Ingredients
6 cardamom pods
2 cinnamon sticks
1 star anise
2 tsp. whole cloves
1 tsp. black peppercorns
1 (1") piece fresh ginger, thinly sliced
1/3 c. packed brown sugar
4 c. water
6 black tea bags
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
4 c. whole milk
Ground cinnamon, for garnish
Ground cardamom, for garnish
Preparation
Step 1In a small pot over medium heat, bring spices, sugar, and water to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer for 5 minutes. Step 2Bring mixture back to a boil, then add tea bags and vanilla and remove from heat. Cover and let steep for 10 minutes. Remove tea bags then strain tea and discard spices. Step 3In a medium pot over medium heat, bring milk to a simmer. Turn off heat and use an immersion blender to froth milk.Step 4To each mug, pour 3/4 cup chai tea and ½ cup warm milk, adjusting amounts according to preference. Top off each mug with milk foam and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon and cardamom.
What is Chai? Chai is the Hindi word for tea. So, chai is simply tea. We often think of chai as a specific type of tea that’s filled with warm spices and sweetened. That’s the kind of tea we are making for this chai latte. Use a strong black tea, bonus points if it’s Assam tea, which is from India and a bolder black tea. Extra bonus points if it’s loose leaf tea – 1 tea bag is about 1 tablespoon of loose leaf tea! What’s the best way to froth milk? If you don’t own a milk frother, you can still froth your own milk! There are a couple options to try, but we think using an immersion blender is the best. You’ll get the most foam, and you can blend it right in the pan that you just warmed your milk in. If an immersion blender isn’t an option, you can also use a French press! Pour in your steamed milk and pump until it’s nice and foamy. This works exceptionally well for whole milk. Don’t fill the French press more than a quarter full or it will spill out! What’s the best milk to use? Whole milk is the best kind of milk to use for frothing. It foams up the best with tight little holes and it holds its shape the best. You can still use almond or oat milk for a dairy-free option, but they just won’t foam as well. An immersion blender is your best option for all three types, and especially for oat and almond milk. How long will the chai keep for? The chai concentrate will keep for up to a week in the fridge. Reheat before adding your steamed milk, or keep it cold and serve it over ice! Have you whipped up your own latte yet? Let us know how it went in the comments below!Editor’s Note: The introduction to this recipe was updated on August 18, 2020 to include more information about the drink.
