Chai Tea Latte: A Versatile Beverage for All Seasons
Introduction: Chai tea latte is a wonderfully spiced, soothing beverage that can be enjoyed hot or iced, making it a perfect drink for any season. This blog post will guide you through three methods to prepare a Chai Tea Latte: from scratch using a homemade chai tea concentrate, a quick version using tea bags, and a super fast method using store-bought concentrate. Each method is designed to suit different needs and time constraints, ensuring you can enjoy this delightful beverage no matter how busy your schedule.
Ingredients:
For the Chai Tea Concentrate (makes 48 ounces):
- 6 teaspoons Darjeeling black tea or 6 Darjeeling black tea bags
- 6 cups filtered water, cold or room temperature
- 2-4 inches fresh ginger, sliced and crushed
- 2 cinnamon sticks, crushed
- 4-6 whole cloves, crushed
- 6-7 cardamom pods, crushed
- 1 star anise (optional), crushed
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract or 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- ¼-½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- ¼-⅓ cup honey or sweetener of choice
For Chai Latte:
- 6 ounces whole milk or milk alternative
- 6 ounces chai tea concentrate
Option #2: Quick Chai Tea Latte:
- 2 bags chai tea or 2 teaspoons loose leaf chai tea
- ½ cup boiled water
- 1-2 teaspoons honey or sweetener of choice
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup milk (dairy or plant-based)
Option #3: Super Fast Chai Tea Latte:
- 6 ounces store-bought Chai Tea Concentrate (e.g., Tazo Chai Concentrate)
- 6 ounces milk (dairy or plant-based)
Directions:
- Prepare Chai Tea Concentrate:
- Crush the cinnamon sticks, cloves, cardamom pods, star anise, and ginger slices using a mortar and pestle. Grate fresh nutmeg.
- Bring 6 cups of water to a gentle boil, then add the tea, crushed spices, and vanilla extract. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat, stir in honey, and cover to steep for 10-15 minutes.
- Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer, discard solids, and store the concentrate in a refrigerated container.
- Prepare Chai Latte:
- For each serving, mix 6 ounces of the chai concentrate with 6 ounces of milk. Heat the mixture in a small pan or use a frother until hot and frothy. Serve immediately.
- Option #2: Quick Chai Tea Latte:
- Steep chai tea bags or loose leaf tea in ½ cup boiled water for about 5 minutes.
- Remove tea, stir in honey and vanilla extract, then mix in ½ cup of milk. Heat further or use a frother, then serve.
- Option #3: Super Fast Chai Tea Latte:
- Mix store-bought chai concentrate with an equal amount of milk. Heat and froth as desired, then serve.
Preparation Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 25 minutes Nutritional Information: Approximately 120 kcal per serving (varies based on milk used) Servings: 8 servings for chai concentrate; 1 serving for quick methods
Conclusion: Chai Tea Latte is a versatile and delicious beverage that can be made to suit any taste and time availability. Whether you prefer the complex flavors of a homemade chai concentrate or need a quick comforting drink, there’s a method for you. Enjoy your Chai Tea Latte as a warm, comforting brew or chilled for a refreshing treat.
PrintChai Tea Latte
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
Description
The Chai Tea Latte is a warm, inviting beverage that perfectly balances the bold flavors of black tea with the comforting spices of cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom. Whether you’re looking to cozy up on a cold day or need a pick-me-up, this latte is sure to hit the spot.
Ingredients
Chai Tea Concentrate (makes 48 ounces)
6 teaspoons Darjeeling black tea (or use 6 Darjeeling black tea bags)
6 cups filtered water, cold or room temperature
2–4 inches fresh ginger (1″ slices, crushed)
2 cinnamon sticks (crushed)
4–6 whole cloves (crushed)
6–7 cardamom pods (crushed)
1 star anise (optional, crushed)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (or 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste)
¼–½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
¼–⅓ cup honey (or sweetener of choice)
Chai Latte (1:1 ratio of concentrate to milk)
6 ounces whole milk (or preferred milk alternative)
6 ounces chai concentrate (recipe above)
Option #2 Quick Chai Tea Latte
2 bags chai tea (or 2 teaspoons loose leaf chai tea)
½ cup boiled water
1–2 teaspoons honey (or sweetener of choice)
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup milk (cow’s milk or plant-based)
Option #3 Super Fast Chai Tea Latte
6 ounces store-bought Chai Tea Concentrate (such as Tazo Chai Concentrate)
6 ounces milk (cow’s milk or plant-based)
Instructions
Prepare Chai Tea Concentrate: Measure out all spices and ingredients. Crush the cinnamon sticks, cloves, cardamom pods, star anise, and ginger slices using a mortar and pestle. Grate fresh nutmeg.
Simmer the Tea: Bring 6 cups of filtered water to a gentle boil, then reduce to a simmer. Add Darjeeling tea (or tea bags), crushed spices, and vanilla extract. Simmer gently for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Steep and Sweeten: Remove the tea from heat. Stir in honey and allow the mixture to steep, covered, for 10-15 minutes.
Strain and Store: Place a fine mesh strainer over a large measuring bowl and pour the chai concentrate through it. Discard the solids, then transfer the concentrate to a jar or bottle. Cool and refrigerate.
Prepare Chai Latte: Combine 6 ounces of chai concentrate with 6 ounces of steamed milk. Heat in a small pan or use a frother. Top with milk froth if desired.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: 120