Chai Tea Latte (Quick, Easy & Scratch Made)

Name: Chai Tea Latte
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 13 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 cinnamon stick; 4 green cardamom pods; 4 black cardamom pods; 10 whole cloves; 2 peppercorns; 5 thin slices fresh ginger; ⅔ cup whole milk; 2 tablespoons granulated sugar; 4 teaspoons Darjeeling tea leaves; 2 cups water

This homemade chai tea latte makes use of fresh spices, ginger, milk, and Darjeeling tea leaves for a delicious, smooth and comforting drink on a cold morning. It's easy to make and comes together in 15 minutes or less.

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Two chai tea lattes in glass mugs. The front latte is sitting on a creamy white plate with two forks and a stack of granola bars. — This delicious chai tea latte is scratch made for ultra flavor. Enjoy it with some homemade no bake oatmeal peanut butter bars.

If you find yourself often ordering the chai tea latte at your favorite coffee and tea establishment, but really hate paying the high prices, save yourself some dough and make your own at home! It is way easier than you think and tastes just as amazing, if not better!

I got this wonderful recipe from this great cookbook, The Breakfast Bible by Kate McMillan for Williams Sonoma. It's chock full of fun and delicious breakfast and brunch recipes. I highly recommend it. This chai latte is one of the first recipes I tried, and I loved it so much I couldn't wait to share it with you.

Table of Contents

💛 Reasons to Love this Recipe
☕ Origins of Chai Tea
🧾 Ingredients
📝 Instructions
🥄 Equipment
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
🍵 Related Recipes
Recipe
📚 References
Comments

💛 Reasons to Love this Recipe

It's quick. A mere 15 minutes stand between you and this delicious tea latte.
It's homemade. Because you are making this beverage using whole spices, and not a prepared spice blend, you can control the strength of the spices, and vary them according to your taste.
It's comforting. The warming spices in this drink make it the perfect cozy beverage for a cold morning.

☕ Origins of Chai Tea

According to Wikipedia, masala chai originated in India. Traditional chai tea is made by boiling black tea in milk and water along with a mixture of aromatic herbs and spices. There are many different spices that are used to make chai tea, including ginger, cardamom pods, cinnamon, star anise, fennel seeds, peppercorn, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom seeds, ginger root, honey, vanilla, lemongrass, mace, chili, coriander, rose, liquorice root, cumin, or allspice. (source). The exact spice combination and cooking method used will vary from recipe to recipe, but a few things remain in common - black tea, milk, ginger and cardamom.

Most chai tea recipes use black tea, and for that this recipe utilizes Darjeeling. Darjeeling tea comes from the Darjeeling or Kalimpong Districts in West Bengal, India. (source) Because it comes from this specific region, just as Champagne comes from Champagne region in France, Darjeeling is known as the "champagne of teas."

🧾 Ingredients

1 cinnamon stick.
4 green cardamom pods.
4 black cardamom pods.
10 whole cloves.
2 peppercorns.
5 thin slices fresh ginger.
⅔ cup whole milk.
2 tablespoons granulated sugar. This is used as a sweetener. If you are trying to watch your sugar intake, you can substitute a sugar-free sweetener like Swerve.
4 teaspoons Darjeeling tea leaves.
2 cups water.

📝 Instructions

Overhead view of fresh spices in a saucepan with water — **Step 1.** Add cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, cloves, peppercorns, ginger and water to a medium saucepan and bring mixture to a boil over medium heat.
Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 10 minutes.

Overhead view of chai mixture in a saucepan with milk and sugar. — **Step 2.** Add the milk and sugar and return to a simmer over medium heat, stirring continuously until the sugar dissolves.

Overhead view of Darjeeling leaves in a small saucepan with chai mixture — **Step 3.** Add the tea leaves and stir. Remove from heat, cover, and let rest until the tea reaches the desired strength, about 3-5 minutes.

Chai tea mixture being poured through a small mesh strainer into a small metal carafe — **Step 4.** Pour a little of the chai mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a small metal carafe, add a splash of additional milk, and use a milk frother or add to a lidded jar and shake vigorously to froth it. Set aside.

Chai tea being poured through a small mesh strainer into a tall glass mug — **Step 5.** Strain the tea through a small mesh strainer into two mugs.

Latte in a tall glass mug with foam being added to the top with a spoon. — Top with the foam.

🥄 Equipment

Click here to learn how to make this chai tea latte in a visual story.

Close up view of two chai tea lattes in glass mugs sitting on a creamy white plate with a stack of granola bars and cinnamon sticks.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Does this recipe contain caffeine?

Yes it does. This recipe uses Darjeeling tea which does contain caffeine.

Is this chai tea latte gluten free?

Yes it is. This recipe contains no gluten.

Can I substitute a nut milk, like almond milk, in this tea latte?

Yes you can, but bear in mind that you won't get the volume of foam with nut milk that you would with regular milk. If you are lactose intolerant, I recommend that you use lactose free milk instead.

Can I use chai tea bags for this recipe?

Yes, if you want to use chai tea bags instead, simply brew the tea according to the package instructions, add a little milk to a small metal carafe then use a milk frother to heat and foam the milk. Sweeten your tea to taste, pour the hot milk in, and top with the foam.

More morning beverages to make and enjoy!

Made this recipe? We would love it if you could leave a rating. Either tap or click the stars in the recipe card or leave a comment below. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter to receive a free e-cookbook of quick and easy breakfast recipes. Thanks!

Recipe

Chai Tea Latte

Author: Heavenly Home Cooking

Servings lattes

Calories 130

Total Time 15

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

1 cinnamon stick
4 green cardamom pods
4 black cardamom pods
10 whole cloves
2 peppercorns
5 thin slices fresh ginger
⅔ cup whole milk
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
4 teaspoons Darjeeling tea leaves
2 cups water

Instructions

Add cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, cloves, peppercorns, ginger and water to a medium saucepan and bring mixture to a boil over medium heat.
Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 10 minutes.
1 cinnamon stick, 4 green cardamom pods, 4 black cardamom pods, 10 whole cloves, 2 peppercorns, 5 thin slices fresh ginger, 2 cups water
Add the milk and sugar and return to a simmer over medium heat, stirring continuously until the sugar dissolves.
⅔ cup whole milk, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
Add the tea leaves and stir. Remove from heat, cover, and let rest until the tea reaches the desired strength, about 3-5 minutes.
4 teaspoons Darjeeling tea leaves
Pour a little of the chai mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a small metal carafe, add a splash of additional milk, and use a milk frother or add to a lidded jar and shake vigorously to froth it. Set aside.
Strain the tea through a small mesh strainer into two mugs and top with the foam.

Notes

This delicious recipe came from The Breakfast Bible by Kate McMillan for Williams Sonoma.

Equipment

Medium saucepan

Small mesh strainer

Milk frother

Nutrition

📚 References