Description
A cozy, single-serve chai latte made with homemade spice syrup and real tea bags. This budget-friendly recipe costs under $0.50 per cup and takes just 10 minutes to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 large black tea bags (or 2 tbsp loose leaf)
- 1 cup whole milk or oat milk
- 3 tbsp raw cane sugar
- 1/4 cup water (for syrup)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
- 2–3 black peppercorns, crushed
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine sugar and 1/4 cup water. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves.
- Add cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cardamom, and crushed black peppercorns to the syrup. Stir well and simmer gently for 3-4 minutes to infuse flavors.
- Add 2 cups of water and tea bags to the saucepan (or a separate pot). Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and steep for 3 minutes.
- Remove saucepan from heat and remove tea bags.
- Pour the hot tea through a fine-mesh strainer into a measuring cup to remove whole spices, then return to the saucepan.
- Add milk to the strained tea. Heat over medium-low, whisking constantly until hot and steaming (do not boil).
- Stir the chai syrup well and add 2 tablespoons to a mug.
- Pour the hot spiced milk over the syrup in the mug.
- Whisk vigorously for 10 seconds to create a frothy top. Sprinkle with a pinch of cinnamon if desired and serve immediately.
Notes
Do not boil the milk as it destroys proteins and creates a grainy texture. The chai syrup can be made in bulk and stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or frozen for 3 months. Adjust spice levels to taste; too many cloves can make the drink taste medicinal. For a vegan version, use oat milk and maple syrup.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: Indian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 16
- Sodium: 60
- Fat: 4
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Protein: 6
Keywords: chai latte, budget recipe, fall drink, homemade syrup, single serve, cozy drink, cheap coffee alternative