Vegetarian Dairy Free Chai Latte
Warm, spiced, and deeply aromatic, this homemade chai latte is the kind of drink that makes you want to curl up and slow down. Whole cardamom pods, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, and fresh ginger are simmered together until the kitchen smells absolutely incredible — far better than anything that comes out of a powder packet or a coffee shop drive-through. Oat milk steps in as the creamy base, giving the finished drink a naturally sweet, velvety body that pairs beautifully with the bold black tea and warming spices. A drizzle of honey or maple syrup lets you dial the sweetness exactly where you want it. The technique of steeping the tea off the heat keeps any bitterness in check, while straining and frothing at the end gives you that café-style foam without any special equipment beyond a whisk. It's a genuinely satisfying mug that happens to be completely plant-based, with no dairy in sight and nothing artificial to worry about. Dust with a little ground cinnamon before serving and it looks as good as it tastes.
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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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