Ingredients
— The Chai Concentrate —
2 cups water
2 black tea bags (Assam, English Breakfast, or Darjeeling)
1 inch piece fresh ginger, sliced (no need to peel)
2 cinnamon sticks
6–8 green cardamom pods, slightly crushed
4 whole cloves
4 whole black peppercorns
1 star anise (optional, for licorice notes)
2–3 tablespoons maple syrup, honey, or brown sugar (adjust to taste)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
— The Latte Assembly —
2 cups milk (whole milk or oat milk froths best)
Ground cinnamon or nutmeg, for dusting
Instructions
1. **Toast Spices (Optional):** For deeper flavor, lightly toast the cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and peppercorns in a dry saucepan over medium heat for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
2. **Simmer Base:** Add the water and fresh ginger slices to the saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes to infuse the water with the spices.
3. **Steep Tea:** Add the black tea bags (or 1 tbsp loose leaf tea). Remove from heat, cover the pan, and let it steep for 5–8 minutes. (Steep longer for a stronger tea flavor, but be careful of bitterness).
4. **Sweeten:** Stir in the maple syrup (or sugar) and vanilla extract until dissolved.
5. **Strain:** Pour the tea mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a jar or measuring cup to remove the spices and tea bags. You now have your Chai Concentrate.
6. **Froth Milk:** Heat the milk in a small saucepan or microwave until steaming (but not boiling). Use a milk frother, handheld whisk, or french press to froth the milk until it is foamy and doubled in volume.
7. **Assemble:** Fill two mugs halfway with the hot chai concentrate. Top with the frothed milk.
8. **Serve:** Dust with ground cinnamon or nutmeg and serve warm.
Notes
Milk Choice: Oat milk is the best dairy-free option for chai lattes as it is creamy and has a neutral flavor that complements the spices. Whole milk creates the richest foam.
Crush the Pods: Before adding the cardamom pods, gently crush them with the back of a knife or a heavy spoon to crack the shells. This releases the aromatic seeds inside.
Make Ahead: You can make a large batch of the chai concentrate and store it in a jar in the fridge for up to 1 week. Just mix with hot or cold milk when ready to drink.
Dirty Chai: Add a shot of espresso to your mug for a caffeine-packed ‘Dirty Chai Latte’.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 15
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Indian / American
- Diet: Vegetarian