Chai Latte Spiced Tea Milk (Printable version)

Cozy spiced tea with milk and honey, perfect for relaxing afternoons or a warming pick-me-up moment.

# What You'll Need:

→ Spices

01 - 2 cinnamon sticks
02 - 6 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
03 - 4 whole cloves
04 - 4 black peppercorns
05 - 1-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced
06 - 1 star anise (optional)

→ Tea

07 - 2 cups water
08 - 2 black tea bags or 2 teaspoons loose-leaf black tea

→ Dairy

09 - 1 cup whole milk or non-dairy milk

→ Sweetener

10 - 2 tablespoons honey or sugar, adjust to taste

→ Garnish

11 - Ground cinnamon or nutmeg, optional

# How to Prepare:

01 - Combine water, cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, cloves, peppercorns, ginger, and star anise in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce to a gentle simmer for 5 minutes.
02 - Add black tea bags or loose-leaf tea to the saucepan and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes to fully extract the tea flavor.
03 - Pour in the whole milk and add honey or sugar. Warm the mixture until steaming but not boiling, stirring gently to combine.
04 - Using a fine mesh strainer, pour the chai latte into two mugs, discarding the spices and tea solids.
05 - Sprinkle ground cinnamon or nutmeg over the top if desired and serve immediately while hot.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • Uses easy-to-find pantry spices for authentic flavor
  • Quick fifteen minutes from start to finish
  • Easily adapts for dairy-free or vegan preferences
  • Deeply aromatic blend of sweetness and spice
02 -
  • Save time by making the spice blend in advance
  • Chai lattes are naturally high in antioxidants from both the spices and tea
  • Leftovers can be chilled and served iced or gently reheated
03 -
  • Lightly crush spices with the back of a spoon to release their aromatic oils
  • Steep the tea just long enough or it can turn overly tannic
  • For extra frothy lattes whisk the milk briefly or use a milk frother just before pouring into the mugs I learned the hard way not to let the milk boil which once gave me a strange grainy chai A gentle heat keeps everything creamy and smooth

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