Warm chai, citrus, and bubbles blend for a festive, refreshing autumn drink. Enjoy chilled with creative garnishes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chai Base
01 - 1 cup water
02 - 2 chai tea bags
03 - 1 cinnamon stick
04 - 2 whole cloves
05 - 2 thin slices fresh ginger
→ Sweetener & Citrus
06 - 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
→ To Finish
09 - 1 cup chilled sparkling water
10 - Ice cubes
→ Garnish (optional)
11 - Orange slices
12 - Cinnamon sticks
13 - Star anise
# Steps to Follow:
01 - In a small saucepan, bring 1 cup water to a simmer. Add chai tea bags, cinnamon stick, whole cloves, and fresh ginger. Let it simmer gently for 5 minutes to infuse the flavors.
02 - Remove the saucepan from heat. Discard the tea bags and whole spices. Allow the concentrated chai to cool slightly before proceeding.
03 - Stir maple syrup, fresh lemon juice, and fresh orange juice into the cooled chai base until fully combined.
04 - Fill two glasses with ice cubes. Pour the prepared chai mixture equally into each glass.
05 - Top each glass with 1/2 cup chilled sparkling water. Stir gently to blend the flavors.
06 - Garnish with orange slices, a cinnamon stick, or a star anise as desired. Serve immediately while cold and bubbly.