Chai latte is a delicious alternative to chai tea. Similar to latte macchiato made with espresso, chai latte blends frothed milk with a concentrated, spiced tea. Making it at home is easier than you might think and is a good way to customize your choice of spices and toppings. This drink of oriental origin is perfect for warming you up on cold winter days, but it is also a delicious after dinner.
Ingrediants
- 1 stick of crumbled cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon of black peppercorns
- 5 whole cloves
- 3 crushed green cardamom pods
- 2, 5 cm thinly sliced ginger
- 500 ml of water
- 1 tablespoon of black leaf tea
- 350 ml of whole milk
- Honey, maple syrup or whipped cream (optional)
- Cinnamon or nutmeg powder (optional)
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Toasting the Spices and Making the Tea
Step 1. Blend the spices in a small saucepan
Use a crumbled cinnamon stick, a teaspoon of black peppercorns, 5 cloves, and 3 crushed green cardamom pods. Mix the spices with the wooden spoon.
You can change the amount and type of spices according to your tastes. Among the most used are fennel seeds, star anise and coriander seeds
Step 2. Toast the spices over medium heat for 3-4 minutes
Stir them continuously as they toast in the hot saucepan or they will risk burning and ruining the flavor of your chai latte. When you feel the spices start releasing their good scent into the air you can move on to the next step.
Step 3. Add the thinly sliced ginger and half a liter of water
Stir with the wooden spoon to toss the toasted spices and ginger into the water.
The fresh ginger gives a note of sweetness to the chai latte. In traditional Indian masala chai, ginger is often the only spice used
Step 4. Reduce the heat so the water just simmers
Let the ginger and other spices simmer over low heat for 5 minutes. They will gradually release their delicious aromas. You can speed up the process by continuing to stir gently as the water simmers.
Step 5. Remove the pot from the heat and add 1 tablespoon (about 5-6 g) of black leaf tea
Stir again with the spoon to distribute the tea leaves in the water.
- The varieties of tea most used to prepare chai latte are Assam and Ceylon. However, you can also use the classic English Breakfast or another type of black tea.
- If you don't have black leaf tea at home, you can use the tea bag; 3 sachets will be needed.
Step 6. Cover the saucepan and let the tea steep for 10 minutes
During this time, resist the temptation to lift the lid to check the tea or you will let the steam and heat escape.
If you like the tea to have a very strong and aromatic taste, you can extend the brewing time
Step 7. Strain the tea as you pour it into the teapot
Immediately replace the lid on the teapot after pouring the tea, to prevent it from cooling down. It would also be better to use a tea cozy to keep the tea warm while you are frothing the milk.
- If you don't have a teapot, you can use a thermos or other insulated container.
- If you don't have a tea towel, you can use a couple of clean kitchen towels.
Part 2 of 3: Whipping the Milk
Step 1. Pour 350ml of whole milk into a glass jar suitable for use in the microwave
Remove the lid and make sure there are no metal parts in the jar before placing it in the microwave.
- Traditionally, whole milk is used but if you prefer you can replace it with skimmed milk or with a milk of vegetable origin, for example that of almonds or soy.
- If you do not have a suitable glass jar available, you can use a tureen or other container suitable for the microwave oven.
Step 2. Microwave the milk on full power for 30 seconds (or longer if needed)
Each microwave model has different characteristics and settings. If the milk is still not hot after half a minute, heat it for another 15 seconds.
Always be very careful when handling hot liquids. Be careful not to spill the milk when you take it out of the microwave, and use a cloth or oven mitts if the jar is too hot to hold with your bare hands
Step 3. Pour the milk into a thermos or similar container
Close it and make sure you have screwed the lid tight. The thermos will keep the milk warm as you whip it.
Step 4. Shake the thermos for 30-60 seconds to froth the milk
Shake it as long and as vigorously as possible to get a soft and light foam.
Part 3 of 3: Combine the Ingredients and Add the Toppings
Step 1. Pour 180ml into each cup straight from the teapot
The cups should not be too full or there will be no room for the frothed milk and toppings. Be cautious when pouring hot tea into the cups, as you may burn yourself.
Step 2. Add 120ml of frothed milk to each cup
Fill the remaining space with milk froth. Remember to leave some extra free space if you want to add whipped cream.
You may need to vary the quantities depending on the size of the cups. What matters is to keep the proportions unchanged
Step 3. Add honey, maple syrup or whipped cream to sweeten the chai latte
The choice of sweetener type and quantity depends on your tastes. However, the advice is to add it a little at a time since it is already a very tasty drink due to the spices it contains. After tasting the chai latte you can decide whether to add more.
You can also add a few grains of brown sugar to give the drink a sweet and crunchy note
Step 4. Sprinkle the milk froth with cinnamon or nutmeg
They will make the drink even tastier and more inviting. The chai latte is ready, now all you have to do is start sipping it.
Advice
- If you have a coffee machine at home with a milk frother, you can use it instead of the microwave and thermos.
- When in a hurry you can simplify and speed up the preparation of chai latte by using a ready-made spice blend to dissolve in water before adding the frothed milk.
