Chai Latte Tea Recipe
This chai latte tea recipe is the perfect blend of tea and spice!
I mentioned on Facebook that I was working on a recipe for a chia latte. The response I got was tremendous! You guys really love this stuff!
What I love about this recipe (and about all clean eating), is that I know exactly what ingredients are in my cup. And I know that each and every one of them has a wonderful nutritious benefit. Something about that knowledge makes this cup of tea taste even better. Plus, I never have to spend a small fortune at Starbucks again! (Scroll to the bottom to find the nutrition value of a Starbucks Chai Latte!)
IS THERE COFFEE IN A CHAI LATTE?
No. At least not traditionally. A Chai latte is so named because of the addition of milk to the Chai tea, much as you would add milk to a coffee latte. It is typically enjoyed as an alternative to coffee. It still has caffeine, but doesn’t have the acidity of coffee.
WHAT IS A CHAI LATTE?
Originally known as a Masala Chai, this is an Indian, heavily spiced tea with plenty of milk added. A 12 ounce chai latte has approximately 70 mg of caffeine and is often enjoyed in place of coffee. It has a sweet, earthy and heavily spiced flavor that comes from a blend of spices and typically, black tea. The spice combination can vary depending on where you get it or who makes it. But generally speaking, it’s a mix of ginger, cinnamon, cardamom and even peppercorns.
Typically, made from scratch, it would be a blend of black tea, spices, milk and sweetener. But these days, you can buy Chai tea already blended with the spices. So again, it all depends on where you buy it. Each company will have a slightly different blend of spices as well.
Another option is making this tea with my personal favorite, Rooibos tea. I love it because it doesn’t give me the jitters that black tea gives me.
Rooibos (pronounced “Roy-Boss”) tea is naturally caffeine free. In fact, here’s a little info on this fabulous little plant:
Rooibos Leaf (Redbush)
Rooibos Leaf is a shrubby African legume that is a bedtime favorite among South African herbalists, consumers and even physicians. South Africans also use it to improve appetite, calm the digestive tract and reduce nervous tension. They regard it as safe enough to give infants. This sweet, relaxing tea enhances immune response, balances seasonal respiratory changes, balances blood sugar and blood fats and helps with heartburn. (Source)
MORE HOT DRINK RECIPES
CHAI LATTE TEA RECIPE:
Chai Latte Tea Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups boiling water
- 2 tea bags Chai Rooibos
- 1 medium cinnamon stick
- 10 whole cloves
- ½ inch fresh ginger (peeled and sliced)
- ½ cup milk
- 2 tsp. honey (optional)
Instructions
- Place the tea bags, cinnamon stick, ginger and whole cloves in a glass measuring cup.
- Pour the boiling water into the same measuring cup.
- Allow to steep for at least 10-15 minutes. But for a truly strong and spicy flavor, you will want to let it steep much longer. Taste it every ten minutes to find out what strength you enjoy.
- If you want it sweet, add the sweetener and stir to dissolve.
- Add your milk.
Notes
Nutrition
What is whole cloves?
Cloves are a spice. You can buy them whole or ground. You’ll find them in the spice aisle at the grocery store.
This sounds amazing! But what I’m DYING to know is — Where did you get that awesome bee mug??!!!!! I love it!!!
Haha! You’re not the first to ask. To be honest, I don’t recall. I’ve had it for YEARS.
Hi! Regarding the bee mug, it’s what caught my eye when I saw this recipe on Pinterest.
I was given this mug as a gift in 2009. It’s from Harry & David and is sadly discontinued. I checked because I wanted to have a set of 6.
Awww, well thanks or letting me know!
Where do you get the Chai Rooibos Tea?? Or is any Chai tea appropriate?
For this recipe, it must be the Chai Rooibos tea. I got mine at my local health food store. You can also order it from Amazon.
Absolutely in love with this recipe! I couldn’t find the Chai Rooibos tea in a store (I did find it online), so I bought one box of Chai tea and one box of Rooibos tea……it tastes awesome! Thanks so much!
LBC – Great way to improvise!
I have some loose leaf rooibos tea… Do you know what the equivalent would be for two tea bags?
Tricia – I’m guessing about 2 tsp. per bag. Roughly…
Tiffany this is something I will I’m definitely be making this winter as I’ve been wanting something different to drink.
Molly – Fantastic! I hope you enjoy it! 😀
Where did you get that fantastic mug?! Swoon!
Kendra – It’s been so long, I don’t remember. I have tried to find them again, but it seems they don’t make them anymore.
I have a chai tea latte almost every day (my biggest vice) cold or hot. Looking forward to trying this recipe! Now I just need to get some Rooibos tea 😀
Carol – It’s worth finding! Hope you enjoy it! 🙂