Chai latte is a delicious variation of the traditional chai tea drink. Much like a latte made with espresso or strong coffee, a chai latte combines bubbly milk with a strong spiced tea. This drink is actually easier to make than you might think. In addition, by making your own, you can also determine the spices and sprinkles according to taste. Chai latte is very suitable to be enjoyed in the evening during the rainy season or as a closing dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 cinnamon stick, mashed
- 1 teaspoon (about 2 grams) whole black pepper
- 5 whole cloves
- 3 cardamom seeds, mashed until broken
- About 2 cm ginger
- 2 cups (about 500 ml) water
- 1 tablespoon (6 grams) black tea leaves
- 1.5 cups (350 ml) whole milk
- Honey, maple syrup, or whipped cream (optional)
- Cinnamon or ground nutmeg (optional)
Step
Part 1 of 3: Roasting Spices and Brewing Tea
Step 1. Put all the spices in a small saucepan
Add 1 crushed cinnamon stick, 1 teaspoon (2 grams) whole black pepper, 5 cloves, and 3 crushed nutmeg into the pot. Stir everything with a wooden spoon.
You can make the spice mixture according to your taste. Other spices that are often used to make chai latte include fennel seeds, coriander seeds, and star anise
Step 2. Roast the spices over medium heat for 3-4 minutes
Keep stirring everything throughout the roast so it doesn't burn and spoil the chai latte's taste. Once these spices give off their aroma, you can stop roasting.
Step 3. Add 2 cm of ginger and 2 cups (500 ml) of water
Stir these two ingredients together with the spices in a saucepan with a wooden spoon.
Fresh ginger will add sweetness to the chai latte spices. In traditional Indian masala chai, sometimes the only spice used is ginger
Step 4. Reduce the heat to allow the mixture to simmer slowly and continue to simmer for another 5 minutes
Let the spices soak into the water and mix well. You can help speed up this process by continuing to stir as the mixture boils.
Step 5. Remove the pot from the heat and add 1 tablespoon (6 grams) of tea leaves
Use a wooden spoon to stir the tea into the spice mixture until smooth.
- The teas most often used to make chai latte are Assam and Ceylon teas. Even so, you can also use English breakfast tea or other black teas.
- If you don't have tea leaves, you can use 3 teabags instead.
Step 6. Cover the pot and brew the tea for 10 minutes
Try not to open the lid of the pot while the tea is brewing to prevent steam and heat from escaping.
To make the chai stronger and more concentrated, you can brew the tea longer
Step 7. Strain the tea into the teapot then cover it to keep it warm
Put the lid on and the lid on as soon as possible after the tea has been strained to keep it hot while you make the milk froth.
- If you don't have a teapot, you can use a thermos or other airtight container.
- Use a few kitchen paper towels to help seal the teapot tightly if you don't have a cloth cover.
Part 2 of 3: Making Foamy Milk
Step 1. Pour 1.5 cups (350 ml) of whole milk into a microwave-safe jar
Remove the lid from the jar and make sure there are no metal components on the jar before placing it in the microwave.
- The type of milk traditionally used in a chai latte is full-fat milk, but you can also use low-fat milk, almond milk, soy milk, or any other milk you like.
- If you don't have a suitable jar, you can use a bowl or other suitable microwave-safe container.
Step 2. Heat the milk in the microwave for 30 seconds or more if necessary on high
Depending on the model, there may only be one temperature setting on your microwave. If the milk is still not hot when you take it out of the microwave, try heating it for another 15 seconds.
Always be careful when working with hot liquids. Be careful not to spill the milk when you take it out of the microwave and use oven mitts or a towel if the container is too hot to the touch
Step 3. Pour the milk into a thermos or other airtight container
Put the lid on, make sure it's tight and tight. The thermos will keep the milk warm as long as it is whipped.
Step 4. Beat the milk for 30-60 seconds until frothy
The longer and more vigorously you whisk the milk, the more foamy the result will be. When you're done, the milk should appear frothy and thick.
Part 3 of 3: Mixing Ingredients and Sprinkling
Step 1. Pour 3/4 cup (350 ml) of tea from the teapot into the mug
Don't fill the mug to the brim as there should be room for the milk and the chai latte. Be careful when pouring the tea as it can be very hot.
Step 2. Pour 1/2 cup (about 120 ml) of frothy milk into the tea
Fill the mug by pouring the frothy milk from the container. However, remember to leave some room if you plan to add whipped cream.
If your mug is very large or very small, it's a good idea to adjust the amount of tea and milk you pour. However, try to use more or less equal comparisons
Step 3. Add honey, maple syrup, or whipped cream for a sweeter taste
If you like, you can make a sweeter chai latte. For starters, add a little sweetener. This drink already has a strong taste of spices in it. However, you can add more sweetener if you like.
You can also sprinkle a little brown sugar to make the chai latte sweeter and add texture
Step 4. Sprinkle cinnamon and/or nutmeg to taste
As a finishing touch, these two spices will add flavor to the chai latte. After sprinkling, all you have to do is enjoy this delicious chai latte!
Tips
- Instead of a microwave, you can also use a steamer or a steam wand in an espresso machine to make the milk frothy if you have the tools.
- To make a chai latte faster and easier, buy a packaged chai latte, pour hot water and then add the foamy milk.
