Sesame 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, and black peppercorns are simmered low and slow to coax out every bit of their fragrance before the tea and milk ever hit the pot. That layered approach is what separates a truly great chai from the powdered stuff — you can actually taste each element. Honey adds a gentle, floral sweetness that rounds everything out without overpowering the spice. Because every ingredient here is a straightforward whole food or pantry staple, there's no need to scan labels for hidden additives or worry about cross-contact from processed blends. The result is a rich, amber-hued cup that's naturally free of sesame in every sip. Make it once and you'll wonder why you ever paid café prices.
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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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