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Skip the queues at your local coffee shop and whip up a chai latte at home instead. Simple to make with just three ingredients, it’s easy to be your own barista!
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A warming, lightly spiced chai latte is one of my go-to warm drinks. I have enjoyed making this drink since my college days and I love how easy it is to make at home!
This homemade chai tea latte is wonderfully warming and creamy, it’s perfect for a midday pick-me-up.
For more hot drinks, be sure to try my Lemon Ginger Tea, How to Make Lemon Tea with Honey and Dalgona Coffee.
Why You Will Love This Chai Latte Recipe
- Easy and quick: It’s super quick and easy to make a chai latte at home. It takes less than 10 minutes to whip up a couple of brews. It’s the perfect balance of spicy and sweet.
- Easy to make plant-based: Simply use vegan-friendly milk and sweetener to make this tea dairy-free.
- Budget-friendly: You only need 3 main ingredients to make this hot drink, and it’s way cheaper than your daily trip to the coffee shop!
What Is Chai?
Chai is black tea that has its origins in India. The word chai [tʃaɪ] literally means “tea” in Hindi and in many Middle Eastern and Eastern European countries (including my home country of Bulgaria where I grew up). There are lots of different blends of chai. One of the most popular chai blends, Masala chai, contains cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, star anise, and cloves. It’s slightly sweet and so warming in flavor.
Ingredients for Chai Tea Latte
- Chai tea bags: I used TAZO organic Chai tea bags which include organic black tea, ginger, cinnamon, black peppercorns, ground cardamom, star anise, and organic cloves.
- Milk: You can use any milk you like to make this hot drink. Whole milk will give it a creamier flavor, or you can use plant-based milk like coconut milk, oat milk, or even almond milk.
- Sweetener (optional): I prefer to use a liquid sweetener like maple syrup or honey. You can use granulated sugar if that’s what you have.
For full ingredients list with measurements, check the recipe card below.
If you want to make a dirty chai tea latte (also called espresso chai or java chai) you can add espresso. This is a cross between a regular latte and a chai tea latte.
How To Make Chai Latte
- Brew the tea: Steep 2 chai tea bags in 1 ½ cups of hot water for 5 minutes. After steeping, remove the tea bags and divide the chai tea evenly between two cups.
- Warm the milk: In a medium saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat until it simmers. Once it simmers, turn off the heat and set aside ½ cup of the milk.
- Assemble the Chai Tea Latte: Pour ½ cup of the warm milk into each mug with the tea. Adjust the amount to your taste. Add maple syrup or your preferred sweetener, if using, and stir to combine.
- Froth the milk: Pour the reserved ½ cup of milk into a tall glass. Tilt the glass slightly and use a milk frother, moving it up and down, to create foam.
- Top with milk foam: Top each mug with milk foam and sprinkle with a pinch of ground cinnamon and cardamom for garnish.
- Serve: Enjoy your chai latte hot or serve over ice for a refreshing iced version.
TIPS FROM NELI’S KITCHEN
Recipe Notes and Tips for Chai Latte
- Black Tea: You can use any variety of black tea, from Darjeeling to English breakfast tea, as well as caffeinated or decaffeinated.
- The chai drink should be enjoyed as soon as it is made.
Don’t Have a Milk Frother?
You can still enjoy this healthy chai tea latte recipe if you don’t have a milk frother, it’s still easy to get that frothy topping without one.
- Whisk it: This takes a bit of arm power, but whisk it vigorously by hand to froth it up. This method works best with 2% dairy or coconut milk.
- Blend it: Use an immersion blender to froth up your milk. It’s easier on your arms and works pretty nicely.
- Shake! Put your milk into a sealable mason jar and shake until it’s just right.
Recipe FAQs
A homemade chai latte is a mix of steamed milk and spiced black tea, finished off with a frothy layer of milk foam on top.
Yes, chai tea naturally contains caffeine, about 40 mg of caffeine if you use a 4 oz bag of black tea. For a caffeine-free option, simply use decaf chai tea bags.
Yes, cool the chai latte and serve it cold over ice. You can also keep the iced chai latte in the fridge for several days.
It’s easy to make this hot chai latte recipe vegan and keto by using plant-based milk, but not all of them will get as nice and frothy. Coconut or oat milk froth up the best, and you can buy barista blends that froth even more. Almond or soy milk will work just fine though if that’s what you have.
To make a dirty chai latte, brew a shot of espresso and mix it with a chai latte made from steeped chai tea and steamed milk. Stir everything together and top with frothy milk for a rich, spiced coffee twist.
Chai lattes can be a healthy option, especially when made with wholesome ingredients. They combine black tea, which contains antioxidants, with warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom, all known for their beneficial properties. By choosing unsweetened versions or using natural sweeteners and plant-based milk, you can enjoy a cozy, flavorful drink that’s a lighter alternative to other sugary beverages.
More Hot Drinks To Make at Home
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Chai Latte
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Ingredients
- 1.5 cups hot water
- 2 black tea bags, (I used TAZO organic Chai tea bags)
- 1.5 cups milk, divided
- 3 Tablespoon maple syrup or sweetener of choice
Instructions
- Brew the tea: Steep 2 chai tea bags in 1 ½ cups of hot water for 5 minutes. After steeping, remove the tea bags and divide the chai tea evenly between two cups.
- Warm the milk: In a medium pot, heat the milk over medium heat until it simmers. Once it simmers, turn off the heat and set aside ½ cup of the milk.
- Assemble the Chai Tea Latte: Pour ½ cup of the warm milk into each mug with the tea. Adjust the amount to your taste. Add maple syrup or your preferred sweetener, if using, and stir to combine.
- Froth the milk: Pour the reserved ½ cup of milk into a tall glass. Tilt the glass slightly and use a milk frother, moving it up and down, to create foam.
- Top with milk foam: Top each mug with milk foam and sprinkle with a pinch of ground cinnamon and cardamom for garnish.
- Serve: Enjoy your chai latte hot or serve over ice for a refreshing iced version.
Video
Notes
- This recipe makes enough for two chai lattes. It is easily halved and doubled.
- The drinks should be enjoyed as soon as they are made.
