Make Chai Latte

Chai lattes are a delicious take on traditional chai tea. Similar to a latte made with espresso, the chai latte combines frothy milk with a concentrated brew of spiced tea. Just follow these simple steps and you can enjoy a delicious homemade chai latte, perfect for cold winter days or as a unique after-dinner treat.

Ingredients

  • 2 whole black peppercorns
  • 3 green cardamom pods, gently smashed with side of knife
  • 3 whole cloves
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1 vanilla bean, scraped and seeds reserved
  • 1 tablespoon black tea, preferably Assam
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 tablespoon sugar or honey, if desired

Steps

  1. Combine the spices.
    • Combine the peppercorns, smashed cardamom pods, cloves, ginger, vanilla bean and seeds and cinnamon stick together in a bowl.
  2. Add water and bring to the boil. Combine the spices and water in a small saucepan. Bring the saucepan to the boil, then cover and simmer for five minutes.
  3. Add the tea. Add the loose leaf black tea to the saucepan, and continue to simmer for another five minutes. If you do not have loose leaf black tea, it is possible to use a tea bag instead.
  4. Heat the milk. While the tea is simmering, heat the milk using a stand-alone milk steamer or the steam wand of an espresso machine.
    • Steaming milk is a delicate process. If you're using a steam wand, hold the nozzle just a fraction below the surface of the milk for about five seconds in order to stretch the milk. Then you should submerge the nozzle a fraction further in order to spin the milk in a whirlpool motion.
    • Continue steaming until the temperature of the milk reaches 140 degrees fahrenheit (60 celsius), or the jug becomes too hot to hold. Consider investing in a steaming thermometer in order to get the temperature just right.
    • If you do not have a milk steamer, you can warm the milk using a microwave or by heating it on the stove.
    • Be careful not to burn the milk, as it will affect the taste of the tea.
  5. Strain the tea. Strain the tea mixture into a mug using a fine mesh strainer. Fill the cup half or two thirds of the way to the top.
  6. Add the milk.
    • Add the heated or foamed milk to the tea, filling the cup to the top.
    • Add sugar or honey, to taste.
  7. Try some variations. There are a number of things you can try to vary your chai latte, according to taste:
    • Soy chai latte: Try making your chai latte with soy milk - for health reasons, or simply for added flavor.
    • Apple chai latte: Try making chai with steamed apple juice, as a delicious alternative to a hot apple cider.
    • Dessert chai latte: To make a delicious dessert chai latte, simply top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of grated nutmeg.



Tips

  • Using a milk steamer or steam wand from an espresso machine will create a frothier and more cafe style chai tea latte.
  • For an easier and quicker chai latte, simply purchase a chai concentrate, mix it with hot water, then top with steamed milk.

Warnings

  • Hot water and steamed or heated milk will be very hot, so use caution when handling these ingredients.

Things You'll Need

  • Small saucepan
  • Milk steamer
  • Steaming thermometer
  • Fine mesh strainer

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Sources and Citations

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