Description
A warming and aromatic Chai Latte recipe that combines toasted spices, black tea, and creamy almond milk sweetened with maple syrup. Perfect for cozy mornings or relaxing afternoons, this homemade chai latte can be topped with foamed milk and a sprinkle of cinnamon for an authentic café-style experience.
Ingredients
Spices
- 3 cinnamon sticks (plus more for garnish)
- 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
- 5 whole cloves
- 4 green cardamom pods (crushed)
- 2 star anise
Tea and Milk
- 2½ cups almond milk (or any milk, plus more foamed milk for topping if desired)
- 1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger (thinly sliced)
- 2 black tea bags
Sweetener and Garnish
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup (plus more to taste)
- Ground cinnamon (for dusting, optional)
Instructions
- Toast Spices: Place the cinnamon sticks, peppercorns, cloves, cardamom pods, and star anise in a small pot. Toast them over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant, helping to release their essential oils and deepen the flavor.
- Simmer Milk and Ginger: Add the almond milk and thinly sliced fresh ginger to the pot. Reduce the heat to low and gently simmer the mixture for 5 minutes to infuse the milk with warming ginger notes.
- Steep Tea: Turn off the heat and add the black tea bags to the pot. Cover and allow the tea to steep for 10 minutes to extract robust tea flavors.
- Strain Mixture: Set a fine mesh strainer over a bowl or liquid measuring cup. Pour the chai mixture through the strainer to remove the toasted spices, tea bags, and ginger slices, resulting in a smooth chai latte base.
- Sweeten and Serve: Stir in 2 teaspoons of maple syrup, adding more to taste if desired. Pour the chai latte into mugs and top with foamed milk if you like. Garnish each serving with a cinnamon stick and a dusting of ground cinnamon for a decorative touch.
Notes
- Use any type of milk you prefer, such as cow's milk, oat milk, or soy milk, instead of almond milk.
- For a stronger chai flavor, increase the steeping time or add an additional tea bag.
- You can froth extra milk for a creamy latte topping using a frother or by shaking warm milk in a jar.
- Adjust the sweetness by adding more or less maple syrup according to taste.
- This recipe can be made vegan and dairy-free by using plant-based milks and non-dairy foam.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Indian-inspired
