Description
A cozy, homemade spiced chai tea latte made with whole spices, black tea, and honey. This recipe takes under 10 minutes and offers a customizable, aromatic alternative to café lattes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup milk (whole milk, oat milk, almond milk, or coconut milk)
- 3 black tea bags or 1 tablespoon loose leaf black tea (Assam or Ceylon)
- 1-inch piece fresh ginger, grated or minced
- 4–5 cardamom pods, lightly crushed
- 4–5 whole black peppercorns
- 1 whole star anise pod
- 1 small cinnamon stick or ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1–2 tablespoons honey (or maple syrup for vegan option)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pinch ground cloves (optional)
Instructions
- Crush the cardamom pods gently to expose the seeds. Add crushed cardamom, black peppercorns, star anise, and cinnamon stick to a saucepan.
- Pour 1 cup of water into the saucepan with the spices. Add the grated fresh ginger.
- Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 3 minutes until the water turns deep amber.
- Turn off the heat and add the black tea bags or loose leaf tea. Let steep for 1 minute.
- Pour in the milk and turn the heat back to medium. Stir gently and heat until hot but not boiling (small bubbles around edges), about 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat. Strain the chai through a fine mesh strainer into a mug to catch spices and tea leaves.
- Stir in honey and vanilla extract until dissolved. Taste and adjust sweetness if needed.
- Optionally, froth the chai with a handheld frother or whisk vigorously. Garnish with a pinch of cinnamon or cardamom powder and serve immediately.
Notes
Simmer spices in water first to extract maximum flavor. Do not boil the milk to avoid scorching. For a stronger chai, steep tea longer or use more tea bags. For a milder chai, reduce ginger or peppercorns. Chai is best made fresh; leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mug (approx. 12 oz
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 16
- Sodium: 50
- Fat: 4
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Protein: 4
Keywords: chai tea, chai latte, homemade chai, spiced tea, morning drink, cozy recipe, anti-inflammatory drink, caffeine alternative