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When I worked as a barista in college, chai lattes were one of the easiest drinks to make. All they require is steamed milk and some chai concentrate from a box. That box could sit on the counter for weeks without spoiling, likely because sugar acts as a preservative, and the concentrate contains plenty of it.
Luckily, it’s just as easy to make a chai latte at home. I originally posted this recipe over 7 years ago, but I recently figured out an even better way to make it. (Hint: It’s a lot easier to steep the tea in water, rather than milk.)
Once you try it, you’ll be sipping a drink that tastes like it came from a coffee shop, without the refined sugar or hefty price tag.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Featured Review
“This is the best Chai Latte I have ever had… fantastic!” – Candace
What is in a Chai Latte?
- Black tea. You do not use chai tea bags to make chai lattes. Instead, chai relies on regular black tea. Assam is the most common variety used, but any black tea will work, like Darjeeling, English Breakfast, or even Earl Grey.
- Milk. Any variety of milk will work in this recipe. I use almond milk to keep it dairy-free, but any milk you usually have on hand should work. (Except homemade oat milk, which doesn’t heat well.)
- Spices. While traditional recipes rely on simmering whole spices, I assume that we don’t all keep whole cloves and cardamom pods in our pantries. That’s why this recipe calls for ground spices. You can easily strain them out as you pour the mixture into your mug.
- Maple syrup. This natural sweetener has a flavor that pairs well with chai spices. If you’d rather use honey, I’d start with a little less, since it’s sweeter and can overpower the other spices.
How to Make a Chai Tea Latte
Step 1:
Pour 1 cup of boiled water into a mug and add the two tea bags. Let them steep for 3-5 minutes.
While you wait, add the milk and spices to a small saucepan. Bring the milk to a boil over high heat. As soon as it starts to boil around the edges of the pan, whisk well to mix the spices, then remove the milk from the heat.
Step 2:
Remove the tea bags from the water and pour the brewed tea into the pan of hot milk. Add the maple syrup and stir until well combined.
Carefully taste the mixture and make any necessary adjustments. You can add a pinch of salt to boost the flavor, or a little more maple syrup for a sweeter taste.
Step 3:
Pour the chai latte through a fine mesh strainer as you pour it into mugs for serving. The strainer will catch excess spices, so there won’t be much sediment at the bottom of your mug.
(If you don’t have a strainer, that’s okay! The spices settle on the bottom of the mug, so you won’t notice them as you sip until the very end.)
Serving Tips
Enjoy your homemade chai latte right away for the best flavor. Since this recipe makes two servings, you can share it with someone or save the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
It can be enjoyed over ice the next day or reheated for a cozy drink again.
Iced Variation
If you prefer cold drinks, try my iced chai latte recipe, which creates a concentrate that you can pour over cold milk and ice. It’s an easy make-ahead option!
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White Saucepan
Small Strainer
Electric Tea Kettle
Easy Chai Latte
Ingredients
- 2 black tea bags (see notes)
- 1 ½ cups almond milk (or milk of choice)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon , or to taste
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup (or sweetener of choice)
Instructions
- Place the two tea bags in a heat-safe mug and pour 1 cup of boiled water over them. Let them steep for 3 to 5 minutes while you proceed with the next step.
- Pour the almond milk into a small saucepan and add the cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and cardamom. Bring the liquid to a boil over high heat, whisking often. When the milk around the edges of the pan starts to bubble, turn off the heat.
- Remove the tea bags and pour the brewed tea into the saucepan with the milk and spices. Add the maple syrup and whisk until well combined. Carefully taste test the latte (it's hot!) and make any adjustments you see fit. You can add more maple syrup for a sweeter flavor or an extra pinch of cloves for more spice.
- Use a fine-mesh strainer to catch any excess spices as you pour the chai latte into two mugs. Serve warm right away. I think this has the best flavor when it's not piping hot, so it's okay if it cools down slightly!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
More Drink Recipes to Try
- Pink Drink (Starbucks copycat)
- Healthy Hot Chocolate
- Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
- Cinnamon Tea
- Apple Cider
- Pumpkin Spice Latte
If you try this Chai tea latte recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below to let me know how you like it.
Super tasty and just the swap I was looking for. Is it possible to make the whole recipe for a total of seven servings and just keep in the fridge, eliminating the need to go through the process each day? I’m always crunched for time.
This is lovely, however, after following the recipe the first time I decided to go with 1/2 tsp of cinnamon and just a pinch of cloves the next time and liked it better.