Chai latte: make it yourself with real spices!

You’re craving something warm and spicy. That kind of chai latte you usually only order in a coffee shop. At home, you try it with a tea bag, but the result is disappointing. No foam, no depth, no experience.

But it’s actually not difficult at all to make a good chai latte yourself. With a few simple ingredients, you can quickly prepare a fragrant, creamy cup. Just the way you like it.

What exactly is a chai latte?

A chai latte is a warm drink based on black tea, milk and spices. It originally comes from India, where it’s known as masala chai. Masala means ‘spice mix’ and chai simply means ‘tea’. In India, this tea has been drunk for centuries, often brewed with milk, sugar and a powerful blend of spices like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and clove.

The chai latte as we know it here is a Western version. It combines the spicy base of masala chai with the frothy milk texture of a classic latte. The result is a warming, aromatic drink with a smooth texture and a rich flavour experience.

Chai latte is perfect for moments when you want something cosy, without reaching straight for coffee. It’s a delicious alternative to cappuccino or hot chocolate and fits perfectly with autumn afternoons or a calm morning ritual.

Recipe info & Ingredients

Recipe info

• Preparation time: 10 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy
• Number of glasses: 2
• Category: Tea recipe

Ingredients

• 2 black tea bags or 2 teaspoons loose black tea
• 250 ml water
• 250 ml (plant-based) milk
• 2 tablespoons honey or another sweetener of choice
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4 cardamom pods (lightly crushed)
• 2 cloves
• 2 slices fresh ginger or half a teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 star anise

Optional:

• A pinch of black pepper or vanilla

Preparation instructions

1. Put the water in a small pan together with the cinnamon, cardamom, clove, ginger and star anise. Bring to the boil and let it simmer gently for 5 minutes so the flavours can develop.
2. Turn off the heat and add the tea bags or loose tea. Let it steep for 3 to 5 minutes, depending on how strong you want the tea.
3. Pour the mixture through a fine sieve into a measuring jug or pan. This removes the spices and tea, leaving you with a fragrant base.
4. Heat the milk in a pan until it’s almost boiling, but don’t let it boil over. Whisk the milk with a whisk or milk frother until creamy foam forms.
5. Divide the tea mixture over two glasses and pour in the warm milk. Spoon the milk foam on top. Optionally garnish with a pinch of cinnamon or an extra cardamom pod.

Serving tips and variations

You can tailor a chai latte completely to your taste. Here are a few variations to experiment with.

Want to make it extra flavourful? Skip the tea bags and use loose black tea combined with fresh spices. Brew the tea directly in the pan with the spices and let it steep a little longer.

Use a fine sieve or tea strainer to clarify the drink after steeping. This gives an artisanal chai latte like you’d taste in India or from a good barista.

Prefer plant-based? Use oat milk, almond milk or soy. Oat and barista soy milk froth best and give a creamy texture.

Instead of honey, you can choose maple syrup, agave syrup or another plant-based sweetener.

Which tea or spices work best?

For a good chai latte, start with a strong base: black tea. Assam tea is most used because of its full, powerful flavour that stands out well alongside the spices and milk.

Preferably use whole spices. A cinnamon stick, whole cardamom pods and cloves give more depth and aroma. Fresh ginger adds a kick, while star anise provides a subtle sweetness. Check out our Chai tea products here.