Easy Chai Latte Recipe

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.

I remember that box could sit on the counter for weeks without spoiling! (Likely because sugar is a preservative and the concentrate contains plenty of it.)

Luckily, it’s just as easy to make a chai latte at home. With this easy recipe, 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

Armed with black tea bags, your favorite milk, and a few pantry spices, you can make a homemade chai latte that tastes better than one you’d buy at a coffee shop. I originally posted this recipe over six years ago, but I recently revisited it to ensure the method is as foolproof as possible.

Here’s what I tried, in case you’re curious:

• Test Round 1: Add 2 cups of milk and spices to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Then, remove it from the heat and add two tea bags, letting them steep for 5 minutes. Remove the tea bags, then sweeten with two tablespoons of maple syrup and serve. (Result: This is easy, because only one pot gets dirty, but I don’t feel like the tea steeps quite as well in milk. Also, I would prefer more liquid to get two larger servings.)
• Test Round 2: Increased the milk to 2 1/2 cups for a more suitable serving size, and adjusted the spices and sweetener accordingly. Because I’m using more spices, I realize that I should probably strain them out when serving, so there’s not too much residue on the bottom of the mug. This feels like an “ah-ha” moment! (Result: I really love the straining idea. The spice level and serving amount are better. You could probably use 3 cups of milk, but I don’t want to use more maple syrup, so I’m keeping the servings smaller so the flavor doesn’t get diluted.)
• Test Round 3: Brew 2 tea bags in 1 cup of water in a mug. While you wait, add 1 1/2 cups of milk and the spices to a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove the tea bags from the mug and pour the hot tea into the saucepan with the milk and spices. Sweeten with 3 tablespoons of maple syrup and serve through a strainer into the mugs. (Result: This option definitely looks and tastes more like classic chai, probably because it’s less milky. I prefer this method, but I realize it does involve boiling water, which might be a pain to some. I use an electric tea kettle most days, so it feels easy to me.)
• Test Rounds 4-5: At this point, I’m happy with the method from the previous two rounds. These extra test rounds are used to determine the optimal spice level. I tried adding a 1/4 teaspoon each of ground cloves and cardamom in round 4, and I initially found this too spicy. However, as I kept sipping, I grew to like it better. In round 5, I decided to reduce the cloves and cardamom, which I prefer. If you prefer a spicier flavor, you can also add a pinch of black pepper or salt to enhance the taste further.

I share these test rounds in case you’ve considered one of these ideas, too. It’s easy to customize as needed!

What is in a Chai Latte?

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 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 option you usually keep on hand should work.
• 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 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 well.

Carefully taste the mixture and make any adjustments, as needed. 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 lattes through a fine mesh strainer as you pour them 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.)

Enjoy your homemade chai latte right away for the best flavor. Since this recipe makes two servings, you can share 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.

More Recipes to Try

• Pink Drink (Starbucks copycat)
• Healthy Hot Chocolate
• Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew

If you try this Chai tea latte recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below to let me know how you like it.