Chai Tea Latte

Traditional Indian chai is given a contemporary makeover with this recipe for chai tea latte. Strong black tea is combined with a mixture of cinnamon, ginger, and allspice to create this creamy, spicy drink. For a lovely treat, it is enhanced with French vanilla creamer and sweetened with brown sugar.

Known for its rich flavor, chai is an Indian black tea blend that literally means “tea” in Hindi. It is made with a variety of spices, including cloves, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, fennel, and black pepper. In contrast to chai tea, modern chai tea lattes modify this classic recipe by adding sugar and frothed hot milk for a sweet, creamy flavor.

In addition to providing a soothing and fragrant experience, the cinnamon and black tea in this chai tea latte may have health advantages by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. It provides a modest caffeine boost and can be either hot or cooled. Chai tea lattes are great for a relaxing afternoon or as a flexible garnish for desserts like bread pudding and cookies if you know how to make them.

Ingredients for Chai Tea Latte

chai tea latte​

  • Black tea: To improve the overall flavor and depth of your latte, use premium tea bags.
  • Spices: This recipe requires ground cinnamon, ginger, and allspice, which give the beverage a rich, nuanced flavor and a warm, spicy scent. Together, these spices give chai its distinctive flavor.
  • Milk: The strong flavors of the tea and spices are balanced by the creamy richness that whole milk brings.
  • Brown sugar: Brown sugar adds a hint of caramel sweetness to the latte.
  • Creamer: The texture and flavor are enhanced by the addition of a dash of French vanilla nondairy creamer, which offers a smooth, vanilla-flavored creaminess.
  • Toppings (optional): Add whipped topping and grated nutmeg to the top of your latte for an added indulgent touch.

Directions

Step 1: Brew the tea, make the latte

chai tea latte starbucks

Put the tea bags, ginger, cinnamon, and allspice in the drip coffeemaker’s coffee filter. After adding water, brew as directed by the manufacturer.

Put the creamer, milk, and brown sugar in a small saucepan. Over medium heat, cook and stir until the mixture is thoroughly cooked and the sugar has dissolved. After pouring the milk mixture into mugs, add the tea and stir. Top with whipped topping and sprinkle with nutmeg if you’d like.

how to make a chai tea latte​

Chai Tea Latte Variations

  • Make it iced: As before, brew the tea and spices, then let the mixture cool. For a cool iced chai latte, serve the latte with cold milk over ice.
  • Spice it up: For an added burst of heat and spice, add a pinch of ground cloves and black pepper.
  • Pumpkin spice it: For a festive treat, combine the milk mixture with 1 tablespoon of pumpkin puree and a pinch of pumpkin pie spice.

How to Store Chai Tea Latte

After letting the chai tea latte cool to room temperature, move it to an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to three days. Before serving, warm the latte slowly over the stove or in the microwave, stirring thoroughly. Pour the cold latte over ice for an iced version.

Chai Tea Latte Tips

starbucks chai tea latte recipe​

Can I make this recipe without a drip coffeemaker?

Yes, you can use a teapot or saucepan to steep the tea bags and spices in boiling water for five to seven minutes. After that, drain the mixture and combine it with the milk.

Can I use loose leaf tea instead of tea bags? 

Of course! For the same strong flavor, use about 2 teaspoons of loose leaf black tea in a sieve or tea infuser.

How can I make my chai tea latte less sweet?

To adjust the sweetness level, cut back on the brown sugar or use a natural sweetener, such as stevia.

What’s in a chai tea?

The word “chai” literally means “tea” in Hindi, and it refers to a black tea blend from India. The several spices, including ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, fennel, black pepper, and cloves, give the tea a rich flavor. Other popular choices include peppercorns, coriander seeds, and star anise. A more recent variation on the original recipe is chai tea lattes. To give it more of a “latte” flavor, they usually include sugar and frothed hot milk.

Are there any benefits to chai tea?

Black tea and cinnamon, two ingredients in chai tea, may lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Additional benefits will be added by other blends that contain other spices.

How do you drink chai tea?

Recipes for chai tea can be served hot or chilled. Chai can also be added to a variety of dessert recipes, like as bread pudding and biscuits.

Does chai tea give you energy?

You will still experience an energy boost because chai tea usually contains just about a third of the caffeine found in a cup of coffee. In need of a caffeine boost? Take a look at these other caffeinated snacks and beverages.

Ingredients

  • 2 tea bags
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons refrigerated French vanilla nondairy creamer
  • Optional: Whipped topping and ground nutmeg