Autumn Chai Swizzle

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 05/13/21
Chai Tea

Santhosh Varghese/Getty Images

Prep: 7 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 7 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

As the hot toddy and Irish coffee have proven for years, warm drinks are best when constructed in a simple manner. This autumn chai swizzle is another shining example, though in this case, you'll be working with fresh-brewed chai tea.

The recipe comes from Baileys Irish Cream and the concept is very straight-forward. Essentially, you'll use the Irish cream liqueur as a creamer and brown sugar as a sweetener for a steaming cup of chai. It is a low-proof drink that is easy to make and can be a fantastic replacement for your afternoon chai.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces Irish cream liqueur

  • 3 ounces brewed masala chai tea

  • 2 teaspoons raw sugar

  • Cinnamon stick, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Brew a pot of chai tea. Stir in the raw sugar until it is completely dissolved.

  3. Fill a coffee mug with the chai tea and Irish cream.

  4. Stir with a cinnamon stick, then leave it as a garnish. Serve and enjoy.

Tips

  • If you are familiar with masala chai, you will know that milk and sugar are often added during the brewing process. However, when making this swizzle drink you're already adding cream (Baileys) and sugar so this seems like overkill. Therefore, it's best to either compile your own chai spice blend or use a prepared chai tea bag and brew that, holding the milk and sugar
  • You can try the drink both ways to see which you like best. The full milk-sugar brewing of the chai does make a very rich autumn chai swizzle and it will likely be too much for many tastes.
  • Raw sugar looks like brown sugar, but it has a lighter, natural molasses flavor and coarser texture. It's also called turbinado, muscovado, or demerara sugar.

Recipe Variations

  • Chai is not the only tea that works with Baileys. Use the Irish cream to gently spike any cup of tea you're brewing. It's also a really nice creamer option for coffee.
  • Want to give your chai an extra kick? Add half a shot (about 1 ounce) of brandy, rum, or whiskey to this recipe.
  • Raw sugar is not a requirement, though it is a really nice fit for chai's spice blend. Use your favorite tea sweetener, whether that be agave nectar, honey, white sugar, simple syrup, or a sugar alternative like Stevia.

How Strong Is an Autumn Chai Swizzle?

Baileys is a light liqueur that's bottled at just 34 proof. When mixed into the autumn chai swizzle, the resulting cup of tea will have an alcohol content of just 7 percent ABV (14 proof). That's not a significant strength, but it is stronger than adding just a splash of Irish cream as many people do in their coffee. Just keep in mind that it's about the same as drinking a strong beer.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
247 Calories
0g Fat
31g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 247
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 8mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 31g 11%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 30g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 22mg 2%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 55mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)