This homemade chai tea latte recipe is internet famous and loved by thousands of readers. And it’s way better than a Starbucks chai tea latte. Made with simple pantry ingredients: black tea, warming spices, and milk. This from-scratch recipe is a tea lover’s favorite: rich and warming chai flavor with the perfect touch of natural sweetness. The perfect balance that makes this tea a must-make.
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What Makes This Recipe So Good?
I created this recipe in 2014. I had a costly obsession with a Starbucks chai latte. In an effort to lower expenses, I decided to experiment with making a chai latte at home.
I found a few home chai lattes online, all of which suggested using a pre-made chai tea mix. I tried this option, but they all lacked the coffee shop flavor.
I decided to make my own chai spice blend, using ingredients from my pantry, and pairing this blend with black tea. After researching the spices used to make traditional chai, and seeing what was stocked in my pantry, I decided to go with the following spices…
- Cinnamon: Also used to make banana bread, pumpkin spice latte, and homemade granola.
- Ginger: Used in stir-fry sauce, homemade granola, and delicious in smoothies.
- Cardamom: Delicious in homemade granola, muffins (like zucchini chai muffins), and quick breads. Fun fact: also commonly used as a supplement due to its health benefits: anti-inflammatory.
- Nutmeg: Used to make banana bread, pumpkin spice latte, and many other baked goods.
- Whole Cloves: Something I don’t use very often. In the fall, add to boiling water to make your house smell amazing. If you don’t have whole cloves, 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves will also work.
- Allspice: Has the flavor of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg all combined into one; great for baking.
What Readers Say:
“Best Chai Tea I have ever had! And it is very easy as well – very little active time”
KAITILYN
I infused the spices in boiling water to release their flavor and added black tea bags. Black tea is on the stronger side, so it balances perfectly with the warm flavor of the spices.
The end result was a DELICIOUS homemade chai tea concentrate that I could store in the fridge and reheat with milk to make a homemade latte. No coffee shop needed!
And the best part? It’s inexpensive to make considering that most of the spices are common pantry items that may also be used in other ways.
What is a Chai Tea Latte?
Chai tea latte originated in India. In India, the word chai translates to “tea.”
So yes, calling this drink a chai tea latte is technically saying “tea tea latte.” Since most of us, in the Western world, order “a chai tea latte, please” at the coffee shop, that’s what I’m going with today.
A traditional chai tea latte is a combination of tea and milk. The homemade chai tea latte recipe we’re going to make today, and what most of us recognize as that infamous chai latte taste, is called masala chai.
The main ingredients are a blend of tea, milk, and different spices (like cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger).
Ingredients Needed
This recipe is inspired by a traditional masala chai, with a rich, warm flavor, but modified to use simple and inexpensive pantry ingredients that are common in American homes: tea bags, chai spices, and milk. Here’s what you need.
For the Chai Concentrate:
- 2 cups water
- 2 black tea bags (like English breakfast) or 4 grams of loose-leaf tea leaves
- 2 whole cloves
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp ground allspice
- 2 TB pure maple syrup
You’ll use 1/2 cup of homemade chai concentrate at a time to make a latte. This concentrate stores well in the fridge, for up to 2 weeks. You can make up to 4 lattes with this concentrate. And the recipe can easily be doubled or tripled.
To Make a Latte:
- 1/2 cup chai tea concentrate from the recipe above
- 3/4 cup whole milk or dairy-free milk: coconut milk, almond milk, oat milk
- 1 TB pure maple syrup or honey
- pinch ground cinnamon
Tools Needed
- small saucepan
- fine mesh strainer
- immersion blender or fork for making frothed milk
Chai Latte Recipe Video Tutorial
How to Make, Step By Step
Total Time: Making the chai concentrate is the most time-consuming part of this recipe (10 minutes). Make the concentrate in advance if you want to enjoy a quick and easy latte for breakfast or a quick drink. Once you have the chai concentrate, the latte takes about 5 minutes to prepare.
Step 1: Make the Chai Concentrate
Heat 2 cups of water and the spices in a small saucepan over medium heat on the stove top. Let the ingredients simmer for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and add 2 tea bags and maple syrup (or honey).
After another 5 minutes, pour the concentrate (hot water, spices, sweetener and tea bags) through a fine mesh strainer and into a bowl.
Reserve 1/2 cup of this chai tea concentrate to immediately make a latte. And store the remaining concentrate in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Time-Saving Tip: Short on time? Buy a chai concentrate or “chai tea bags” (which pre-mix spices with black tea) from the store. Store-bought concentrates and pre-mixed tea bags lack the strong flavor profile that you’ll get from this homemade concentrate, but they will give you the chai experience if you’re short on time.
Step 2: Warm & Froth the Milk for the Latte
In a small saucepan, bring 3/4 cup milk, a tablespoon of maple syrup (or honey), and a pinch of cinnamon to a slight boil. Once the sides of the milk begin to bubble, remove the pan from the heat.
Using an immersion blender blend the milk until it’s frothy (just a few seconds). This is the trick to making a homemade latte without a professional milk frother. If you don’t have an immersion blender, use a fork and vigorously whisk the milk mixture.
An immersion blender is also great for making creamy soups, sauces, and dips, like tomato soup, butternut squash soup, veggie-packed spaghetti sauce, and eggplant dip.
Time-Saving Tip: Use the microwave and heat-safe bowl to warm the milk, maple syrup, and cinnamon. Warm the milk for about 30 seconds, then continue for another 30 seconds if needed, until warm.
Step 3: Combine the Frothed Milk and Chai Concentrate
Pour 1/2 cup of the hot chai concentrate into a mug. Then slowly pour in the frothed milk. Sprinkle the top of the chai tea latte with an extra pinch of cinnamon, if desired.
Time-Saving Tip: Double or triple the concentrate recipe so you can easily enjoy a latte each day. The concentrate will keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Shake the concentrate before pouring into a mug and reheating in the microwave. Alternatively, use chilled chai concentrate to make an iced latte with ice and milk.
3 Variations: Iced, Dirty, Pumpkin Spice
Variation 1: Iced Chai Latte
Chill the homemade chai concentrate in the refrigerator. Add 1/2 cup of the cold concentrate to a glass filled with ice cubes, then pour your favorite milk over the top. Follow this iced chai latte recipe.
During the summer, I keep a jar of the concentrate in my fridge. An iced latte is the perfect way to beat the summer heat (along with homemade popsicles)!
I recommend doubling the chai concentrate recipe if you plan to make an iced latte frequently. The concentrate will stay fresh in the fridge for up 2 weeks. Just shake before use.
Chai Ice Cubes: Another option is to pour the concentrate into an ice cube tray and freeze. Add the chai ice cubes to a glass of milk. As the ice melts, you’ll have a delicious latte that isn’t watered down.
Variation 2: Dirty Chai Latte
A dirty chai tea latte is made with a shot of espresso. Regular coffee just doesn’t have the same rich flavor and creaminess as espresso, but in a pinch you could use about 2 tablespoons of regular coffee (or up to 1/4 cup). Add 1 shot of espresso to a mug, then 1/2 cup chai concentrate, followed by the frothed milk.
Variation 3: Pumpkin Spice Chai
I love my homemade pumpkin spice latte, and recently decided to add pumpkin puree to this chai recipe. So GOOD! Warm 1-2 tablespoons pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) with the milk and maple syrup. Then froth the hot milk mixture with an immersion blender or fork. Add the pumpkin milk to the chai concentrate for a pumpkin-flavored chai that beats Starbucks any day.
What kind of tea is best to use?
Make the chai concentrate with black tea bags (like English Breakfast) or black tea leaves (loose). Black tea is strong enough to hold up to the warm, flavorful spices. It also provides a good amount of caffeine, which is nice for a morning pick-me-up.
Green tea and herbal teas aren’t strong enough to hold up to spices and are not recommended.
I think you’ll find the flavor and taste of this homemade drink is far superior to anything you’ll get at coffee houses (including Starbucks). Give it a try and tell me what you think!
Homemade Chai Tea Latte
Equipment
- 1 medium saucepan
- 1 immersion blender or fork for frothing the milk
- fine mesh sieve for straining the spices from the chai concentrate
Ingredients
Homemade Chai Concentrate:
- 2 cups water
- 2 black tea bags like English breakfast, OR 4 grams of loose-leaf tea leaves
- 2 whole cloves or 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp ground allspice
- 2 TB pure maple syrup or honey
Chai Latte:
- 1/2 cup homemade chai tea concentrate from the recipe above
- 3/4 cup whole milk or dairy-free milk: coconut milk, cashew milk, almond milk, oat milk
- 1 TB pure maple syrup or honey
- pinch ground cinnamon
Instructions
Homemade Chai Concentrate
- In a small saucepan, bring the water and spices to a boil. Whisk the spices in the water. Once the water reaches a boil, turn off the heat and allow the spices to steep in the water for 5 minutes.
- After 5 minutes, turn the heat back on and add the black tea bags and maple syrup. Return to a slight boil (the goal is a hot liquid for steeping). Once boiling, turn off the heat. Steep the tea bags in the water and spices for 5 minutes.
- Remove the tea bags and strain the tea through a fine mesh strainer. Reserve 1/2 cup of chai concentrate to make a latte right now. Store the remaining chai concentrate in a jar in the fridge up to 2 weeks.
Make a Chai Latte:
- In a small saucepan, bring the milk, maple syrup, and a pinch of cinnamon to a slight boil (the sides of the milk will begin to bubble), stirring often. Once the sides of the milk begin to bubble, remove the pan from heat.
- Using an immersion blender, blend the milk until it's frothy. Alternatively, use a fork to vigorously whisk and froth the milk.
- Pour 1/2 cup chai concentrate into a mug. Slowly pour in the frothed milk. Sprinkle the top with an extra pinch of cinnamon, if desired.
- Serve warm.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
What to serve with this drink?
There’s nothing like enjoying a warm latte with a muffin, scone, or slice of bread. Here are a few of my favorite baked goods to serve with this latte, for the ultimate at-home coffee shop experience.
Favorite Homemade Coffee Shop Drinks
- How to Make Chai Concentrate With Tea Bags
- Ultimate Homemade Chai Tea Latte Recipe
- Iced Chai Tea Latte (Homemade Starbucks Copycat Recipe)
- Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate (Dairy or Dairy Free)
- Homemade Mocha Peppermint Latte
- How to Make a Turmeric Latte (Golden Milk)
- How to Make Homemade Coffee Creamer
- Iced Matcha Green Tea Latte Two Ways
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I’m hoping to use this recipe for a holiday food swap – if they do not wish to make it a latte, and just have a warm or hot chai tea, what part concentrate and what part water/milk to you mix? Or do you just heat up the ingredients for the “chai tea” by itself? Thanks!
Hey Erica, You’ll need make a large portion of the chai recipe and the milk recipe, keeping them separate. The ingredients for the chai will be heated up separately. Have fun!
Would it be possible to substitute the cardamom? I can’t seem to find any at my local stores.
Hey Lucy, The cardamom really creates the classic Chai Latte flavor in this drink, so it can’t be substituted. It’s a great baking spice, too, so ordering online might be a possibility.
You can get all the ingredients at Mountain Rose Herbs. They even make a chai tea mix, already mixed with the spices….AND a caffein free version called firefly chai. They are a GREAT company. I live in Eugene, where they call home, don’t work for them or have any affiliation, but go there almost weekly for my weekly order! Great people, friendly and so helpful!
That’s awesome, Carol. Thank you for sharing. I love MRH!
Hi! This recipe sounds so good and I can’t wait to try! How much does this recipe make?
Hey Morgan, The concentrate will make enough for 2 drinks. The milk (“latte” part in the recipe) will make enough for one drink.
Okay, I’ve made this twice, and twice I’ve gotten this gelatinous goop that is really hard to strain. Am I supposed to get that? Am I supposed to strain that out? Or is that part of the chai tea? Or am I doing something completely wrong?
Hey Debra, Gelatinous goop doesn’t sound right. Is the gloop coming from the tea or the milk?
If it’s the milk, the problem may be due to boiling. This issue can be solved by warming the milk and turning off the heat before it reaches a boiling point. If it’s the tea, I’m not sure what would be causing the gloop.
I got the gelatinous goop too but it was from the seasonings mixed with the water after boiling.
I got that gloop as well, I just tossed it after straining. I think it’s the maple syrup. I noticed it after I put the syrup in the pot, and it stayed that way for straining. The beverage was amazing though! One coming right up for breakfast!
Was eager to make this recipe; however, I got the gloop as well and the taste was bland. The gloop happened after adding the syrup..Maybe I’m comparing it to Starbucks.
I got the goop too. It comes from too much water boiling off during the steeping. Use a little more water and cover the pot, that fixes it. 🙂
The gloop made this inedible. Off to find a better recipe.
Sorry to hear that, Dona. I’m surprised to hear that a gloop made the entire drink inedible. A recipe that uses whole spices, or just using a chai tea bag and combining it with steamed milk, may be what you’re looking for.
Hi There! Would herb tea work instead of black tea?
Hey Deneen, I believe so :). Enjoy!!
Vanilla rooibos taste great with this recipe, Deneen.
Hi there! Love a good chai tea latte. Do you have suggestions on how to make this recipe iced?
Hey Liza, You can add cold milk to the chai concentrate (after it’s been chilled). Enjoy!!
Can I substitute pure maple syrup with any sugar?
Hey Frankie, Yes, you can :). The latte will be sweeter, so you may need to decrease the sugar a bit.
Thanks so much for this recipe. I’ve tried many other chai latte recipes, authentic and not, and this is hands down, the best! Absolutely love it. Love the fact that it makes extra so you can keep the tea in the fridge and just add the milk etc on the stove as needed. Grabbed the zucchini muffin recipe while I was at it…looks fab. Now a subscriber 🙂 You rock!
Thank you so much, Sonja. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the latte! I just made zucchini muffins this morning–they are soooo good! 🙂
Can I sub 2 percent for the whole milk, Kristin?
Hi Celestial, Yes, you can.
This is, without a doubt, the BEST chai latte recipe I’ve found(and I’ve tried probably half a dozen). The spices are super strong, the tea-to-milk ratio is perfect, and I love being able to store the extra tea base for later. This also works well iced with cold instead of steamed milk 🙂
Hey Anna, Thank you so much for your incredible endorsement of this latte recipe! I’m so glad you like it.
Love the recipe for the chai latte, Kristin. Can’t wait to try it!
Thank you. Enjoy!
I wonder how long I can keep this in the fridge until it goes bad?
Hey Sofie, The chai concentrate will last a couple of weeks in the refrigerator.
So delicious! Not very spicy put you can always adjust the spice levels.
I’m so glad you like it, Veronica :)!
I had the most wonderful chai tea latte on a recent trip to Colorado. Since then, I’ve been trying to recreate the flavor and texture at home, but with little success. That is, until I found your recipe! Thank you for sharing. I love the recipe and the photos are beautiful!
Nicole, What an amazing compliment… Thank you so much! I’m so happy you loved the recipe and that it recreated the same flavor and texture as the chai latte you enjoyed in Colorado. 🙂
This looks absolutely perfect! Do you use cardamom pods or ground cardamom? I can’t wait to try it 🙂
This looks so good. FYI, friends of mine from India told me once that Chai means tea. So, Chai Tea is like saying Tea Tea.
Thank you, Ginger. You are absolutely correct. Chai means “tea”, but since so many in the U.S. know this drink as “chai tea” (thanks, Starbucks ;)), I decided to include “tea” in the title.
WOW. So I’ve never had tea in my life, saw the pictures, had to try it. It was delicious! I am now converted. All these years I have been missing out. Thanks for this
Hey Meagan, I’m so glad you loved the chai latte!! You’re so welcome :).
Just pinned this. It looks amazing and I can’t wait to try this with coconut milk. I love all these warm fall-inspired beverages you’ve been sharing! I’ll definitely be sharing this via social media!
Thank you so much, Kelly. Even with the super warm Florida weather I’ve been in the mood for warm fall drinks :). Enjoy!!
Round 2 is looking good….I think maybe I’ll just stop eating and exist on nothing but your lattes for the remainder of the fall? 😉
Lol. What a perfect plan!! And since there’s raw milk in these lattes I’m sure they are technically a health food ;).
This is awesome! My mom’s favorite Starbucks drink and now we can make it at home!
Awesome, Medha! She’ll love the homemade version!!
I make my chai latte by putting the tea bag in a mug of milk (I use soy) and then I heat it in the microwave for about 90 seconds. When the milk is hot and the tea is brewed I add some sugar and some honey.
Sounds great, Sarah!
That’s a fantastic recipe, but you shouldn’t call it chai latte.
I’m glad you enjoyed my Chai Latte, Delly.
the word “chai” means tea and the word “latte” means milk so she is not wrong to call her beverage a chai latte. what americans call chai tea latte is an indian “chai masala”, which translates to mixed spice tea
I tried your chaï tea latte with cashew milk…so good thank you for the recipe better than Starbucks
Thank you so much! That means a lot. Thanks for rating and commenting!
LS Team.