Homemade Chai Latte from Scratch Recipe
A comforting and authentic Indian-style chai latte made from scratch, featuring a fragrant chai concentrate brewed with warm spices, creamy milk, and topped with lightly sweetened whipped cream. This recipe yields four delicious servings, perfect for warming up any day.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients
Chai Concentrate
- 2 ½ cups water
- 2 tablespoons Assam loose tea (or 4 tea sachets or tea bags)
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 star anise (plus 1 optional for garnish)
- 10 cardamom pods
- 10 whole cloves
- 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon black peppercorns
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Milk
- 2 ½ cups milk (any kind)
Whipped Cream
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons sugar
Optional Garnish
- Ground cinnamon
- Whole star anise
Instructions
- Make Chai Concentrate: Crush and roughly chop the star anise, cloves, and cardamom pods to release their flavors. In a saucepan, combine the water, Assam tea, brown sugar, cinnamon stick, crushed spices, ground nutmeg, ground ginger, black peppercorns, and bring to a low simmer over the stovetop. Simmer gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to meld the flavors. Remove from heat and strain the mixture through a fine sieve to separate the tea leaves and spice solids. Stir in the vanilla extract to finish the concentrate.
- Heat Milk: Pour the milk into a separate saucepan and heat over low heat on the stovetop. Warm the milk gently until small bubbles start to form along the edges, indicating it is hot but not boiling. Turn off the heat and set aside.
- Make Whipped Cream: In a tall container or bowl, combine the heavy cream and sugar. Using a handheld milk frother or whisk, beat the mixture until soft peaks form — avoid overwhipping to maintain a light and fluffy texture.
- Assemble Drink: Divide the chai concentrate evenly into four mugs, followed by the warmed milk. Top each serving with a generous dollop of the sweetened whipped cream. Optionally, garnish with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon and a whole star anise for an aromatic finish.
Notes
- You can use any type of milk, including dairy-free alternatives like almond or oat milk, but whole milk will yield the creamiest latte.
- Adjust the sweetness by varying the amount of brown sugar in the chai concentrate and sugar in the whipped cream.
- For a stronger chai flavor, steep the tea and spices longer or increase the quantity of tea leaves slightly.
- The whipped cream can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the fridge until ready to use.
- Using filtered water enhances the clarity and brightness of the chai concentrate’s flavors.
