Description
A rich, creamy, and spicy homemade vanilla chai latte made from scratch with whole spices and black tea. This cozy drink is ready in just 15 minutes and offers a superior flavor compared to store-bought mixes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons (10g) loose-leaf black tea (Assam or Ceylon)
- 1 cup (240ml) water
- 4–5 cardamom pods, lightly crushed
- 1 small cinnamon stick (about 2 inches)
- 1-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced or smashed
- 4–5 whole black peppercorns
- 2–3 whole cloves
- 1 piece star anise (optional)
- 1 cup (240ml) whole milk (or full-fat canned coconut milk for dairy-free)
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) pure vanilla extract
- 1–2 tablespoons (15-30g) honey or sugar
Instructions
- Crush the cardamom pods and smash the ginger. Add the cardamom, ginger, cinnamon stick, cloves, peppercorns, and star anise to a small saucepan.
- Add the water to the saucepan with the spices. Turn heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Let it bubble for 1 minute to bloom the spices.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and add the loose-leaf black tea. Steep for 2-3 minutes until the tea is bold.
- Pour in the whole milk. Increase heat to medium and bring to a gentle simmer. Do not boil. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until the milk takes on a golden color.
- Turn off the heat. Stir in honey or sugar until dissolved. Add the vanilla extract.
- Taste and adjust sweetness or spice level if needed.
- Strain the chai through a fine-mesh sieve into a mug to remove tea leaves and spices.
- Froth the remaining milk or pour the chai back and forth between mugs to create foam. Serve immediately.
Notes
Do not boil the milk as it can scorch and change the flavor. Fresh ginger is essential for the best flavor. For a stronger tea flavor, steep the tea for 4-5 minutes. You can make a chai concentrate by boiling water, spices, and tea, then straining and storing in the fridge for up to 3 days. Add milk and vanilla when ready to serve.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 13 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 large mug
- Calories: 135
- Sugar: 9
- Sodium: 50
- Fat: 7
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 13
- Protein: 4
Keywords: chai latte, vanilla chai, homemade chai, spicy tea, cozy drink, morning routine, dairy-free option, caffeine drink