Nitrate & Nitrite Free Classic Chai Latte
Warm, deeply spiced, and endlessly comforting, this homemade chai latte is the kind of drink that makes you want to curl up and slow down. Every layer of flavor comes from whole spices — crushed cardamom pods, a cinnamon stick, cloves, black peppercorns, and fresh ginger — simmered low and slow until the liquid turns fragrant and amber before the milk even enters the picture. For anyone navigating a diet that avoids nitrates and nitrites, this recipe is a natural fit: every single ingredient is a whole, unprocessed food with nothing hidden in the label. Black tea, whole milk, and a drizzle of honey round out the spice blend into something rich and slightly sweet without any shortcuts. The technique of bringing the milk to a gentle simmer — not a rolling boil — keeps the texture silky and the spice notes balanced rather than harsh. Straining everything through a fine-mesh sieve at the end gives you a beautifully smooth, café-quality cup right at home. It's the kind of recipe you'll make once and then find yourself reaching for every single week.
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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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