Chai is a drink, but the spices in it are the ones British kitchens use all autumn: cinnamon, ginger, clove and cardamom. That makes Spiced Chai useful well beyond the mug.
1. Porridge
Stir a teaspoon into hot porridge instead of brown sugar. Add sliced banana or a grated apple. It is a five-minute breakfast that smells like you made an effort.
2. Cinnamon-style toast
Butter hot toast generously, sprinkle over a teaspoon of the sugar, and eat straight away. Thick white bread or crumpets both work well.
3. Banana bread
In any banana bread recipe that uses brown or muscovado sugar, swap in Spiced Chai for some or all of it. Start with half so you can see how much spice you like. Muscovado keeps the loaf moist.
4. Roasted apples or pears
Halve and core the fruit, put a teaspoon of sugar and a small knob of butter in each hollow, and roast at 180C for 25 to 30 minutes. Serve with custard or yoghurt.
5. Bonfire Night hot milk
For a non-alcoholic drink to hold in a cold garden, heat milk until steaming and stir in a teaspoon or two of the sugar. It is more comforting than tea and takes a minute. For adults, a small measure of dark rum or whisky goes well with it.
6. Sticky ginger traybake
Use Spiced Chai in the topping of a gingerbread or parkin-style traybake: sprinkle it over the batter before baking for a crisp, spiced crust.
A note on quantities
The spice is fairly gentle, so you can use it like ordinary sugar in most recipes. In baking, swap it in for the same weight of brown sugar. In drinks, start at one teaspoon.
Keep it close
A 100g pouch is £4.99. If you are buying for more than one kitchen, the 5-pack is £21.99, and The Full Set with all four flavours is £17.99.
More on how to use it in drinks: how to make a chai latte at home.
