Great chai flavored sugar to add to your warm weather drinks or baking. Also makes a great gift.

Step 1: BoM

This recipe is written for easy increasing or decreasing. Also remember that your taste preferences will differ from mine. I like a spicy chai, so I use peppercorns. I think cardamon tastes like soap, so I'll use less of it and won't use ground because I want to be able to pick it out if the sugar is getting too cardamon-y for me.

1 cup sugar

1/2-1 cinnamon stick

4 whole cardamon pods (or 2 tsp ground)

4 whole star anise

1 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

4-8 whole cloves

4 whole peppercorns -optional

1/4 vanilla bean, split open -optional

Step 2: Prep Spices

Break up the cinnamon stick into slightly smaller pieces. This makes it easier to remove later and helps distribute the cinnamon. Grind up whatever spices need grinding, I don't don't do this because I want to be able to remove anything that is infusing quicker than the other spices.

Step 3: Combine

Add all of the ingredients to a bowl and stir.

Step 4: Infuse

Add the sugar and spices to an airtight container and let sit undisturbed for a week or two. Give a stir or shake before each use. As time goes on, you can add more sugar and spices to your container to keep the chai sugar from depleting.