Citrus Free Spiced Chai Latte
Warming, deeply aromatic, and built entirely from whole spices, this homemade chai latte is the kind of drink that makes you want to curl up and stay there. Cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, star anise, and fresh ginger all simmer together until the water turns a gorgeous amber ā no citrus peel, no citrus zest, no orange or lemon anywhere in sight. That matters more than you might think, since plenty of store-bought chai blends and flavored syrups sneak in citrus notes or natural flavors that can catch you off guard. Here, every single ingredient is straightforward and easy to verify, so you can sip without second-guessing the label. The whole milk rounds out the bold spice blend with a creamy richness, and a drizzle of honey lets you dial the sweetness exactly where you want it. Straining everything through a fine-mesh sieve gives you a silky, clean cup ā no gritty bits, just pure spiced warmth. Dust with a little ground cinnamon before serving and it looks as good as it tastes.
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Learn more āIngredients
2 servings
- 1 cup water
- 4 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 4 whole cloves
- 4 whole black peppercorns
- 1 star anise
- 1-inch piece fresh ginger, thinly sliced
- 2 tsp loose-leaf black tea or 2 black tea bags
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1ā2 tbsp honey, to taste
For serving
- ground cinnamon, for dusting (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the water, cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, cloves, black peppercorns, star anise, and ginger 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 black tea (loose-leaf or bags) to the saucepan and steep for 3 minutes, until the brew is deep brown and strongly aromatic.
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