Chai Tea Latte

Content… What Is It? Recipe Ingredients How to Make It Recipe Variations Tips and Tricks Make-Ahead and Storage What to Serve More Tantalizing Tea Recipes to Try

What Is Chai Tea Latte?

Chai is an Asian word that simply means tea. The spiced version with milk originated in India but is dearly loved in East Africa, particularly Kenya. People there often enjoy the beverage alongside the East African spiced doughnuts (mandazi). 

The combination includes black tea, milk, and spices (cinnamon, anise, clove, cardamom, and ginger). Finally, a touch of sugar or honey adds the perfect touch of sweetness. (Feel free to leave out sweeteners for a paleo and keto-friendly drink).

Recipe Ingredients

1. Coconut Milk works beautifully with all those chai spices and lends an almost tropical flavor to this warm drink. Starbucks chai concentrate has regular milk and sugar along with the spices. Making it yourself allows you to make it dairy-free.
2. Spices – Speaking of spices, you’ll need star anise, cinnamon sticks, fresh ginger, and cardamom pods. You can also add cloves, fennel, orange peel, and black pepper.
3. Black Tea is the caffeine base, but green, white, or red tea (or no tea) is just as delicious.
4. Sweetener – Stevia works great if you’re avoiding sugar, but brown sugar, maple syrup, or honey also sweeten this latte.
5. Toppings – Optionally, top your chai tea latte with whipped cream and freshly grated nutmeg. ✨

How to Make Chai Tea Latte

• Spices – Crush the star anise, cinnamon sticks, and cardamom pods, and chop up the ginger. 
• Boil – In a medium saucepan, heat 2 cups of water and the crushed spices (cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and star anise). Bring the water to a boil, then let the spices simmer for 5-8 minutes.
• Tea – Turn off the heat, add the tea bags, and steep them for 2-3 minutes.
• Assembly – When the tea has reached the desired strength, stir in the coconut milk. Bring the liquid back to a boil, and immediately turn off the heat. Then, strain into latte cups.
• Serve hot with low-fat or homemade whipped cream and a sprinkling of grated nutmeg. You could also let it cool and pour it over ice.

Recipe Variations

1. Extra spicy. Mince the ginger instead of chopping it for an even more intense ginger flavor. The finer it’s cut, the spicier the drink will be. 
2. Milk swap. Feel free to swap out the coconut milk for cow, almond, oat, or any other milk you love.
3. Short cuts. From scratch is great, but storebought tea concentrate or chai tea bags also work fine.
4. Make it a frap. Let the finished tea cool before pouring it into ice cube trays. When completely frozen, toss the cubes in the blender and blend until smooth and icy for a frappuccino-style chai tea.
5. Dirty chai tea latte. Stir a shot of espresso in your latte, and you’re good to go.
6. Iced chai tea latte. Let it cool and pour it over ice for a refreshing drink on a hot summer day.

Tips and Tricks

1. Always use drinkable coconut milk, the kind sold in a carton, not the canned coconut milk cream.
2. For insanely tasty tea, go a step further and make your own coconut milk. There’s nothing like it. 🤤
3. Don’t boil the tea bags because they’ll turn bitter. Boil the spices, turn off the heat, then add the tea bags. When you add the coconut milk and return it to a boil, make sure you turn the heat as soon as it starts bubbling.
4. Adjust the time you let the tea bags steep in the water to adjust the strength of your chai tea latte. A longer steep equals a stronger tea. 

Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions

Feel free to make a double or triple batch of this tea and store it in a pitcher with a lid in the fridge. You can use it up over the course of 3-5 days. Pour out single servings and heat them up in the microwave or stovetop, or just pour the chilled mixture over ice. 

What Goes With Chai Tea Latte

I highly recommend topping your chai tea latte with whipped cream and grated nutmeg. If you’re feeling extra indulgent, drizzle it with some homemade caramel sauce, too! Serve it with a snack, like mandazi, coffee cake, or cranberry orange scones.

More Tantalizing Tea Recipes to Try

1. Lemongrass Tea
2. Peach Tea
3. Southern Sweet Tea
4. Ginger Tea