Blah, blah, blah… is probably what you read when you see the letters NYCM here day in and day out, but don’t forget I did warn you. 😉
My pre-long run breakfast has slightly transformed in the past week. I went from fueling with vanilla chia pudding before my run to fueling with chai chia pudding. Let me tell you the chai flavored version runs circles around the vanilla.
When I googled “chai chia pudding” I had trouble finding a recipe that used the actual tea. Most recipes called for “chai spices”. Determined to use the tea, I finally stumbled upon Sweetly Raw’s recipe where she steeps the tea for 12 hours in milk. I combined her idea with Organic Avenue’s recipe for vanilla chia pudding.
Chai Chia Pudding Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 chai tea bag of your choice
- 2 T of chia seeds
- 4-6 ounces of milk (I usually use almond)
- 1 T agave (to taste)
- sea salt (to taste)
Directions:
Place one chai tea bag in 4-6 ounces of milk (Depending on how thick you like your pudding). Cover and place in the refrigerator overnight or for at least 8 hours. Remove from refrigerator and add chia seeds, agave, and sea salt (to taste) and mix together. Put the mixture in the refrigerator. Let mixture sit for 10 minutes, then stir again, let the pudding sit for at least another ten minutes before consuming (can sit longer).
This would make for an amazing afternoon snack or a fun healthy desert option. Basically, it’s good any time of the day!
Very nice! Thanks for sharing. Since I saw your tweet last week, I started craving chai pudding, even though I never had 1 before. Been eating it all weekend. I threw together chocolate almond milk, shredded unsweetened coconut, cocoa powder, and the chia seeds. Yum, yum, yummy.
Great idea! YUM! I can’t wait to try this.
Love that “CHAI” and “CHIA” are anagrams!
Interesting. In South Asia (where my parents are originally from) tea is often served after steeping and cooking it in milk. It’s much richer than regular tea but it is delicious! I even try and make it at home to serve after dinner when we have people over. It’s a special treat! So I like the concept of applying it to a chia pudding. What is the consistency like of the pudding? The chia seeds probably don’t thicken the pudding, right?
Actually chia seeds do thicken the pudding in their own way. Chia seeds expand when in a liquid and turn into a gel like substance. The texture isn’t for everyone, but I like it. Obviously, the less liquid you use the thicker the pudding is giving it it’s “pudding” quality.
Oh, not at all! I love reading about the journey! Pudding is so not my thing…unless it’s chocolate. With whipped cream. Maybe some sprinkles.
That sounds SO good – I’m going to pick this up at TJ’s and give it a try!
I hope you like it!
Sounds really good. I am going to give it a try. I am looking for new innovative ways to add chia seeds into some of my meals. Thank you for sharing this recipe
This sounds really interesting! I use chia in the most boring ways, so I need to try this. Question though – since you eat this before your long runs, how long before your run do you wake up if it still has to sit another 20 minutes before you can eat it.
I make it the night before a long run. I eat it about an hour before I head out.