If you have been looking for a caffeine-free iced chai recipe that actually tastes like something worth making every week, this is the one.
Our Wholy Chai concentrate takes 20 minutes to make, keeps in the fridge for two weeks, and turns into one of the most satisfying herbal iced drinks you will make all summer. It has been a top seller at The Herbal Scoop every single year we have been in business, and this summer, we finally put it on the cold drink menu.
WHAT MAKES WHOLY CHAI DIFFERENT FROM EVERY OTHER CHAI?
Most chai blends are built around black tea as the base. Wholy Chai swaps the black tea for Tulsi, also known as Holy Basil, which is an adaptogenic herb used for centuries across Southeast Asia, India, and Africa to support stress response, balanced immunity, healthy digestion, and restful sleep. The warming spices, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, clove, and orange peel, build the same bold, complex flavor profile you expect from a traditional chai, but without the caffeine and with the added benefit of an herb that supports your whole body rather than just waking it up.
Wholy Chai took two years to perfect. It started with the best cup of chai our herbalist & founder, Kendra ever tasted on her travels and ended with a blend that has outsold every other product in our shop year after year.
WHY MAKE A CHAI CONCENTRATE?
A chai concentrate is simply a double-strength brew that you dilute with milk when you are ready to drink. Making it as a concentrate means you brew once and have enough for eight servings that are ready in your fridge whenever you want it. This is the Sunday reset approach applied to your chai ritual, a small investment of time upfront that pays off all week.
The concentrate method also produces a more complex and deeply flavored chai than a standard single-cup brew because the longer simmer time draws out the full medicinal and aromatic qualities of each herb and spice. Your iced chai will taste significantly better made this way than it would from a single steep.
HOW TO MAKE WHOLY CHAI CONCENTRATE
Makes 16oz of concentrate, approximately 8 servings. Keeps refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.
What you need:
- 4 tablespoons of Wholy Chai loose leaf blend
- 16oz of water
How to make it:
- Simmer 16oz of water in a small saucepan.
- Add 4 tbls of Wholy Chai
- Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
- Reduce to low and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. The liquid will deepen in color, and the spices will become fragrant throughout your kitchen.
- Strain out the herbs completely using a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth.
- Let the concentrate cool to room temperature before transferring to a sealed jar or container.
Herbalist tip: Do not rush the simmer. The full 15 to 20 minutes at low heat is what draws out the Tulsi and the warming spices completely. A rushed steep produces a lighter, less complex concentrate that will not hold up as well when diluted with oat milk.
HOW TO ASSEMBLE YOUR ICED CHAI
Makes one 12oz iced chai
- Fill a 12oz glass with ice.
- Add 2oz of your chilled Wholy Chai concentrate.
- Add 8oz of your milk of choice. We recommend Minor Figures organic oat milk because the creaminess of oat milk holds onto the big bold flavors of the chai in a way that other milks do not. The spices cling to the oat milk and every sip delivers the full complexity of the blend.
- Sweeten to taste with honey, agave, or your preferred sweetener.
- Top with a light sprinkle of cinnamon and enjoy immediately.
CAN I DRINK WHOLY CHAI HOT?
Absolutely. The concentrate method works beautifully for hot chai too. Heat 2oz of concentrate with 8oz of your milk of choice in a small saucepan until steaming and frothy. Pour into your mug, sweeten to taste, and top with cinnamon. The same concentrate that makes your iced summer chai becomes your cozy autumn and winter ritual without any additional prep.
IS WHOLY CHAI CAFFEINE FREE?
Yes, completely. Because Wholy Chai uses Tulsi rather than black tea as its base, it contains no caffeine whatsoever. This makes it an ideal chai option for people who are sensitive to caffeine, avoiding it for health reasons, or looking for a warming spiced drink they can enjoy at any time of day, including the evening. It is also completely alcohol free and formulated with herbs that have been used safely across cultures for centuries.
WHERE TO GET WHOLY CHAI
Wholy Chai is available in our online shop in a small size with 12 cups at $16 and a large size with 31 cups at $24. The large size is ideal if you plan to make the concentrate regularly throughout summer and into fall, which we strongly recommend because once you have this in your fridge, you will find reasons to use it every day.
We also carry Bulk Tulsi separately in our shop for anyone who wants to explore the hero herb of this blend on its own before committing to the full concentrate recipe.
Both ship nationwide from our herbal tea shop in Narrowsburg, NY in the Hudson Valley.
Shop Wholy Chai
Shop Bulk Tulsi
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What does Wholy Chai taste like?
Wholy Chai tastes like a bold, warming, deeply spiced chai with notes of cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, and clove, and a subtle floral complexity from the Tulsi that you would not find in a standard black tea chai. Over ice with oat milk, it becomes creamy, slightly sweet, and genuinely one of the most satisfying cold drinks you can make at home.
What is the difference between Wholy Chai and regular chai?
Traditional chai is brewed with black tea as the base, which adds caffeine and tannins to the flavor profile. Wholy Chai replaces the black tea with Tulsi, also known as Holy Basil, which is an adaptogenic herb that supports stress response, immunity, and digestion without any caffeine. The spice profile is similar, but the functional benefits and the flavor complexity are completely different.
Can I make Wholy Chai concentrate without simmering?
You can cold brew the concentrate by adding 4 tablespoons to 16oz of cold water and refrigerating overnight, but the flavor will be lighter and less complex than the simmered version. The warming spices in Wholy Chai, particularly the cardamom, clove, and ginger, release their full flavor and medicinal properties most effectively through heat. We recommend the simmer method for the best results.
How long does Wholy Chai concentrate keep?
Wholy Chai concentrate keeps in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. We recommend making a fresh batch every Sunday as part of your weekly reset ritual, so you always have it ready without any additional prep during the week.
Is Wholy Chai good for digestion?
Every herb in Wholy Chai was chosen for both flavor and function. Ginger and cardamom are two of the most well-studied herbs for digestive support, easing bloating, nausea, and digestive discomfort. Orange peel supports healthy digestion and liver function. Tulsi supports healthy gut balance. Together, they make Wholy Chai one of the most digestive-supportive chai blends available in loose-leaf herbal tea form.
Where can I buy Wholy Chai loose-leaf herbal tea?
Wholy Chai is available exclusively through The Herbal Scoop at theherbalscoop.com and at our farmers market booth in the Hudson Valley. We ship nationwide from our herbal tea shop in Narrowsburg, NY. It has been our top-selling herbal tea blend every single year we have been in business and the iced chai concentrate recipe above is the reason it is staying on the summer menu permanently.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please check with a medical professional before starting an herbal regimen.
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