About this recipe

A warming, aromatic homemade chai latte made with whole spices, black tea, and steamed milk. This classic recipe strikes the perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and creamy — far better than any coffee shop version. Brew the spiced tea concentrate on the stovetop, then froth your milk for a cozy, café-style drink at home.

Instructions

1. 1

   Lightly crush the green cardamom pods, black cardamom pods, and black peppercorns using the flat side of a knife or a mortar and pestle — just enough to crack them open and release their oils.

2. 2

   Add the water, green cardamom, black cardamom, cinnamon stick, cloves, black peppercorns, star anise, ginger, and nutmeg to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil ^[over medium-high heat].

3. 3

   Once boiling, reduce the heat ^[to medium-low] and simmer the spices for 5 minutes to build a deeply flavored base.

4. 4

   Add the black tea bags and continue to simmer ^[on low] for 3–4 minutes. Do not steep longer than 5 minutes or the black tea may turn bitter.

5. 5

   Remove the saucepan from heat. Remove and discard the black tea bags. Stir in the honey until fully dissolved. Taste and adjust sweetness as desired.

6. 6

   Strain the chai concentrate through a fine sieve into a measuring cups or mixing bowl, pressing on the solids to extract all the flavor. Discard the solids.

7. 7

   Warm the milk in a small saucepan ^[over medium heat] until steaming (do not boil). Use a milk frother or whisk vigorously to create a light foam.

8. 8

   Divide the chai concentrate evenly between two mugs (about 3/4 cup each). Pour the steamed milk over the concentrate, holding back the foam with a spoon, then spoon the foam on top.

9. 9

   Dust the foam with a pinch of ground cinnamon and serve immediately.