Carrageenan Free Classic Chai Latte
Warm, deeply spiced, and made entirely from scratch, this chai latte is the kind of drink that makes you want to slow down and actually enjoy your morning. Fresh ginger, crushed cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and black peppercorns simmer together until the kitchen smells absolutely incredible — and that's before the tea and milk even go in. For anyone avoiding carrageenan, store-bought chai concentrates and flavored creamers are a minefield, since the additive shows up constantly as a thickener or stabilizer in those products. Here, whole milk and whole spices do all the work, so there's nothing hidden and nothing processed. Honey rounds out the heat with a gentle sweetness that you can dial up or down to your taste. The whole process takes just minutes on the stovetop, and straining it into the mug gives you that smooth, café-style finish at home. Once you've made it this way, the bottled stuff really doesn't stand a chance.
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Learn more →Ingredients
2 servings
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 black tea bags (or 2 tsp loose-leaf black tea)
- 1-inch piece fresh ginger, thinly sliced
- 4 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 4 whole cloves
- 4 whole black peppercorns
- 1 star anise (optional)
- 2 tbsp honey, or to taste
Instructions
- 1
Combine the water, ginger, cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, cloves, peppercorns, and star anise (if using) in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 5 minutes, until the liquid is fragrant and lightly amber.
- 2
Add the tea bags and milk to the saucepan. Raise the heat to medium and bring the mixture just to a gentle simmer — small bubbles at the edges, not a rolling boil — then reduce the heat to low and steep for 4 to 5 minutes, until the chai is deep brown and richly spiced.
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