Chai Tea Latte is easy to make at home with aromatic spices, warm foamy milk, and a sprinkling of cinnamon. It is just as delicious as the one at from your favorite coffee shop — if not better!
Homemade chai tea lattes might be just what you need to warm up from the inside out. This astonishingly simple recipe makes enough for one but can easily be made in larger batches by multiplying the ingredients. It’s also fun to experiment with different iterations of the drink to find your favorite — see the recipe variations notes below!
Why You'll Love this Chai Tea Latte
- A great alternative to coffee. If you’re looking to change up your morning or afternoon beverage routine, this homemade chai tea latte is a delicious substitute for your usual coffee! Chai tea contains caffeine (though the levels will vary by brand) and the spices and frothed milk make the perfect pick-me-up to start your day.
- Much cheaper than coffee shop chai lattes. Why spend $7-$10 at a coffee shop to get a chai tea latte when you could spend that much on the ingredients to make several chai lattes? Learning how to make a chai tea latte at home is satisfying and money-saving!
- Spicy and creamy. Chai tea is traditionally made by combining black tea with a variety of spices like cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, clove, and nutmeg. By using chai tea bags you will get all the classic flavors. Together with warm frothed milk, the spices make this drink incredibly comforting.
Ingredient Notes
To make this easy Chai Tea Latte at home, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):
- water
- chai tea bags - use your favorite! Some chai teas will have slightly different formulas, so use whatever you prefer.
- sweetener - you can use sugar, honey, maple syrup, agave nectar, simple syrup, or a sugar alternative — whatever you prefer. The sweetener you choose may affect the final flavor of the drink.
- milk - you can use either dairy or plant based milk.
- cinnamon - you can use fresh ground cinnamon or pre-ground.
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, a small saucepan, and a milk frother (or French press or whisk)..
How to Make the Best Chai Tea Latte
- Steep tea. Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat and add tea bag. Steep for 5 minutes. Then, remove and discard the teabag.
- Froth milk. Heat the milk in a pot on the stove until warm and steaming, about 3-5 minutes. Then, use a milk frother, French press, or whisk to froth the milk until foamy.
- Assemble. Pour the tea concentrate into a mug. Add the frothed milk into the center of the mug of steeped tea. You can get creative and play around with patterns on top (try a leaf!). Serve immediately with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top, if desired.
Recipe Variations
Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte
If you love pumpkin spice, you’ll love this variation on a chai latte! Simply swap the cinnamon in the recipe for an equal measure of pumpkin pie spice.
Vanilla Chai Latte
To add an even cozier element to this chai latte, swap the sweetener with 1-2 pumps of vanilla syrup or add ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste to the original recipe.
Chocolate Chai Latte
Add 1-2 pump of your favorite mocha sauce to each chai latte for a chocolatey twist! Alternatively, you can use a ½ to 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder (dissolved into water) to add a less sweet chocolate flavor.
Dirty Chai Latte
Want to add a little zing? Create a “dirty” chai latte by adding a shot (or two) of espresso. The result will be a little more earthy and a lot more caffeinated — unless you choose to use decaf.
How to Serve
Chai Tea Latte is a cozy drink that is warmly spiced and pair well is tea time cookies. Some of our favorite treats to serve with this drink are:
- Almond Biscotti
- White Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- Whipped Shortbread Cookies
- Lemon Drop Cookies
- Almond Crescent Cookies
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Add whipped cream. This warm, cozy drink practically begs for a dollop of whipped cream. Add as much as you want on top of the chai latte and finish with a sprinkle of cinnamon as directed.
- Make it icy. Craving a cold drink instead of a cozy hot latte? You can make this chai iced by pouring the hot tea over ice before adding cold milk instead of heating it. You can also add the cooled brewed tea to a blender with all the other ingredients and a cup of ice to make a chai frappe!
- Decorate your chai latte. You can use a drink stencil and loose cinnamon to create simple images on top of your chai tea latte and make the experience even more special.
Storing and Freezing Instructions
How to Make Ahead
You can make the chai tea ahead of time by following step 1 (no milk) and then storing in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to make the latte. You can also freeze chai tea in an ice cube tray. When ready to make the latte, simply thaw the ice cubes and prepare the frothed milk to pour on top.
How to Store
Serve this chai tea latte fresh as the ingredients may separate when refrigerated and the frothed milk may change in texture.
Freezing chai tea lattes will also result in separation so it is not recommended.
More Drink Recipes
- Matcha Latte
- Golden Milk Turmeric Latte
- Iced Latte
- White Hot Chocolate
- Ginger Turmeric Tea
- Slow Cooker Apple Cider
Did you make this recipe? I would greatly appreciate a comment and rating below, letting me know what you thought of the recipe. You can also snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @aheadofthyme or share it on the Pinterest pin so that I can follow along.
Don't forget to sign up for my email newsletter so that you don't miss any recipes. You can also follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook for more recipe updates.
Recipe
Chai Tea Latte
- Total Time: 7 minutes
- Yield: 1 latte
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Chai Tea Latte is easy to make at home with aromatic spices, warm foamy milk, and a sprinkling of cinnamon. It is just as delicious as the one at from your favorite coffee shop — if not better!
Ingredients
- ¼ cup water
- 1 chai teabag
- 1 teaspoon sweetener, sugar, maple syrup or honey (optional, to taste)
- ¾ cup milk, dairy or non-dairy
- cinnamon (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat and add tea bag. Steep for 5 minutes. Then, remove and discard the teabag.
- Pour the tea concentrate into a mug.
- Heat the milk in a pot on the stove until warm and steaming, about 3-5 minutes. Then, use a milk frother, French press, or whisk to froth the milk until foamy.
- Add the frothed milk into the center of the mug of steeped tea. You can get creative and play around with patterns on top (try a leaf!). Serve immediately with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top, if desired.
Notes
Make ahead: You can make the chai tea ahead of time by following step 1 (no milk) and then storing in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to make the latte. You can also freeze chai tea in an ice cube tray. When ready to make the latte, simply thaw the ice cubes and prepare the frothed milk to pour on top.
Storing: Serve this chai tea latte fresh as the ingredients may separate when refrigerated and the frothed milk may change in texture. Freezing chai tea lattes will also result in separation so it is not recommended.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Drink
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Leave a Comment