Thick. Luxurious. Coconut
A few years ago, after drinking a coconut chai shake at Bonobos, I created my own version of the delicious spicy-sweet shake. I’m re-posting an updated version of the recipe today, because the old one was a little hard to follow.
Put on a lei, close your eyes, and pretend you’re lounging under a palm tree in Hawaii.
Coconut Chai Shakes
- Meat and juice of one Thai coconut (or 1 can full-fat coconut milk plus 1 cup coconut water)
- 1 tbsp Indian chai masala (Or 1/2 tsp ginger, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/8 tsp cloves, dash pepper and cardamom. Or omit completely for a plain-jane coconut shake.)
- Sweetener (I like it without, but for a taste like Bonobos’, add 2-3 tsp agave or other sweetener to taste.)
- Cinnamon for sprinkling on top, if desired
Blend all of your ingredients together (I use a Magic Bullet). You can also try freezing this and then re-blend in your Vita-Mix for an amazing ice cream!
See the following link if you’d prefer a coconut-free version: Vanilla Chai Breakfast Shakes.
Don’t cry over spilled coconut milkshake.
NYC Recap Continued…
Neither my friend, Jess, nor I were impressed with our food at The Organic Grill. It was mediocre and bland. We quickly paid our bill and moved on to yummier things. Yummier things such as chocolate-strawberry cheesecake from Whole Earth Bakery. (I ordered two, to-go. They’re sitting in my fridge right now, and I can’t say I haven’t been dreaming about them!)
We spent a few hours exploring after our lunch and bakery stop. In NYC, you really don’t need to have a jam-packed itinerary, filled with trips to museums and tourist attractions. Just walking around is entertainment enough!
Hot and thirsty, we arrived just in time for snack at Bonobos.
I went straight for the coconut chai, which they gladly blended up for me sans sweetener. Jess ordered the gingerade. Our drinks offered the perfect antidote to the summer heat, and they totally made up for our less-than-stellar lunch experience!
What are some of your favorite spices?
My favorites are probably cinnamon and ginger. Oh, and oregano and basil. And my least favorites are nutmeg and cilantro!
For more milkshakes, see: Healthy Milkshake Recipes.
Hi Katie!! I recently stumbled across you *by accident* if I must confess… but I can’t thank my lucky stars enough that I found you!!!! I am so inspired by you and in awe of your talent and drive!! So, on to my question… I would LOVE to make this recipe… but not sure about the Chai ingredient… is that a powder, loose tea leaves, or a tea that has already been made?? I actually have a masala chai in loose tea leaves, but am not sure what is the best way to add it to the recipe?? (maybe brewing up a small amount of concentrated tea??) Would love to hear your input! And again, you are such a wonderful talented woman, thank you for taking the time to share with all of us out here!!
Awww thank you so much for your sweet comment! I found the Chai Masala (which is one spice, all together) at an Indian grocery store. But it is hard to find, which is why I gave the alternative in my recipe. It’s just as good with the substitution :).
I wish I could help you with your tea-leaf question, but I really don’t ever use tea leaves, and so I wouldn’t know how to use them in this recipe at all. LOL if I gave you directions, you’d probably end up with grainy pieces of floating tea leaves in your shake! 😕
I’ve never been to Bonobos. What a funny name for a restaurant! But it sounds fun, and that drink looks heavenly. I love your NYC posts, Katie :).
hahah totally ok to recycle outfits! leaves room to buy stuff on vacation in the suitcase 😉
my fav spice is cinnamon. Im really not a spice kind of girl, so when I use cinnamon, its usuualy for sweet things!! 🙂
Ginger!
As yummy as that coconut chai sounds, I’m even more intrigued by your friend’s gingeraid. It sounds like something that would be right up my ally :).
Great picture of you too 🙂
youa re TOO CUTE! and is it just me or are there more photos of you on your blog lately? I LOVE it! and i love seeing your pretty face!
I LOVEEEE coconut! never had it with that chai spice! my fav spice is cinnamon!
LOL it’s because there aren’t really opportunities to post photos of myself when I’m doing a recipe post. Much easier when I’m doing recap posts :).
P.S. my mom and sister are in England right now!
WOW, this shake sounds amazing! Sorry about your bummer of a lunch 🙁
I think I love all spices and herbs… I can’t think of one that I DON’T like! Cinnamon is my absolute favourite spice, followed by ginger. Cilantro is my favourite herb, followed by basil, and then dill. 🙂 About cilantro (or coriander) – I always hear that people either love it or hate it! And I’ve yet to actually meet someone who’s indifferent about it… Interesting how that is!
Of course, I also love spicy things, so Indian spices along with crushed and/or powdered peppers are also favourites while cooking!
Thanks for adapting the recipe so that those of us who can’t (or don’t like to?) consume coconut can enjoy something similar! Love how you always offer ways to alter your recipes to cater to different tastes or dietary needs. So considerate!
Yes, thank you for thinking of us!!!
I LOVE cilantro! And cinnamon, but not together 😉
Thanks for the non-coconut version of the milkshake. I wish I liked more of the good-for-you stuff, but I just can’t stand the taste of coconut.
I’m game for this…. and any other recipe you make!!!!
I <3 cinnamon for a spice and basil for a herb. Not together. 😉
love it! ohhh and recycling outfits is totally fine, you got to bring a magic bullet instead 🙂 i think it was a good choice!!! 😀
I am so with you on the cinnamon and ginger – my two faves! I also LOVE cardamom. That Bonobos shake looks crazy good!! I’ll have to try your version 🙂
Oh, I’m sooo jealous of your NYC vacation! I love coconut but I’ve never had chai, because I don’t usually like tea, but I’m open to trying new things.
Wow, I live in NYC and have never even heard of Bonobos! I should check it out sometime. The coconut chai sounds too good to pass up. Thanks Katie!
Oooh, that looks so yummy! I love chai spice, I really can’t get enough of it but if I had to choose just one spice, cinnamon for sure 😀
I love cinnamon the most 🙂 I love cilantro- I think it’s impossible to be ambivalent about it, you either love it or hate it!
Count me among the cilantro lovers! I could it eat with every meal – especially summer rolls! Also addicted to cumin, turmeric, herbes de Provence, and Thai basil.
While in NYC, don’t forget to swing by the Bra Rabbi at Orchard Corset Company in the Lower East Side on Orchard Street! They are geniuses and don’t mind the lack of decor.