Coconut Free Spiced Chai Latte
Warming, aromatic, and deeply comforting, this spiced chai latte is the kind of drink that makes a cold morning feel like a gift. Whole spices — cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, star anise, and fresh ginger — are simmered together until the water turns fragrant and amber, building a flavor base that no powder or syrup can replicate. The black tea steeps right into that spiced liquid, so every sip carries real depth and a gentle kick of heat from the peppercorns and ginger. Many café-style chai drinks and packaged mixes sneak in coconut milk, coconut cream, or coconut-derived sweeteners, which can make ordering or buying off the shelf a gamble. This version keeps things beautifully straightforward — whole milk and honey are the only additions after the spice brew, so you know exactly what's going into your mug. Straining everything through a fine-mesh sieve gives you a silky, clean finish, and a dusting of ground cinnamon on top makes it feel genuinely special. It's the kind of homemade treat that's just as satisfying as anything you'd pay five dollars for at a coffee shop.
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Learn more →Ingredients
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
- 1–2 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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