How to make a better chai latte (2024)

How to make a better chai latte (1)

All articles

How to make ​a better chai latte than ​your local barista​

The best chai latte isn't found in any cafe. It's the chai latte that you've lovingly prepared in the comfort of your kitchen, with just the right amount of sweetness, spice, and warmth to satisfy your chai craving. If you've never tried to make a chai latte, or you want to learn how to make a chai latte, this article is for you. Read on to learn what chai is and all the different ways it can brighten up your day.​

What is a chai latte (and what's in it)

A chai latte is a mixture of black tea, spice, sweetener, and hot milk. ​

The particular blend of spices you get will depend on the blend of chai tea used to make your latte. That's because the word 'chai' comes from the Hindustani word for all types of tea. Most chai lattes are made with Massala chai , which can include sugar, ginger, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, star anise and even peppercorns.​

How to make a better chai latte (2)

How to brew a perfect chai latte

Serves 1+ people

Ingredients

  • Loose leaf T2 Chai
  • Milk of choice (we recommend cow, soy or oat)
  • Honey or preferred sweetener

Tools

  • Chai pot or saucepan
  • Strainer
  • How to make a better chai latte (3)2-3 tsp per cup
  • How to make a better chai latte (4)5 mins

Most cafes that offer chai lattes don't actually brew the tea themselves, they make them by adding powdered tea to steamed milk. There's nothing wrong with this method. But if you do take the time to make a loose leaf chai latte at home, you'll end up with a beautiful drink and a house filled with its delightful spicy aroma.

To brew the perfect chai latte, all you need to do is:​

  • 1

    Find the right blend of loose leaf chai for your tastes. While you can start from scratch and add your own chai latte spices to black tea, it is quicker to find a blend you already love.

  • 2

    Add two to three teaspoons of chai to a saucepan with 250mL of milk and brew for five minutes. Strain the brewed chai into your cup and top it up with steamed milk for a cafe experience.

  • 3

    Add honey or sugar to taste. Or, if you're feeling adventurous, try adding maple syrup or condensed milk for a caramel flavour.

How to make a better chai latte (5)

How to brew a perfect iced chai latte

Serves 1+ people

Ingredients

  • Loose leaf T2 Chai
  • Milk of choice (we recommend cow, soy or oat)
  • Honey or preferred sweetener

Tools

  • Chai pot or saucepan
  • Strainer
  • How to make a better chai latte (6)2-3 tsp per cup
  • How to make a better chai latte (7)5 mins

Chai lattes aren't just for warming your soul on a wintry night. If you've never tried an iced chai latte on a balmy summer day, you're in for a treat. Making an ice chai latte is simple.

  • 1

    Steep your chai as described above.

  • 2

    Add your desired sweetener to your still hot strained/dissolved chai and stir.

  • 3

    Chill the chai in your fridge overnight or, if you'd like an extra frosty beverage, pour the chai into ice cube trays and freeze it.

  • 4

    Mix your chai with your preferred milk, three parts chai, one part milk. Or, you can blend your ice cubes with milk for a delicious chai frappe.

Shop chai essentials

How to make a better chai latte (8)

Chai Loose Leaf

How to make a better chai latte (9)Loose LeafShop now

How to make a better chai latte (10)

Choc Chip Chai Loose Leaf

How to make a better chai latte (11)Loose LeafShop now

How to make a better chai latte (12)

Gingernut Chai Loose Leaf

How to make a better chai latte (13)Loose LeafShop now

How to make a better chai latte (14)

Go Go Goa Loose Leaf

How to make a better chai latte (15)Loose LeafShop now

How to make a better chai latte (16)

Hot Date Chai Loose Leaf

How to make a better chai latte (17)Loose LeafShop now

  • Chai lattes are made with black tea leaves, which meansthey willhave some caffeine.They arestill a good alternative to coffee ifyou'relooking to limit your caffeine intake, as the average chai lattehas about a quarter of the amount of caffeineyou'llget in a regularlatte.

  • While chai tea and chai lattes are made with the same ingredients,there is a subtle difference in how these two spicy beverages areprepared. Chai tea is made by brewing loose leaf tea in milk, whichgives it a softer flavour and a flatter texture. Chai lattes are madebybrewing the teain water or dissolving a chai latte sachet, thenadding steamed milk. This process gives it a creamier feeling in yourmouth and more pronounced flavour.​

  • A dirty chai coffee is a chai latte that has a shot or two of espressoadded to it for an extra kick.​

  • Dirty chai lattes are a real treat, especially becausethey'reone of themore expensive items in a coffee shop! The good news is that youcan easily make this drink at home. All you need to do is follow thesteps for brewing a chai latte, then add a shot of espresso orteaspoon of dissolved coffee powder.

How to make a better chai latte (18)

Related articles

How to make tea

There’s nothing quite like the simple pleasure of a well-made cup of tea. Learn a few basics and make every sip a success.

How to make a tea latte

When white with one just won’t cut it, grab your fave powdered tea, froth a little milk and say hello to your very own tea latte!

How to make iced tea

Master the art of iced tea and serve up an endless summer of bold fruity flavours!

How to make a better chai latte (2024)

FAQs

How to make chai tea latte taste better? ›

If you want to taste the chai tea more I recommend using 2 tea bags, honey and sugar to your liking depending how sweet you like it. Garnished with nutmeg and cinnamon.

How do you upgrade a chai latte at Starbucks? ›

If your favorite part of a chai latte is the spice elements, ask for a few pumps of cinnamon dolce syrup. Cinnamon dolce syrup is a cinnamon sugar-flavored syrup that will complement the cinnamon element of a chai latte. If you don't want any additional sweetness, ask for a dusting of cinnamon in your latte instead.

What flavors to add to a chai latte? ›

The standard five spices are cardamom, ginger, black pepper peppercorns, clove, and cinnamon. Chai is a special beverage because it can be adjusted to suit your own tastes. Many chais also add in star anise, ground nutmeg, or coriander seeds.

What to add to chai tea to make it sweeter? ›

Sweetening Chai Lattes

I have a terrible sweet tooth, but find that a too-sweet chai latte masks the spices. You can use granulated sugar for sweetening, but I recommend brown sugar or even maple syrup, as their caramel notes accentuate chai's spices rather than hide them.

How to enhance the taste of chai? ›

Top 4 Spicy Add-Ons to Boost up Your Masala Chai
  1. Peppercorns – Peppercorns are known for their spicy nature. ...
  2. Fennel Seeds – Apart from green cardamom, a great spice addition for a refreshing cup of masala tea is of course, fennel seeds! ...
  3. Star Anise – A little taken back? ...
  4. Cinnamon Stick –
Oct 24, 2017

Why is Starbucks chai tea latte so good? ›

Sugar and Spice: Appealing to Sweet Palates

The drink is often made with a base of heavily sweetened chai concentrate, combined with steamed milk and topped with foam and a sprinkle of cinnamon. This sweet and spicy combination caters to those with a penchant for sugary beverages, appealing to a wide range of tastes.

What's the difference between a chai latte and a spiced chai latte? ›

Authentic masala chai is often differentiated from its Western counterpart, the "chai latte." Chai lattes tend to have a sweeter, less complex flavor profile compared to traditional masala chai due to their use of sweeteners, chai syrup, or concentrates.

How do I order a dirty chai latte at Starbucks? ›

Next time you pick up a Chai Latte, hot or cold, make it dirty! Ask to have a shot of espresso blended in for that extra kick.

Does Starbucks use real chai tea? ›

To ensure consistency and streamline the production process, Starbucks uses a pre-made chai concentrate for their Chai Tea Latte.

What pairs well with chai tea latte? ›

Chai is a warm and spicy tea, making it a great partner for spicy snacks. Consider pairing your chai with spiced nuts like almonds or cashews, or perhaps some spicy crackers.

What do cafes use to make chai latte? ›

Most cafes that offer chai lattes don't actually brew the tea themselves, they make them by adding powdered tea to steamed milk. There's nothing wrong with this method.

What makes chai latte so sweet? ›

However, that sweet taste also comes from one or two teaspoons of sugar or honey added to each serving, usually along with a few tablespoons of milk.

Are chai lattes healthy? ›

Like many teas, chai is excellent for regulating digestive systems and keeping your gut healthy. The spice in chai tea that is largely responsible for digestive health benefits is ginger. Ginger, along with black pepper, cinnamon and cloves may help support healthy digestion.

Should you put milk or cream in chai tea? ›

When I am drinking Chai or my morning Black (English style, I learned from my dad) I use Half & Half or just actual cream. Once in a while I will use Whole Milk but nothing with less milk fat than that because it waters my tea down too much.

What makes chai tea taste good? ›

Chai is a complex blend of flavors characterized by a balance of bold black tea leaves and different spices. Without a doubt, the most powerful notes in a cup of chai are cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and cloves.

What tastes good with chai tea latte? ›

Biscuits or Cookies: Simple biscuits or cookies like shortbread, ginger snaps, or butter cookies make for a delightful pairing with chai. The subtle sweetness of the treats complements the spiciness of the tea.

What milk tastes best with chai tea latte? ›

Whole cow's milk

Its higher fat content provides the perfect level of creaminess to balance out the soft yet spicy aroma of the fragrant masala chai mix. Masala chai is often traditionally made with full cream or sweet condensed milk – so this is an authentic and tasty way to enjoy a sweet, spicy chai.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Mrs. Angelic Larkin

Last Updated:

Views: 5667

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (67 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Mrs. Angelic Larkin

Birthday: 1992-06-28

Address: Apt. 413 8275 Mueller Overpass, South Magnolia, IA 99527-6023

Phone: +6824704719725

Job: District Real-Estate Facilitator

Hobby: Letterboxing, Vacation, Poi, Homebrewing, Mountain biking, Slacklining, Cabaret

Introduction: My name is Mrs. Angelic Larkin, I am a cute, charming, funny, determined, inexpensive, joyous, cheerful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.