Recipes: Chai Tea Latte

Sometimes, on the cold blustery days, nothing else seems quite right like a cup of tea. It’s warm and comforting and makes everything just a little bit better. We want to share a chai latte recipe that will be your best friend on the cold days when you need something just a little extra special.

Here’s what you’ll need: (this makes enough for 2-3 people)

2 cinnamon sticks
1 tsp black peppercorns
1 star anise
2 tsp whole cloves
1 tsp whole allspice
1/2 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp cardamom pods
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp loose leaf assam tea (or any unflavored black tea)
4 cups water
2 cups milk (of choice, we’ve made it with whole, 2%, almond, and oat)
1/4 cup brown sugar (use dark brown for a richer flavor if you have it)

Add all the spices to a mortar and pestle and grind them until they are fine.

Then add the ground spices to a small pot and turn the heat on low. Toast them for 3-5 minutes stirring occasionally to release the spices’ oils. Add the water and turn the heat up till it reaches a boil. Reduce the heat and let the mixture simmer for at least 15 minutes. The longer it simmers, the stronger the spice flavor will be, so sometimes we let it simmer for 30 minutes.

When the spice and water mixture has about ten minutes left, add your milk into another pot and turn the heat on low. Add in the vanilla and brown sugar, stirring to mix.

Add in the tea leaves to the spice mixture and let it simmer for five more minutes. Strain the spice mixture to remove the spices and tea; now you have chai concentrate! Add the concentrate to the milk and heat to your desired temperature.