Paraben Free Classic Chai Latte
Warm, aromatic, and deeply comforting, this homemade chai latte is built entirely from whole spices, fresh ginger, real milk, and honey — nothing processed, nothing synthetic, nothing you'd need to second-guess. That matters more than it might seem, because many store-bought chai concentrates and flavored syrups rely on artificial preservatives and fragrance compounds that people avoiding parabens and similar additives are right to be cautious about. Here, every layer of flavor comes from ingredients you can see and smell: crushed cardamom pods, a cinnamon stick, whole cloves, cracked peppercorns, and a knob of fresh ginger simmered low and slow until the kitchen smells incredible. The milk is added gently so it never scorches, and honey sweetens the whole thing in a way that feels natural and adjustable to your taste. Straining it all through a fine-mesh sieve gives you a silky, café-quality cup with zero mystery ingredients. It's the kind of drink that makes you wonder why you ever reached for a packet in the first place.
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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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