Simple Chai Latte
Creamy, dreamy, vibrantly spiced!
Whether you need a morning pick-me-up or you’re craving a cozy moment to yourself, our guide to making an at-home chai latte will warm you right up.
Few things can turn a dull, uninspiring day into a pleasant, cozy afternoon than a fresh cup of chai. We drink it all year round–iced or hot (or lukewarm, sipped desperately an hour after we made it), and it really is like a magical hug in a cup.
Now, let’s get it out of the way: chai means “tea” in Hindi, which means in India, where this drink originates, calling this “chai tea” would be like saying “tea tea.” This drink has become immensely popular in America, and many people refer to it as “chai tea.” So it’s technically wrong, and it definitely makes some people cringe–but either way, we’re just happy you’re enjoying this spiced, creamy beverage!
For more fascinating information about the history of chai and its place in western Asian culture, here’s a great piece from Indian-American writer Priya Krishna on Food and Wine. It’s worth the read!
What is in a chai blend? Every region, company, chef, or family will have their own favorite way of mixing the necessary spices and their own ratios. It’s kind of like asking what’s in salsa–everyone makes it to suit their own taste!
In general, a chai blend will contain black tea and a bunch of spices including cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, and ginger. (Some of us love adding black pepper to our chai for an extra kick.)
You can absolutely make your own chai blend! There’s dozens of good how-tos online, in various degrees of difficulty.
For our recipe, we’re using store bought bags of chai. We love drinking the homemade stuff, but we also believe that a chai latte made from tea bags is just as comforting!
Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 chai tea bag
1/2 cup milk (whole milk, almond milk, or any milk of your choice)
1-2 tablespoons vanilla syrup or extract (adjust to taste)
Sweetener (optional, to taste)
Cinnamon for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
First, brew the chai.
In your favorite mug, pour 1 cup of boiling water.
Add the tea bag to the boiling water.
Let it steep for 4-5 minutes.
While the tea steeps, heat milk for 30-40 seconds in microwave or on stovetop until steaming. Froth with milk frother until creamy and doubled.
Stir in 1-2 tablespoons of vanilla syrup or extract, adjusting the amount to your taste. Add sweetener if desired, such as sugar or honey.
Pour the milk over the hot brewed chai.
Add a sprinkle of cinnamon for extra flavor and presentation
It’s important that you don’t steep your tea for longer than five minutes. Longer steeping can make the tea bitter! For stronger tea, use extra tea bags.
Pro tip: Make a big batch of this chai with sweetener and vanilla and keep it in the fridge. Heat it up as needed and steam the milk for each fresh mug.
A chai latte is enough on its own. Just a sip will warm you from the inside out–the woodsy cinnamon, the pungent cloves, the floral cardamom. But if you need something to nibble on, you can enjoy your chai latte with most baked goods. Our favorite pairings include ginger cookies, cinnamon rolls, almond croissants, or carrot cake.
If anyone needs us, we’ll be looking out our windows, wrapped in a cozy blanket, chai in hand!
