Homemade Chai Latte with Warm Spices and Maple Syrup Recipe
Learn how to make a comforting chai latte at home with this easy recipe featuring black tea, warm spices, maple syrup, and your choice of milk. Perfectly spiced and naturally sweetened, this latte is a cozy alternative to coffee shop versions and can be customized with your preferred milk, including almond, whole, or creamy plant-based options.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Indian-inspired
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Spices
- 3 cinnamon sticks, plus more for garnish
- 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
- 5 whole cloves
- 4 green cardamom pods, crushed
- 2 star anise
Tea Base & Milk
- 2½ cups almond milk, or any milk, plus more foamed milk for topping if desired
- 1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, thinly sliced
- 2 black tea bags
Sweetener and Garnish
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup, plus more to taste
- Ground cinnamon, for dusting, optional
Instructions
- Toast the Spices: Place the cinnamon sticks, peppercorns, cloves, cardamom pods, and star anise in a small pot. Toast over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes, or until fragrant to release their aromatic oils.
- Add Milk and Ginger: Pour in the almond milk and add the thinly sliced fresh ginger. Reduce heat to low and gently simmer the mixture for 5 minutes to infuse the milk with the spice flavors.
- Steep the Tea: Turn off the heat and add the black tea bags to the pot. Cover and let steep for 10 minutes to extract the tea's richness and allow the spices and ginger to meld with it.
- Strain the Mixture: Set a fine mesh strainer over a bowl or liquid measuring cup. Carefully pour the tea mixture through the strainer to remove all the spices, tea bags, and ginger slices, yielding a smooth chai latte base.
- Sweeten and Serve: Stir in 2 teaspoons of maple syrup, adjusting to taste. Pour the chai latte into mugs. If desired, top with foamed milk for a creamy finish. Garnish each mug with a cinnamon stick and dust with ground cinnamon for an inviting presentation.
Notes
- You can customize the milk to your preference: almond milk is great for steeping, while whole or creamy plant milks like coconut or oat create a richer foam topping.
- Adjust the maple syrup amount to suit your sweetness preference.
- For a stronger chai flavor, increase the steeping time by a few minutes.
- If you don't have a frother, warm milk can be poured on top without foaming.
- Store any leftover chai latte in the refrigerator for up to 2 days and reheat gently.
