
Common mistakes to avoid
Watch out for these pitfalls that can affect your results:
- Adding lemon juice while the tea is still hot which makes it taste metallic and dull rather than bright and fresh
- Using too much lemon juice which overwhelms the delicate warm spice notes of the chai tea
Nutrition facts
Per serving: 95 calories, 1g protein, 23g carbs, 0g fat, 1g fiber.
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