Citric Acid Free Dairy Free Chai Latte
Warm, spiced, and deeply aromatic, this oat milk chai latte is the kind of drink that makes you want to curl up and slow down. Whole cardamom pods, a cinnamon stick, cloves, black peppercorns, and fresh ginger are simmered together until the kitchen smells absolutely incredible — no shortcuts, just real spices doing their thing. Oat milk steps in beautifully here, giving the drink a creamy, slightly sweet body that pairs perfectly with bold black tea. For anyone avoiding citric acid, this recipe is a genuine win — every single ingredient is naturally free of it, with no preservatives, no additives, and nothing hiding in a flavored syrup or packaged mix. Honey or maple syrup sweetens things gently, and a quick froth at the end gives you that café-style foam without any fuss. It's the kind of homemade drink that makes store-bought versions feel completely unnecessary.
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Learn more →Ingredients
2 servings
- 1 cup water
- 2 black tea bags (or 2 tsp loose-leaf black tea)
- 4 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 4 whole cloves
- ¼ tsp black peppercorns
- ½ tsp fresh ginger, grated (or ¼ tsp ground ginger)
- 1 cup oat milk
- 1–2 tbsp honey or maple syrup, to taste
For serving
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the water, cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, cloves, black peppercorns, and grated ginger in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a gentle simmer and cook for 3 minutes, until the liquid is fragrant and lightly amber.
- 2
Add the tea bags, remove the pan from the heat, and steep for 3–4 minutes. Remove and discard the tea bags without squeezing them.
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