Pepper, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove: six spices in one bottle, with nothing to weigh, grind or toast. Our Chai Spices Spice Drops blend extracts of all six, together half the bottle, and took two stars at the Great Taste Awards in 2016.

One or two drops equal a quarter teaspoon of ground spices. Because an emulsifier makes up the rest, the blend mixes into a cup of tea or coffee just as well as into a chocolate ganache or a cake batter, with no gritty spice left to settle in the cup.

How to Use Chai Spices Spice Drops 

Treat each drop or two as a quarter teaspoon of ground spice mix and build from there. For drinks, add a single drop to a cup of tea or coffee, stir and taste before adding another. For bakes, mix the drops into the batter with the liquids, which suits carrot cake, gingerbread and spiced biscuits. In ganache, blend them in once the chocolate has melted and the mix is smooth, then taste before piping. Pears and plums poached in a syrup with a few drops are worth a try as well. Between uses, keep the lid closed and the bottle cool, dry and out of the sun; it will keep for up to three years.

Pairings and Ideas 

Chai's spices suit dark and milk chocolate, along with pumpkin, pear, apple, maple and dates.

• Chai ganache truffles
• Chai-spiced carrot cake
• Spiced hot chocolate
• Chai shortbread and biscuits
• Poached pears in chai syrup
• Chai-spiced pumpkin pie