If you’re a fan of Chai Lattes but find that it can get a bit pricey to feed your addiction, then this is the perfect recipe for you.
Chai tea is a spiced tea beverage made by brewing black tea with a mixture of aromatic Indian spices and herbs.
Commonly used spices include cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and black pepper. It is usually served hot with milk and can be sweetened to your liking.
This recipe for almond milk chai latte is simple to make and very reminiscent of the ones that you purchase at your local coffee shop.
How To Make The Best Almond Milk Chai Latte At Home
Whether you’re enjoying a chai latte on a chilly morning or a cozy night in, this delicious beverage is sure to be a hit.
With just a few simple ingredients, you can make an amazing chai latte in no time.
Although this recipe calls for almond milk, black tea bags and a blend of warm spices; there are a few things that you can do to really take your chai latte to the next level.
Begin by choosing the right spices.
Traditionally, chai tea is made using an array of aromatic spices such as ginger, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, star anise and black pepper and you can customize the spice combinations to suit your taste.
It is suggested that you use the spices in their whole form.
However, you can also use the ground versions—just make sure that they are of the best quality.
Another tip is to steep your black tea bags for at least 5 minutes or up to 1 hour for a deeper flavor. Use a high-quality black tea for best results, and it can either be loose form or tea bag form.
A latte really isn’t complete without perfectly steamed hot milk.
For this recipe, the almond milk is heated (not boiled) to about 140 degrees.
This temperature gently warms the milk without causing it to curdle.
It also helps the milk to froth beautifully to add a creamy and luxurious texture to a chai latte.
Substitutions & Alternatives
Black tea - black tea (loose or in tea bag form) is an essential part of making chai tea from scratch.
If you’d like to skip a step, then feel free to use a store-bought chai tea concentrate or ‘chai tea’ tea bag.
If you are conscious of your caffeine intake, green tea is a great substitute. You can also omit the tea all and just steep the spices in the almond milk.
How To Store Brewed Chai Tea
Let’s face it, you love the flavor of chai tea, but brewing a fresh cup every time you crave one can be a hassle.
Here’s how to go about storing brewed chai tea to maintain its flavor and quality for up to one week.
After steeping the tea bags and spices, let the tea cool until it’s at room temperature.
Next, pour it into an airtight container – preferably one made from glass. Store the brewed chai tea in the fridge where it will keep for up to one week.
Now you can enjoy a fresh cup of chai tea at home at any time.
What To Serve With Almond Milk Chai Latte
Given its exotic flavor profile, there are endless options for what to serve alongside a chai latte.
You can enjoy it with spiced cookies, fluffy french toast and even your favorite toasted bagel sandwich.
Almond Milk Chai Latte
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This vegan twist on a chai latte uses almond milk without sacrificing any flavor!
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 2 black tea bags
- 4 whole cloves
- 1” piece of fresh ginger
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1/4 tsp grated nutmeg
- 3 Tbsp agave or maple syrup
- 2 cups unsweetened, plain almond milk
Instructions
- Start by heating the water in a small pot. Once the water begins to boil, turn off the heat and add the black tea bags, spices and agave or maple syrup. Stir well and let the tea steep in the water for at least 5 minutes.
- While the tea is steeping, in a separate pot heat the almond milk over low heat just until small bubbles form around the edges, then remove from the heat immediately. Be sure to monitor the milk and gently stir it to keep it from burning. Do not boil the milk.
- This is an optional step, but for an extra creamy chai latte, you should froth your milk. Add ¼ cup of the hot milk to an electric frother or to a cup and use a handheld frother to froth the milk. Alternatively, you can use a mason jar with a lid and shake the milk vigorously until frothy (about 1 minute).
- Now it’s time to assemble your chai latte. In a mug or cup, pour ¼ cup of the brewed chai tea followed by ¼ cup of hot (frothed) milk. Taste and check to see if you need more sweetener. Finish with garnishes like dairy-free whipped cream and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Brewing
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Serving
- Calories: 70
- Sugar: 9.2 g
- Sodium: 105.7 mg
- Fat: 1.8 g
- Carbohydrates: 13.6 g
- Protein: 1.1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg