The ideal mug of freshly brewed black tea, comforting spices, a bit of sweetness, and extra frothy milk is a chai latte. One of the nicest things to drink on a cold, crisp day.
WHAT IS CHAI EXACTLY?
Although chai is typically thought of as a "flavor" of tea, in Hindi it actually means "tea." Since the British colonized India, it didn't take long for Indians to create their own version of a sweet, milky, and black tea with the addition of spices. Milky teas are popular in the United Kingdom. And friends, that is the origin of masala chai (or this chai latte)!
WHAT’S IN THIS EASY CHAI LATTE RECIPE?
- Milk: Use whole milk or creamier non-dairy milk like oat milk or cashew milk for a milkier foundation (which is also good for foaming).
- Black Tea: To make this recipe simple, I'm using black tea bags.
- Spices (grounded): For spiced chai, combine ground cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and cardamom. But, you may amp up the spices by adding ground nutmeg, vanilla bean, fresh ginger, and star anise.
- Sweetener: I like to add a touch of sweetness with maple syrup. But, you may use honey, agave, or even coconut sugar.
BEST BLACK TEA FOR CHAI LATTE?
Black tea is the main component of chai, thus it's better to select a robust kind like Assam or Darjeeling. In terms of tea bags vs. tea leaves, both are acceptable. For this particular recipe, I'm using tea bags out of convenience—I usually keep them on hand.
Nevertheless, loose leaf teas typically result in a considerably more robust tea. But be sure to keep an eye out for tiny, partially broken leaves. Simmering them in the pot will make infusing them much simpler.
HOW TO MAKE A CHAI LATTE
I adore beginning my mornings with a warm mug of chai latte and a breath of fresh air.
- Steep the tea while heating the milk. In a small saucepan over medium heat, let the milk warm up. The tea bags should be added and simmered for 4 to 5 minutes before being turned off. Next, take the tea bags out.
- the seasonings. Add the cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cardamom, vanilla, and maple syrup, then increase the heat to medium. Stir everything together until it's just the right temperature.
- Fill up the mugs! The chai latte can be enjoyed plain or with extra froth and a sprinkle of cinnamon on top.
MAKE A BATCH OF CHAI LATTE FOR LATER!
If you're the only person eating, store the second part for later. For up to one or two days in the fridge, keep any leftover chai lattes in a covered cup. You may warm it on the stovetop or in the microwave when you're ready to eat.
MORE COZY DRINKS TO BUNDLE UP WITH
Snuggling up with a warm beverage in your favorite mug is the best. These are excellent choices to rotate, from lattes to healthy teas.
- Golden Milk (Turmeric Milk)
- Elderberry Tea
- Pumpkin Spice Latte
- Turmeric Tea
There is no need for a Starbucks chai latte when using this simple recipe. Please try this homemade chai latte and comment below with your thoughts.
EASY CHAI LATTE
Ingredients
- 3 cups milk (dairy or dairy-free)
- 2 black tea bags
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
Instructions
- Heat the milk in a small saucepan over medium heat. Once it begins to simmer, turn off the heat and add the tea bags (I snip any labels off the tea bags so they can fully immerse). Let the tea steep for 4 to 5 minutes, then remove the tea bags with a slotted spoon.
- Turn the heat back up to medium heat, and add the cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cardamom, vanilla, and maple syrup. Whisk everything together, until the chai tea is hot.
- Pour the tea into mugs and if you'd like, top with extra milk foam and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
TIPS
- Substitutions: if you don’t have ground cloves and cardamom you can swap in allspice for both of them.
- Black Tea: You can use many varieties of black tea, from Darjeeling to English breakfast tea, as well as caffeinated or decaffeinated.
- Sediment: Because this recipe uses ground spices, you’ll get more sediment in the bottom of your mug. If you’d like to reduce that, you can strain the chai latte through a fine mesh sieve as you’re pouring it into a mug.
Leave a Reply