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Gluten Free
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Nut Free
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Sugar Free
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Vegetarian
Chai Tea Latte with Warm Spices
A warm mug of homemade Chai Tea Latte brings comforting café flavor to your kitchen with simple, wholesome ingredients. Infused with bold spices and sweetened with honey.
Cozy, aromatic, and deeply satisfying, this homemade chai tea latte has all the coffee‑shop flavor. Chai is built on classic spices: cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice. These spices steep into steamed milk with a comforting swirl of honey and a dash of vanilla. A black tea bag infuses rich caffeine, while milk enhances the texture, making every sip feel like a special treat.
You control every ingredient in this recipe: no mystery syrups, no processed mixes, and far less sugar than many store-bought lattes. If you prefer dairy‑free, swap in almond milk, oat, soy, or coconut milk. A quick whisk or froth brings creamy foam, and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon gives it that signature finish.
This recipe mimics the warmth and spice of traditional masala chai, which is steeped slowly in milk and sweetened gently, with a frothy finish. Enjoy it hot for chilly mornings or evenings, or cool and pour it over ice for a spicy pick-me-up. Steeping the tea and spices directly in the milk delivers deeper flavor than adding syrup or concentrate.
Table of Contents
Key Ingredients
Milk: Steamed or frothed, this gives the latte its creamy body.
Black tea provides a rich flavor and natural caffeine.
Vanilla extract adds sweet, aromatic spice.
Ground cinnamon supports heart health and tastes of warmth.
Cardamom is fragrant with citrusy, floral notes.
Ground ginger brings warmth and digestive benefits.
Ground nutmeg adds depth with its nutty, sweet aroma.
Ground cloves are intensely aromatic, grounding the blend.
Allspice blends other spices smoothly.
Honey is the perfect natural sweetener to complement chai spices.
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
How to Make a Homemade Chai Tea Latte
Step 1: Warm the milk
In a small saucepan, add 2 cups of milk, vanilla extract and 2 tbsp of honey and bring it to a boil over medium-high heat.
Step 2: Steep the tea and spices
Remove from the heat, add the black tea and all the spices. Let the tea steep for about 5 minutes.
Step 3: Strain and serve
Strain it through a strainer and pour the chai tea latte into mugs and top with frothy milk foam and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon, if desired.
Expert Tips
- Strain out the spices carefully to avoid gritty bits.
- Use whole spices for a stronger flavor. Feel free to also use loose leaf tea for a fuller flavor.
- Double the batch and refrigerate half to make yourself an iced chai tea latte for later!
- Chai tea lattes are unique in that you steep the tea in the milk rather than in boiling water.
- Make sure that the milk does not run over when it boils. This can happen easily.
- Once it’s heated, use a milk frother for more frothy milk.
Recipe FAQs
A chai tea latte concentrate is a great idea! Simmer the spices with water, strain, and store refrigerated. Mix with milk when ready.
Yes, chai tea lattes have caffeine because of the black tea. Use decaf black tea to reduce caffeine.
Let the steeped latte cool, then pour over ice and froth cold milk to top.
Absolutely. Use almond, soy, oat, or coconut milk and honey. Choose dairy-free honey or maple syrup for vegan.
Enjoy more cozy drinks from the blog:
- A Homemade Apple Cider is the perfect fall drink to keep you warm and enjoy the fall harvest.
- Ginger Tea is a delicious and warm drink that’s good for you when it’s cold.
- Make a 5 Minute Matcha Latte with just a handful of ingredients for a tasty caffeine boost.
Try these other sweet recipes
If you tried this Chai Tea Latte or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you enjoyed it in the📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
Chai Tea Latte with Warm Spices
Ingredients
- 2 cups milk
- 1 bag black tea
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground cardamom
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ⅛ tsp ground cloves
- ⅛ tsp allspice
- 2 Tbsp honey
Instructions
- Into a small saucepan add milk, vanilla extract, and honey. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.2 cups milk, ½ tsp vanilla extract, 2 Tbsp honey
- Remove from the heat, add the black tea and all the spices. Let the tea steep for about 5 minutes.1 bag black tea, ½ tsp ground cinnamon, ¼ tsp ground cardamom, ½ tsp ground ginger, ¼ tsp ground nutmeg, ⅛ tsp ground cloves, ⅛ tsp allspice
- Strain it through a strainer and pour the chai tea latte into mugs and top with frothy milk foam and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon, if desired.
Notes
- Use whole spices for a stronger flavor. Feel free to also use loose leaf tea for a fuller flavor.