Spiced Chai Tea Latte (Printable)
A cozy chai latte infused with black tea, spices, honey, and creamy milk, topped with cinnamon.
# What You Need:
→ Tea & Spices
01 - 2 cups water
02 - 2 black tea bags or 2 teaspoons loose-leaf black tea
03 - 1 cinnamon stick
04 - 4 whole cloves
05 - 4 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
06 - 3 whole black peppercorns
07 - 1 slice fresh ginger, approx. 1/4 inch thick
08 - 1 star anise (optional)
→ Sweetener & Milk
09 - 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup, adjust to taste
10 - 1 1/2 cups whole milk or milk alternative
11 - Ground cinnamon for garnish
# How To Make:
01 - Combine water, cinnamon stick, cloves, cardamom, peppercorns, ginger, and optional star anise in a small saucepan and bring to a boil.
02 - Reduce heat and let the mixture simmer for 5 minutes to extract flavors.
03 - Add black tea bags or loose tea to the saucepan and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.
04 - Remove from heat and strain to separate the liquid from tea leaves and spices.
05 - Stir in honey or maple syrup until fully dissolved.
06 - In a separate pan, warm milk until steaming but not boiling, froth if desired.
07 - Divide the spiced tea between two mugs and pour hot milk over it.
08 - Top with frothy milk and sprinkle ground cinnamon generously.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The spices bloom into something extraordinary when you let them simmer first, creating a depth that tea bags alone could never reach.
- It's ready in twenty minutes but tastes like you've been thinking about it all day.
02 -
- The order matters more than you think—simmering spices before adding tea prevents them from becoming harsh or one-dimensional.
- Milk heated just to steam, not boiled, stays silky smooth instead of developing that burnt edge that changes everything about the drink.
03 -
- Make a double batch of the spiced tea and keep it in the fridge for three days—you can reheat it quickly and froth fresh milk each time, saving you the whole ritual when you're in a rush.
- A cinnamon stick stirrer makes this gift-worthy and gives you something to chew on while you think, which somehow makes every sip taste better.