MSG Free Classic Chai Latte
Warming, aromatic, and deeply satisfying, this spiced milk tea is the kind of drink that turns an ordinary afternoon into something worth savoring. Whole spices like cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and black peppercorns simmer together to build a layered, complex flavor that no powder or syrup can replicate. Because everything here is made from scratch with real, whole ingredients, you never have to second-guess what's actually in your cup — no flavor enhancers, no additives, just honest spice and good tea. The ginger adds a gentle heat that blooms beautifully alongside the floral cardamom, and the honey rounds it all out with a natural sweetness you can dial up or down to your liking. Whole milk gives the finished drink that creamy, café-style body, and straining it through a fine-mesh sieve means every sip is silky smooth. It's the kind of recipe you'll want to make on repeat all season long.
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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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