If you’ve been craving a chai tea latte, here’s an easy, cozy recipe you can make at home. It uses milk (we like almond or oat), tea bags, a warm chai spice blend, and a touch of maple syrup for sweetness. This simple method delivers the classic spiced flavor of a café-style chai latte without any complicated equipment.
There’s nothing better than a warm, spiced chai latte on a cool day. Whether you prefer it hot or iced, this version is adaptable: swap in your favorite milk, choose black tea or a premade chai tea bag, and adjust the sweetness to taste.
Chai Tea Latte Ingredients
- Milk – Use any milk you like. Non-dairy milks such as oat or almond produce a creamy latte. Soy or cow’s milk also work.
- Tea – Black tea bags are traditional and pair beautifully with chai spices. You can also use pre-blended chai tea bags for a stronger, ready-made chai flavor.
- Chai Spice – A blend of warming spices (cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, allspice) boosts the aroma and depth. Homemade or store-bought chai spice both work well.
- Maple Syrup – Adds gentle, natural sweetness that complements the spices. Honey or another sweetener may be used instead.
- Espresso (optional) – Add a shot or two if you like a “dirty” chai latte with extra caffeine.
Chai Latte Variations
Change the milk: Oat milk creates a naturally sweet, silky latte; almond milk is light and perfect for iced versions. Try different milks to find your favorite mouthfeel.
Swap the tea: Use a plain black tea if you prefer to control the spice level with your own chai blend, or choose a premixed chai tea bag for a bolder spice profile.
Add flavor shots: If you like extra sweetness or flavor, add a splash of vanilla or caramel syrup.
Make it iced: For an iced chai latte, let the finished mixture cool 10–15 minutes, then pour over a glass of ice.
Homemade
Chai Spices
A homemade chai spice blend typically combines cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice for a warm, balanced flavor.
Chai Tea Latte FAQ
Chai tea is black tea brewed with a mixture of warming spices. Common chai spices include cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, allspice, nutmeg, and cloves. The spices create an aromatic, slightly sweet, and spicy cup.
Traditional chai is made with black tea, which contains caffeine. To reduce or remove caffeine, use decaffeinated black tea or a caffeine-free herbal blend.
In moderation, chai lattes can offer benefits from black tea and spices like ginger and cinnamon. Choosing unsweetened milk and limiting sweetener keeps it lighter.
You can froth milk with an immersion blender, a handheld milk frother, or by shaking warmed milk in a sealed jar and then microwaving briefly. Froth before adding to the tea for a light, foamy top.
Recipes with Chai Spices
Apple Chai Energy Balls
Coconut Chai Protein Shake
Chocolate Chai Greek Yogurt Cheesecake Bars
Chocolate Chai Vegan Overnight Oats
More of our Favorite…
More Coffee Drinks
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- How to Make Cold Brew Coffee
- Pumpkin Spice Dalgona Coffee
- Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew
- How to Make a Miel
- Pour Over Coffee
Chai Tea Latte Recipe
This homemade chai tea latte is an easy way to add warmth and spice to your morning or afternoon. It’s made with tea bags, milk, maple syrup, and a chai spice blend.
By: Linley Hanson
Prep: 10 mins · Cook: 3 mins · Total: 13 mins · Servings: 2
Ingredients
- 2 cups unsweetened almond milk (or any milk)
- 2 black tea bags (chai tea bags also work)
- 2 teaspoons chai spice blend
- 1–2 tablespoons maple syrup, to taste
- Optional: 1–2 shots espresso to make it “dirty”
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine the milk, tea bags, maple syrup, and chai spice. Whisk to blend the spices into the milk.
- Heat the mixture over medium-high heat until it reaches a gentle boil, then immediately remove the pan from the heat.
- Let the tea steep for at least 3 minutes. Steep longer for a stronger flavor.
- Remove the tea bags and strain the mixture through a fine sieve into a mug to remove any sediment. If you don’t have a sieve, pour carefully and leave the spice sediment behind.
- Serve hot immediately. For an iced chai latte, cool the mixture for 10–15 minutes, then pour over a large glass of ice. Add espresso if desired.
Tips & Notes
- We tested this recipe with both plain black tea and chai tea bags; both work well. Chai tea bags yield a more intense, spicier brew.
- If your latte tastes gritty, that usually means spice sediment made it into the cup. Straining through a fine sieve prevents grittiness.
- Feel free to use any milk you prefer. Non-dairy milks like oat or almond create different textures and sweetness levels.
- Iced version: allow the mixture to cool 10–15 minutes before pouring over ice to avoid diluting the flavor too quickly.
Nutrition
Approximate per serving: Calories: 49 kcal · Carbohydrates: 5 g · Protein: 1 g · Fat: 3 g · Fiber: 1 g · Sugar: 3 g
Note: Nutrition information is an estimate and should be used as a guideline only.
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