It’s almost fall, marked by the apple picking signs and pumpkin-filled stands along Main Road. While some might still be mourning the final days of summer, I can’t resist dreaming of sweater weather and cozying up on the couch with a mug of my favorite seasonal drink. Introducing chaider; a beautiful combination of sweet apple cider and spicy chai. This simple, yet incredibly flavorful beverage is the embodiment of fall — a true game changer on a cold-weathered picnic or autumn stroll.
For this recipe, I used local apple cider from Briermere Farms. Famous for their fruit pies, the stand makes their cider from a mix of apple varieties grown on their 200 + acres of farmland. For the chai, Tazo and Rishi make a tasty concentrate, but any masala chai tea concentrate will do. For an extra kick of spicy-sweet flavor, I like to add cloves, cinnamon sticks, a dollop of whipped cream, and a dash of cinnamon powder.
Sweet and Spicy Local Chaider
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup chai concentrate
- 1 cup local apple cider
- 4 cloves
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- cinnamon powder (for topping)
- whipped cream (for topping)
Directions
- Combine chai concentrate, apple cider, cloves, and cinnamon sticks in a saucepan.
- Heat until it starts to boil, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let it cool for another 5 minutes.
- Strain out the cloves and cinnamon sticks from your chaider.
- Pour into your favorite mug. Top with whipped cream and cinnamon powder. Enjoy!
