Description
Warm Chai Tea Latte blends aromatic spices with creamy milk for a comforting beverage. Spicy ginger, cardamom, and black tea create an inviting brew you’ll savor with each delightful sip.
Ingredients
Scale
Chai Tea Concentrate Ingredients:
- 6 tsp Darjeeling black tea or 6 Darjeeling black tea bags
- 2–4 inch fresh ginger, sliced and crushed
- 2 cinnamon sticks, crushed
- 4–6 whole cloves, crushed
- 6–7 cardamom pods, crushed
- 1 star anise (optional), crushed
- ¼–½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
- 6 cups filtered water, cold or room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract or 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
- ¼–⅓ cup honey or sweetener of choice
Chai Latte Ingredients:
- 6 oz (177 ml) whole milk or milk alternative
- 6 oz (177 ml) chai tea concentrate
Quick Chai Tea Latte Ingredients:
- 2 bags chai tea or 2 tsp loose leaf chai tea
- ½ cup (118 ml) boiled water
- 1–2 tsp honey or sweetener of choice
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup (118 ml) milk (dairy or plant-based)
Super Fast Chai Tea Latte Ingredients:
- 6 oz (177 ml) store-bought Chai Tea Concentrate (e.g., Tazo Chai Concentrate)
- 6 oz (177 ml) milk (dairy or plant-based)
Instructions
- Spice Preparation: Gently crush cinnamon sticks, cloves, cardamom pods, star anise, and ginger using a mortar and pestle to unlock their aromatic essence and intensify flavor depth.
- Liquid Infusion: Transfer water into a medium saucepan, heat to a gentle simmer, then introduce tea leaves and crushed spices, allowing them to meld and release their warm, intricate notes.
- Steeping Process: Reduce heat and let the mixture gently simmer for 5 minutes, enabling spices to permeate the liquid with their robust, complex characteristics. Remove from heat and stir in honey until fully incorporated.
- Straining Technique: Position a fine mesh strainer over a clean container and carefully pour the infused liquid, filtering out solid spice particles to create a smooth, concentrated tea base. Allow to steep for 10-15 minutes to develop full flavor profile.
- Storage and Preparation: Refrigerate the chai concentrate for convenient future use. When ready to serve, combine equal parts concentrate and milk in a saucepan, warming while stirring to prevent scorching.
- Finishing Touch: Employ a milk frother or whisk to generate a light, airy texture, transforming the beverage into a luxurious sensory experience. For expedited preparation, steep chai tea bags in hot water and blend with milk and sweetener, or utilize store-bought chai concentrate for an instant, flavorful result.
Notes
- Crush Spices Precisely: Grinding whole spices with a mortar and pestle releases deeper, more intense flavors and aromatic essential oils compared to pre-ground spices.
- Control Steeping Time: Simmering spices for exactly 5 minutes prevents bitterness while extracting maximum flavor complexity without overwhelming the delicate tea base.
- Store Concentrate Smartly: Homemade chai concentrate keeps well in the refrigerator for 3-5 days, allowing quick, convenient latte preparation anytime.
- Achieve Perfect Texture: Using a milk frother or whisk creates a light, velvety foam that transforms an ordinary chai latte into a luxurious café-style beverage.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Drinks, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg