Chai Spiced Honey is tasty, has a ton of health benefits…and is so easy to make! All you need to do is mix six common spices (cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, coriander, ginger, and black pepper) into raw honey. Then go ahead and think of all the ways you can add spiced honey to your food and beverages, so you can reap the benefits — a few of which I’ve shared below.

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My Recipe Inspiration

I was first inspired to try Chai Honey by a recipe in Kami McBride’s book, The Herbal Kitchen. I found Kami’s recipe too strong for my taste and decided to search online — only to find one that was too weak. So like Goldilocks trying to find the perfect porridge, I experimented to get my own favorite mix of spices and ratios. I hope you like it, too!

Ways to Enjoy Chai Spiced Honey

You can add chai honey to tea or warm milk, drizzle it over oatmeal or even popcorn, pour it on waffles or mix it into yogurt. I like the extra flavor kick it gives to lemon tea and I’ve also tried it in basil ginger limeade (one of Kami’s recipes, linked below). There are lots of ways to enjoy this sweetener!

Just a quick note to clarify — we’re not talking about making chai tea here — which traditionally is a strong tea drink with many of these same spices plus lots of milk and sweetener. Chai honey is a flavor booster you can enjoy many different ways — with or without tea or milk. Get creative with it!

Ground cinnamon — Photo by Luisa Schetinger on Unsplash

The recipe is made with simple ground spices you probably already have in your cupboard. Let’s take a quick look at their healthy healing properties:

Health Benefits of Chai Honey Spices

Cinnamon: is high in antioxidants. When paired with ginger, cinnamon is said
to help fight a cough, cold, or sore throat.
Cardamom: contains phytochemicals with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It may improve digestion and may also help with lung congestion.
Coriander: is rich in immune-boosting antioxidants and may help with digestion and gut health.
Ginger: is well-known for treating nausea (especially due to morning sickness or chemotherapy). It has an amazing number of other beneficial properties as
an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial.
Cloves: Like most other spices here, cloves are high in antioxidants and are antimicrobial. They are also rich in manganese, an essential mineral for maintaining brain health
and building strong bones.

Chai Spiced Honey Recipe

Course: Sips + Bites

Quantity

cup

Prep time

minutes

Chai Spiced Honey is so simple to make and can be added to tea, mixed into yogurt or drizzled on oatmeal.

Ingredients

Raw honey, 1 cup
Cinnamon powder, 1 TBSP.
Coriander, 1.5 tsp.
Ground cloves, 1/2 tsp.
Ground cardamom, 1/2 tsp.
Ground ginger, 1/4 tsp.
Black pepper, pinch

Directions

Measure honey into the container you want to store it in.
You can gently heat the honey in a double boiler to make it easier to stir in the spices, if you wish. Be sure to simmer gently and not to overheat it, since heating breaks down the beneficial enzymes. [I didn’t do this extra step and had no issues.]
Measure and stir each spice into the honey. Enjoy!

Notes

Chai spiced honey stores well in a tightly sealed container in a cool location.

Add Chai Honey to Basil Ginger Limeade

This refreshing drink, which you can enjoy warm or chilled, is from herbalist Kami McBride’s website. It calls for five simple ingredients: water, fresh basil, grated fresh ginger, honey and lime juice.

Link to Basil Ginger Limeade Recipe

When I made Basil Ginger Limeade, I simply substituted chai honey for the regular honey called for in the recipe. I also reduced the amount of fresh ginger by half, so that would be 1.5 tsps. fresh ginger — or let your taste buds be your guide. There are so many ways to enjoy Chai Spiced Honey!

I’d love to hear if you give this recipe a try and/or how you’re using it. Some folks use fennel in their chai spice mix — which I haven’t experimented with yet. How about Basil Ginger Limeade…does it sound like something you’d want to try? Let me know!

I am not a licensed nutritionist, medical professional or cosmetics expert. The information provided on Honest + Simple is for general informational purposes only. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food + Drug Administration and are not intended to treat, prevent or cure any disease. Before making decisions about your health or other concerns, please consult a qualified professional and do not rely on this website for medical advice.