Walnut Free Classic Chai Latte
Warming, aromatic, and deeply satisfying, this spiced milk tea is the kind of drink that makes a cold morning feel like a gift. Whole spices — cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, and ginger — are simmered low and slow before the tea and milk ever hit the pan, which means every sip carries that layered, complex flavor you'd expect from a great café version. The honey goes in at the end so you can dial the sweetness exactly to your liking. Unlike packaged chai concentrates or flavored syrups, every ingredient here is straightforward and easy to verify, so there's no guesswork about what's actually in your cup. The technique of bringing the milk to a gentle simmer rather than a hard boil keeps the texture silky and prevents any scorching. It strains clean into the mug and is ready to drink immediately — no fancy equipment, no fuss.
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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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