Description
A quick, comforting homemade chai tea latte made with whole spices, black tea, and honey. This recipe offers better flavor and cost savings compared to café versions, ready in about 10 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4–6 black tea bags (Assam or Ceylon)
- 1 cup water
- 4–5 cardamom pods
- 3–4 whole cloves
- 4–5 whole peppercorns
- 1 large cinnamon stick
- 1-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1–2 tablespoons honey
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Bruise the spices: Add water, cardamom pods, cloves, peppercorns, cinnamon stick, and sliced ginger to a saucepan. Lightly crush the cardamom pods to release oils.
- Simmer the spices: Bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to low and simmer for 5 minutes to extract essential oils.
- Add milk and tea: Pour in the milk and add the black tea bags. Bring back to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 3-4 minutes until the milk turns deep amber.
- Strain and sweeten: Turn off heat, remove tea bags, and strain the chai into mugs using a fine-mesh sieve. Stir in honey and vanilla extract while hot.
- Froth and serve: Froth the chai using a French press or handheld frother. Garnish with cinnamon and serve immediately.
Notes
Do not boil the milk vigorously to avoid scorching. Use fresh ginger for the best flavor. Adjust spice levels to taste. Chai concentrate can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Do not freeze as milk may separate.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mug
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 16
- Sodium: 50
- Fat: 4
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 6
Keywords: chai tea latte, homemade chai, honey drink, spiced tea, cozy drink, morning ritual, dairy-free options, healthy chai