This Chai Latte recipe has the sweet and spicy flavor that you love, and can be made at home in just minutes. It’s dairy-free, naturally sweetened, and makes a great healthier alternative to the kind you’d buy at a coffee shop.
As an added bonus, it’s cheaper and has no weird preservatives or additives. I love making it at home because I get to control the amount of spice and sweetness. You can simply taste as you go!
What is a Chai Latte?
Similar to a latte made with coffee, a chai latte is typically made with a tea concentrate and steamed milk.
When I worked as a barista in college, the chai concentrate we used had enough sugar in it that it could sit on the counter for over a month without refrigeration. I wanted to figure out a healthier alternative to make at home to avoid that!
Does Chai have caffeine?
Chai lattes that are made with black tea do have some caffeine. In this particular recipe, you can make it with or without the tea– either way it will taste great!
I personally don’t have the patience to wait for tea to brew, and then make a latte out of it, so this recipe gets its flavor from an easy combination of spices instead. If you make it without the tea, it’s a caffeine-free drink.
How to Make It
This recipe is quick and simple to make on the stove top, but if you want an extra-authentic drink that would come from a coffee house, you can use a milk frother to heat up the milk instead.
Tip: My homemade almond milk and almond milk coffee creamer both make amazing foam in a milk frother.
I usually just whisk the milk and spices in a saucepan over the stove, so that I don’t have to get out any extra equipment.
If you want to make this drink with tea, you’ll need to heat up the almond milk first, then use the hot milk to steep the tea bags for 3 to 5 minutes.
Once the tea is steeped, you can remove the tea bags and continue with the recipe by adding the spices and sweetener. I recommend using a plain black tea, rather than a chai tea bag, so that the drink isn’t too spicy.
However you make it, I hope you’ll enjoy this easy and flavorful drink!
It’s the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth when it’s chilly outside, and I have a feeling it would be delicious served over ice for a warmer day, too.
Easy Chai Latte Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups almond milk (or milk of choice)
- 2 black tea bags (optional; I like to use Darjeeling)
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon , or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup (or sweetener of choice)
Instructions
- If using tea, keep in mind that this drink will have caffeine. Heat up the almond milk in a saucepan over medium-high heat, until it begins to bubble around the edges of the pan. Turn off the heat, and add the 2 tea bags to the pot of hot milk. Wait 3 to 5 minutes for the tea to steep, then remove the bags and continue with the next step.
- If you're skipping the tea, add the plain almond milk to a sauce pan.
- Now that the milk is in the saucepan (whether it's been brewed as tea, or not) add in the cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and maple syrup. Whisk to combine, stirring over medium heat, until the mixture is piping hot.
- Adjust any seasoning to your taste and serve immediately. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge. You can serve them chilled over ice, or reheat on the stove again.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is for 1 of 2 servings. This is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, so it’s just an estimate and not a guarantee.
Recipe Notes:
- Because this is a quick stove top recipe, you can adjust anything you like and taste as you go. If you need to use a zero calorie sweetener, just add it to your taste instead of using maple syrup.
- The same goes for the spices! I think Chai Lattes tend to have a lot of spice, but if you don’t care for as many, you can always start will less and just add more to taste as you go.
- If you prefer to use another milk, go for it. I think my homemade hemp milk would work great for this recipe, too, if you need a nut-free option.
- If you’d prefer a frozen version of this drink, be sure to try my Frozen Chai Latte smoothie. It tastes so much like a blended drink from Starbucks!
As always, if you try something different please leave a comment below so we can all benefit from your experience.
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Reader Feedback: Do you have a favorite coffee house drink that needs a healthier makeover? Feel free to make any requests in the comments below!
Love a good chai latte! Especially on a cold winter morning (:
Had for breakfast – so goodl! Used unsweetened coconut milk (not a fan of almond) and reduced the maple syrup to 2TB (next time will use my regular sugar replacement and see how that works). Aroma and flavor remind me of old fashioned soft molasses cookies. For me the best time to have this – and I will be having it often – is in the evening, when I’m tired of eating the right things all day and want to cheat, because it definately tastes like something you shouldn’t have.
Delicious. Smothered mine in frothed milk and a heavy sprinkle of fresh grated nutmeg, and it was perfect. Thank you!
I made mine with allspice instead of cloves (because we were out) and it turned out great!! Yummy recipe!
How is this a chai latte if there’s no chai tea?
It tastes like a chai latte, even without the tea. You’re welcome to add tea if you like, but it’s not necessary for the flavor. When I worked as a barista, we used a bottle of sugary concentrate to make chai lattes, and who knows if that had “real tea” in it or not!
What kind of tea?
I find this works best with a relatively “plain” flavored black tea. I like to use an English breakfast tea. If you use a chai-spiced black tea, then these additional flavors might be too spicy in the final latte.
Chai just means “tea” in Hindi. People often think chai is a type of tea, but it’s actually not. What people think of as chai tea in the west is actually masala chai (spiced tea) and it is authentically made with black tea.
Excellent! I made it with a splash of vanilla and a little bit of stevia 🙂
So delicious! I used goat milk, and added a dash of cardamom.
This looks so good! Love the ingredients and how easy it is to make. ❤️
Before adding the milk, you can heat the spices up in the pan for minute or so, the spices will release their full aroma and it wil taste even better 😉
Do you have a double mocha cappuccino recipe?
This is GREAT! I loved having it before bedtime, too! Perfectly warm and comforting!
Sipping a large cup right now. Delish!!!
Yay! Glad you’re enjoying it.
Love a God chai
So delicious! I reduced the maple syrup to 2 tbsp. Thanks for this—it’s perfect and I can’t wait to try the leftovers over ice!
I had about of a canned coconut milk I had to use up so I decided to give this a try. I cut the spices in half except for the cinnamon, I used 2 teaspoons(I love cinnamon!. I also added 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. It was warm, creamy, spicy, and sweet (but not overly sweet). One word: Heavenly! Simply heavenly!
Great base. Added more spices, significantly reduced sweetener and threw in a teabag (black tea) while the spices and milk were heating. Brought up close to boil, then let it sit for a couple of minutes. Removed teabag and poured into cup. Delicious.
This is exactly the recipe I need. I have a hard time finding decaffeinated chai latte concentrate in stores so with this recipe I don’t even have to worry about caffeine. Plus, I always have all the ingredients on hand to make it whenever I want. Thank you so much for this delicious recipe. I have already made it several times and will continue to make it.
I love drinks with naturally-sweetened taste.It’s funny when chai latte doesn’t have chai tea but I love how simple it is, adding some cacao powder is perfect!
It’s really a very simple recipe and it’s very necessary to try right away. Thank you for sharing that unique and delicious recipe.
Amazing! It’s 10:45pm and I really fancied a chai latte. This is a perfect recipe of stuff I just had in my cupboard! Thank you so much! Tastes amazing!
Sounds delightful. Re: Paleo dinner rolls… followed the recipe but they did not rise.They were still so yummy. I really hope to make them successfully- any suggestions?
Kind regards,
Leanne
Pretty darn good for a sweet chai, sans the slight black tea flavor. I think next time I will try a little black pepper, and maybe a little cardamom, to make it a little spicier for me.
This has a great blend of spices. Reminded me of Oregon Chai blend. I add in a black tea bag at the last minute.
My friend got me hooked on Dutch Bros chai lattes so I’ve been trying to find a recipe… this is it! This stuff is AMAZING!!!! I’m in heaven, I’ve already shared the recipe with friends, it’s a keeper!
Very good, I added some cardomon and brewed a small amount of black tea to mix in, slightly too sweet so I might use less maple syrup next time.
That was DELICIOUS!!! Hubby and kid approved. Seriously will be making this daily. So easy and just like a star bucks chai latte.
This Is One Of My Favorite Dish Chai , Mouthwatering , Thanks For Sharing.
Yummy! I love it. I used walnut milk as that is what I had on hand. I will be making this instead of running out to buy one when I have a craving.
Thank you for this recipe!! I love SB’s chai tea latte but this is my new favorite way to drink it! So so so delicious. I didn’t have ground cloves so I replaced with 4 whole cloves.
Delicious! I make it for me and my partner most nights.
I love your chai and hot chocolate neutral recipes. What a nice afternoon treat.
I added 1/8 tsp cardamom and toasted the spices until fragrant before adding the milk, using goner as my sweetener. Was delicious, will make for my family during winter. Thanks for the recipe!
Can’t wait to try this, I’ve given up coffee to ease symptoms of hyperthyroidism, I have started making homemade turmeric latte with coconut/nut milk, fresh turmeric and fresh ginger, I whizz this in my NutriBullet to chop the turmeric and ginger before heating, but it also gives it great froth for all those who don’t have a milk steamer 🙂 stays frothy through heating 😉 just thought I’d share, and def going to try this chai latte yummy
Mmm. I used this instead of water to steep my tea and I might never go back. My new job allows me to work from home sometimes, and while I like the opportunity I find myself getting distracted and looking for stimulation. This has kept me satisfied and helped me focus 🙂
My wife boils the spices and then adds milk. The moment it looks like a skim forms on the top, remove the pot from the heat and serve. I hope you enjoy this
Peets Coffeehouse Pumpkin Chai latte is A-Mazing! I’m guessing it is a mix but I don’t know. I would love to be able to duplicate this at home & know it is a low sugar, guiltless version.
So simple and delicious, I was a little skeptical at first due to no chai in the chai, lol…I used on stevia to replace maple syrup and added a little pepper. A keeper for sure
I had my first chai latte out at a local coffee shop. I am telling you this is so much better. I can’t believe this is so good. I make my own almond milk, per Meghan so I can’t speak for the store bought kind as the base, but this is in my weekly menu several times from now on!.
This is delicious! Quite honestly I’ve also wondered why bother with the tea – i cant normally taste it in chai lattes. I have also tried this with 5 crushed green cardamom and 6 black peppercorns lightly broken. I also use cinnamon stick instead of powder which means I had to leave mine to infuse a bit longer.Obviously you need to pass it thru a tea strainer into a cup to remove the whole spices. I found 2tblspns maplesyrup plenty sweet enough so test as you go with that too.
Absolutely delicious and takes No time at all. Easy easy easy! Will definitely make this again. Thanks!
So yum! The sweetness of the maple syrup and the spiciness from the spices go so well together! 😊
Oh my goodness, this is so good! I might have made it too many times already…
I genuinely loved this so so much! I am a huge lover of chai and I’ve been trying to find a way to make my own chai and now I have I will never have to waste my money on store-bought ones again. It packed the most flavoursome punch ever and is great for the cold season we are emerging into. I did actually add some of my own ingredients; I used half almond milk and half full cream milk, vanilla essence, brown sugar and a pinch of nutmeg because I didn’t have cloves (I have a big sweet tooth0. But overall I think I’ve found my new soulmate 😉
This chai tea latte is AMAZING! It was so easy to make and so fast!
Turned out amazingly!
I just bought some Oatly oat milk (so delicious AND it has B-12 for us seeking that vitamin) and bookmarked this recipe — recipe looks so easy and good, and love the positive comments and sweeten to taste approach (I’m a sugar-less chai drinker so this is so perfect)!
I’m working from home during this coronavirus so without my usual go-to cafe and the need for little joys, looking forward to making this very soon. Thanks for the clove-allspice trade in the comments.
Has anyone added nutmeg?
Hope you’ll enjoy it, Monika!
Someone above added nutmeg 🙂
So easy and tastes delicious.
I was expecting it to taste bad as other chai tea latte recipes do, but I was shocked at how amazing this tastes. I used sugar instead of maple syrup
My friend made chai latte tea but didn’t get any taste of chai. Why
Just made this morning. It’s really good. Thanks.
Can you make this iced? like refrigerate it and then drink it with ice?