Description
This Spiced Chai Latte is a cozy and flavorful homemade beverage made with black tea, warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom, and creamy milk. Naturally comforting with a perfect balance of sweetness and spice, it replicates the classic coffeehouse chai experience in an easy stovetop method.
Ingredients
Liquids
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup milk of choice (dairy, oat, almond, or soy)
Tea and Sweetener
- 1 black tea bag (or 1½ teaspoons loose-leaf black tea)
- 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup (adjust to taste)
Spices
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
- Pinch ground cloves
- Pinch ground nutmeg
Optional
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Boil Water: Bring 1 cup of water to a gentle boil in a small saucepan over medium heat to prepare the base for the chai.
- Add Tea and Spices: Add the black tea bag (or loose-leaf tea) along with all the ground spices (cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg) to the boiling water.
- Simmer: Let the mixture simmer for 5 minutes to fully infuse the flavors of the tea and spices into the water.
- Remove Tea: Take out the tea bag or strain the loose tea leaves from the spiced water to clear the liquid.
- Add Milk and Sweetener: Stir in ½ cup of your chosen milk and 1 teaspoon of honey or maple syrup, adjusting sweetness to taste.
- Heat Gently: Warm the chai mixture gently over low heat, making sure it heats thoroughly but does not reach a boiling point to preserve flavor and texture.
- Finish with Vanilla: Remove from heat and stir in the optional vanilla extract to add a subtle aromatic note.
- Froth and Serve: Froth the chai if desired using a frother or whisk, then serve immediately while warm for a comforting drink.
Notes
- For a stronger chai, steep the tea and spices longer or use two tea bags.
- Using whole spices instead of ground will yield a deeper, fresher flavor.
- Adjust the sweetness to your preference by adding more or less honey or maple syrup.
- To enjoy iced chai, allow the drink to cool completely and serve over ice cubes.
- The chai concentrate keeps refrigerated for up to 3 days; reheat gently before serving.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Indian-Inspired
