Citrus Free Classic Chai Latte
Warm, deeply spiced, and endlessly comforting, this homemade chai latte is the kind of drink that makes you want to wrap both hands around the mug and slow down for a minute. Whole spices like cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and black peppercorns simmer together with fresh ginger before the tea and milk ever hit the pot, which means every sip is layered with real, complex flavor — not the flat, syrupy version you get from a coffee shop pump. Many packaged chai blends and concentrates sneak in citrus peel or natural citrus flavoring, so brewing your own from scratch is genuinely the safest and most satisfying route. Honey brings a gentle floral sweetness that ties everything together without overpowering the spice. The whole process takes just minutes on the stovetop, and straining it into your mug gives you that smooth, café-quality finish at home. It's the kind of recipe you'll come back to every single morning once you realize how easy it actually is.
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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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