Spiced Chai Latte
Warm, spiced, and infinitely cozier than any coffee shop version. Homemade chai latte — simmered with real spices. Once you've had the real thing, the powdered stuff just won't cut it.
Drinks · Prep 5 min · Cook 10 min · Serves 2 · Easy · By Tina · Published
Ingredients
- 2 bags black tea bags, strong
- 300 ml whole milk, or oat milk
- 1 piece cinnamon stick
- 4 pieces cardamom pods, crushed
- 2 cm fresh ginger, sliced
- 3 whole cloves
- 2 tbsp honey, to taste
Better Than the Coffee Shop
I used to spend $6 on chai lattes until I realized I could make a better one at home in 10 minutes. The secret? Real whole spices simmered in milk. The flavor is deeper, warmer, and so much more aromatic than anything from a bottle or powder.
How to Make It
Simmer the water with tea bags, cinnamon stick, crushed cardamom, ginger slices, and cloves for 5 minutes — let those spices release their magic.
Add the milk and honey, bring to a gentle simmer for another 3-4 minutes. Strain into mugs.
Froth a little extra milk on top if you want that coffee shop look.
Tina's Tips
- Lightly crush the cardamom pods to release the seeds — that's where the flavor lives
- Adjust the honey to your sweetness preference
- Star anise or black peppercorns add beautiful complexity
- Make a big batch of the spice mix and keep it in a jar for quick chai anytime
More drinks recipes
- Thai Iced Tea (Easy · 10 min · serves 4)
Sweetened condensed milk poured over ice — this is how Thailand does comfort in a glass. - Watermelon Mint Agua Fresca (Easy · serves 4)
Ice-cold blended watermelon with fresh mint and lime. This is what summer tastes like in a glass. - Classic Margarita (Easy · serves 1)
Bright, sharp, and perfectly balanced. Forget the neon-green mixes. A real margarita is just three… - Date and Almond Butter Protein Shake (Easy · serves 1)
A naturally sweet, creamy shake with Medjool dates, almond butter, and banana. This tastes like a milkshake… - Fresh Mint Lemonade (Limonana) (Easy · serves 4)
Ice cold, intensely minty, and perfectly sweet-tart. This Middle Eastern lemonade is the only thing I want to… - Golden Turmeric Latte (Easy · 5 min · serves 2)
Warm, golden, and healing. Turmeric latte — or "golden milk" — is an ancient Ayurvedic remedy that happens to…