Description
A comforting homemade chai latte featuring a rich, spiced syrup made from whole spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger. This recipe allows for full control over sweetness and flavor, offering a customizable, coffee-shop quality drink that can be made with dairy or plant-based milks.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup water (for syrup)
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar (for syrup)
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 4 black tea bags (Assam or Ceylon)
- 1.5 cups milk of choice (whole, oat, almond, or coconut)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup water and 3/4 cup sugar. Heat over medium-high, stirring until sugar dissolves (2-3 minutes).
- Reduce heat to low. Add cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, black pepper, and cloves. Stir to combine.
- Simmer gently for 5-7 minutes until fragrant. Do not boil vigorously.
- Remove from heat and let steep for 10 minutes to infuse flavors.
- Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve into a jar, pressing on spices to extract liquid. Discard spices and let cool.
- While syrup steeps, boil 1 cup water. Remove from heat, add tea bags, and steep for 5 minutes. Remove bags and squeeze.
- To assemble, heat 1.5 cups milk until hot but not boiling. Froth if desired.
- In a mug, combine 1/4 cup tea concentrate and 2-3 tablespoons of chai syrup. Stir well.
- Pour hot milk over the tea and syrup mixture. Top with a dusting of cinnamon if desired.
Notes
The syrup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. The tea concentrate keeps for three days. For a less sweet version, reduce sugar in the syrup or use less syrup per serving. If using plant milks, do not boil to prevent separation. Fresh spices provide the best flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: Indian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mug (approx. 1.5 c
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 22
- Sodium: 50
- Fat: 6
- Saturated Fat: 3.5
- Carbohydrates: 24
- Protein: 8
Keywords: chai latte, homemade chai syrup, fall recipe, cozy drink, spiced tea, dairy-free option, morning ritual, autumn flavors