Peanut Free Classic Chai Latte
Warming, deeply spiced, and endlessly comforting, this homemade chai latte is the kind of drink that makes you want to curl up and slow down. Whole spices like cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, black peppercorns, and fresh ginger are simmered together until the kitchen smells absolutely incredible ā far better than anything that comes out of a powder packet or a coffee shop pump. The technique of gently simmering the spices first, then steeping the tea with whole milk, builds layers of flavor that feel genuinely luxurious without requiring any special equipment. Honey sweetens everything naturally and lets you dial the sweetness exactly to your taste. Because every ingredient here is a whole, recognizable food, you never have to second-guess what's in your cup the way you might with a store-bought mix that lists vague "natural flavors" on the label. Straining everything through a fine-mesh sieve at the end gives you a silky, clean pour that looks just as good as it tastes.
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Learn more āIngredients
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 ā small bubbles at the edges, not a rolling boil ā 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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