Recipes· 1 min read
Chai Tea Latte
Spiced black tea concentrate with steamed milk — fragrant, warming, and naturally caffeine-light.
House Blend Cafe· 2026-08-20
We're a seasonal shop, open Saturdays only.
You'll find us at the counter on Saturdays, from just after Labor Day through the Saturday before Christmas, 10 AM to 2 PM. The rest of the year we're closed. Order ahead and we'll have it waiting, or see hours and location.
A chai tea latte isn't coffee at all — it's spiced black tea concentrate mixed with steamed milk. The spices (cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, clove, black pepper) give it a fragrant warmth that pairs naturally with creamy milk. It's lower in caffeine than coffee and a favorite for afternoon sipping.
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 2 black tea bags (or 2 tsp loose black tea)
- 4 whole cardamom pods, 2 cloves, 1 cinnamon stick, a slice of fresh ginger, a pinch of black pepper
- 6 oz whole milk
- 1–2 tbsp honey or sugar
Step-by-step
- Simmer the water with the spices for 5 minutes to extract their flavor.
- Add the tea and steep another 3–4 minutes, then strain into a cup. Add honey or sugar to taste.
- Steam the milk to glossy microfoam.
- Pour the steamed milk into the spiced tea concentrate, aiming for a 1:1 ratio.
- Spoon a thin layer of foam on top and finish with a dash of cinnamon.
Tips for the best cup
- Simmering the spices before adding the tea extracts more flavor without over-steeping the tea.
- Adjust sweetness to taste — chai takes sugar well.
- For a dirty chai, add a shot of espresso for an extra kick.
Key takeaways
- A chai latte is spiced black tea concentrate with steamed milk.
- Simmer the spices first, then steep the tea briefly.
- Aim for roughly equal parts concentrate and milk.
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