I’ve been drinking a ton of chai lately!
Actually, let me rephrase that for you.
I’ve been spending a lot of money on chai lattes lately!
My acupuncturist tells me I need to include more “warming” spices in my diet like cinnamon and ginger. I took that as an excuse to treat myself to chai lattes every day at Peet’s. Then, yesterday when I was in my black stretchy pants and too lazy to drive the mile and a half when a craving hit, I decided to take matters in my own hands.
Homemade chai really is super simple to make and will give you immense satisfaction (more-so than charging lattes on your credit card every day since who really carries cash anymore?).
If you’re reading this and smirking because “it’s not really a latte without foamed milk” then…..duh. But I don’t have a milk foaming thingamagig so I’m doing what I can.
You could also double the recipe below and then before you add the milk and sugar (after you strain), stick the tea in the fridge. It’ll last a couple weeks there and then all you have to do when a chai craving hits is simply remove the tea from the fridge, pour it in a mug, heat up and then add milk and sugar.
Totally quicker than going to Peet’s.
Peet’s? I still love you by the way. And your cranberry apple bran muffins.
Homemade Chai Lattes
serves 1-2
Ingredients:
2 whole black peppercorns
3 green cardamom pods, gently smashed with side of knife (available at Whole Foods)
3 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 inch fresh ginger, peeled and sliced thin
1 vanilla bean, scraped and seeds reserved
1 T black tea, preferably Assam (you could also tear open a tea bag)
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup milk
1 T sugar or honey
Directions:
Combine peppercorns, smashed cardamom pods, cloves, ginger, vanilla bean and seeds and cinnamon stick with the water in a small pot. Bring to a boil then cover and simmer for five minutes. After five minutes, take off the stove (but keep covered) and let steep for 10 minutes, then add the tea and continue to steep for another five minutes.
Pour tea through a fine mesh strainer (I use a sifter) and then add milk and sugar/honey. Warm up if necessary.
Time:
15 minutes
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{ 88 comments… read them below or add one }
Cute recipe
I picked up a little milk frother from Ikea for a couple of bucks. It doesn’t create foam like the coffee shops do, but it’s kinda fun anyways 
amy*
Cute recipe
I picked up a little milk frother from Ikea for a couple of bucks. It doesn’t create foam like the coffee shops do, but it’s kinda fun anyways 
amy*
Wow Jenna these sound incredible. You know it’s funny, before this post, i never thought about Chai being anything other than a mix you’d buy at the store!
Iced chai is my favorite so whipping up a batch and keeping it in the fridge sounds absolutely perfect to me!
I used to always get a chai lattes at Starbucks with my sister! Yum!
this looks so good
Mmm chai is so warm and comforting. Who knew that’s what a cardamom pod looks like? I sure didn’t! With ice cubes, you have the best summer treat
I am a loyal Starbucks fan but this looks like it might just be superior! Quick question for you… what is the benefit of ‘warming spices’ in your diet supposed to be? I consume a TON of cinnamon but I’m just wondering what the benefits are, according to your acupuncturist? Thanks Jenna!
I absolutely love chai tea. I have a recipe on my blog that starts with chai tea bags, but this seems more authentic
beautiful chai picture up top! very nice.
So addicted to chai lattes. Great recipe!
i’ve wanted to make my own chai for a long time now…thanks for the fabulous recipe!
mmmm this looks perfect for our rainy morning!!Jenna, that first photo is absolutely gorgeous!!!!
love it.
Love this! I use a simple blend of black tea, cinnamon, ginger, vanilla, cardamom, and milk, but I’m definitely going to try your recipe! Perfect!!
Gorgeous photos!!
Love Chai Lattes!! The spices make the house smell incredible
Oooh, this sounds lovely. I’m def going to have to try my hand at making my own chai!
I usually stop at Starbucks 2-3 times a week for a chai latte. At $4.19 a pop for a venti, that’s $653.64 a year! I will definitely be trying this recipe and if it’s even close I will be forever in your debt!
I love coming up with things like this. I’m always looking to save a buck and there are so many ways to “stick it to the starbucks” from home. I found that buying instant hot cocoa and adding that to my milk in my frothing “thingamagig” tastes just like a hot chocolate I buy at SB for 2.99. I put it in a reusable SB mug and top it with whipped cream. Voila! Kicks the craving and costs me zilch!
It’s chilly here this morning… I could totally use one of these!
Man alive…that sounds phenomenal! You know they actually sell little battery-operated milk frother doo-dads to make frothy milk for coffee drinks, but I find that simply whisking it quickly for 20 seconds does the job too. I’m definitely copying this recipe. You’ve soothed my weary soul with this one.
I love Peet’s! I fell in LOVE with them when I was in SF a few years back and am happier than pie that there are stores in Ohio that sell their coffee. I am looking forward to trying this recipe for a chai latte, there is nothing cozier! Have a great day!
LOVE these pictures…
oh my god. can i tell you how much i love this post? because i do.
i really, really do.
like a lot.
LOVE
I make chai from teabags at home all the time. I’m actually drinking a cup right now. But I’m sure making it from scratch tastes a lot more authentic. Chai teabags are rarely strong enough for me, and I use TWO teabags whenever I make tea. Thanks for the recipe, Jenna! I’m sure your acupuncturist would be a lot more proud over this than over your Peet’s addiction…the actual benefits you’re getting from the pre-made chai mixes are nothing compared to brewing the spices in their whole and natural form!
What kind of milk do you use in your tea?
I spend way too much money on chai tea lattes at local coffee shops. So, thank you for this!
Ooooh this couldn’t have come at a better time! We’ve been having a massive shamal (sandstorm) here for the past week so everyone is sniffling and coughing. A hot chai would be perfect. But for some reason, I always think of chai as something that I have to buy (in a little hole in the wall in the Indian part of the souq), and not something I could actually make for myself. I love how you make it look so simple…and delicious! Thanks!
You say these things on a day I bring green chai tea to work. Yummmmmm!!!
I NEED to make this — I spend way too much money on chai lattes and I’d rather make my own than the packaged chai lattes that have who-knows-what in them.
This looks adorable! I managed to “froth” milk my whisking – not quite the same but it does give it the same effect.
a coffee shop in the town i went to college has seriously the best homemade chai ever. none of that boxed syrupy stuff, thank you!
the real intent of my comment is to tell you about this great NPR segment on my antonia yesterday – i know you also love that classic. my sister discusses is in a lovely post on her blog, http://www.victoriainvirginia.com, or you can just go to the story here: http://www.npr.org/2011/05/02/133811309/return-to-the-prairie-to-revisit-my-antonia
but really, i thought you would enjoy her prose as well!
Oh, I’ve never made chai like this! I can’t have the pre-mixed stuff in coffee shops, so I use to make them at home by steeping a chai tea bag in milk I heated on the stove (I don’t have a fancy foamer either). Will definitely have to give this a try!
it’s so true that buying from Pete’s, Starbuck’s, Caribou, is such a money drain!
Thanks for sharing a delicious recipe that will save my bank account
I love chai. The chai lattes from Starbucks are my guilty pleasure
I hear ya! I’m the same way… I do prefer them Iced from SB.
Mmmm, we had the best chai at the little bakery I used to work at and now I can make it myself!
Thanks for sharing!
Sounds awesome. Believe it or not, I’ve never had Chai Before!!
you should package up your spice blend for gifts … my friend Kate gave me a lovely package with empty tea bags as a gift for Christmas and it was one of the most awesome gifts I got this year!
This sounds wonderful! I have been sipping Chai tea a lot lately! I bought the loose tea at Teavana and it is quite good, but this will be much cheaper too! Can’t wait to try it! I usually add some honey, but no milk!
I love chai tea lattes! Definitely going to make myself a HUGE batch, so I can have them whenever I get a craving!
I LOVE Peets there scones are amazing!!
I absolutely love making chai tea from scratch. Not only do I feel earthy and warm while making it, my house smells remarkable! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
You need a milk frother! They sell them for very cheap at World Market. I think they are like $4.99 or something equally ridiculous like that. Totally worth it!
Here’s an easy milk foaming technique- just throw everything into a blender once you finish! You can froth up the tea/milk/honey mixture by just pulsing it for a few seconds before serving. It dirties another dish, but it gives that great foamy satisfaction
shake the milk! thats how i make mine foamy
They don’t have the milk frother doodads in India (chai’s birthplace) either, but they get the froth instead by pouring back and forth a few times between two pans that are about 2 feet apart vertically. (It works best with 2% or whole cow’s milk, but it will aerate any liquid.) I bet this is delish with your addition of the vanilla bean – I’ll have to try it!
My new boyfriend is from India and he’s really into chai so lately I’ve been drinking it a lot at his apartment and I’m totally obsessed with it. I made it with hot, frothed milk for dessert and it was delicious! Friday I’m posting a recipe for an Indian cookie that I learned to make from him and it tastes delicious dunked in chai!
You can totally make froth with an immersion blender if you have one! It’s not quite the same as steamed milk, but it’s fun nonetheless. Looks delicious, and I love love love the first picture!
I just froth my milk for homemade lattes by lighting warming it in a glass jar (lid removed) for 30 seconds at a time until milk is slightly warm; then add agave, a touch of pure vanilla (if I’m feeling it), place lid back on and start shaking! yumm
I think not foaming your milk is more legit anyway. Pretty sure they don’t do that in Delhi
Though I agree with the other commenters that you should get one of the cheap-o frothers. I got one at Ikea for less than $5. You can also foam milk in a french press (which I’m sure you knew) as long as it’s hot. I learned that from some adorable German girls!
Wow! I am impressed! Your pictures are also gorgeous. Why did your acupuncturist say you should include warming spices? What effect do they have on the body? Thanks!
I get awful migraines so she said that warming spices may help…we’ll see!
Love the photos! I bet homemade are even better!
I love chai lattes, I got addicted to them when I worked in a coffee shop in college! Thanks for the recipe, I can’t wait to make my own!
oooh i love this! my favorite way to drink a chai latte is actually iced. but i moved away from my favorite coffeeshop that did iced chais right (i.e. they were really cold) and now i can’t get ‘em like i like to. this is a lifesaver! yay!
I LOVE that first picture! Beautiful!
Your recipe sounds great, too.
this sounds so delicious! my roommate loves them and can’t afford to buy them everyday! I should try and whip this up for her
I got SO excited to read this one. I love chai tea, and can’t wait to make this. I made the mistake of straining with milk water…it doesn’t work, lol.
http://goldhearted.etsy.com
You don’t need frothy milk anyway. This style is authentic. One of my best friends is from India and minus the vanilla, this is pretty much exactly how he makes it except he uses loose black tea leaves. Btw, you can get all of these spices from in Indian grocery store for dirt cheap and in huge quantites.
This is my all time favorite lattes! Love this
Awesome photo, Jenna! I’m studying for finals (distracted…), and I think I need one of those right now.
Don’t stress on the lack of foamy milk – in India, the Chai I always had was just tea with spices and milk added, so the way you’re making it is more authentic anyways
lol – I don’t have any peppercorns hanging around here
Why are you seeing an Acupuncturist?? I would love to – for many different reasons – but can’t afford it and no insurance right now.
I love Chai! Thanks for sharing I am totally going to try this and save myself $4 a day!
LOVE the first photo. Though, I don’t mind pretending it’s some pb hot chocolate you’re pouring, either
Chai lattes are the besttt – I love how you found a way to create a homemade version! Looks so awesome!
i LIVE for chai teas! have you tried oregon chai? i found it at trader joe’s on Monday and have practically gone through the whole carton already! DELISH!
I can just about smell the aromatic nature of this tea just from reading this post..oh, great job Jenna! Cardamom, ginger, cloves….all of it…So wonderful!
yes please. asap!
I definitely have to make this soon. It’s rainy and gloomy here – perfect day for a chai!
I love chai tea.
I’ve watched them make chai tea lattes at Starbucks and it ‘s a syrup they use, it is not the real thing. There are so many amazing tea companies to choose from that make awesome chai teas.
This looks so warm and comforting! I’ve never made homemade chai, but this def looks easy. Nice job!
Chai is my all-time favorite! Thanks for the recipe! I can’t wait to try it!
Oh, I love chai tea!
Those photos are amazing!
I just keep Tazo’s chai-spiced black tea bags on hand and throw in a little milk and honey after brewing. But this homemade version sound awesome!
YUM!! I’ve been using the Chai tea concentrate from Costco, but this would be so much cheaper. Now I just have to find the ingredients… Thanks for posting!
I love Chai Lattes! I use the Two Leaves and a Bud brand Chai so that I don’t have to gather all of the spices.
Secret to homemade frothy milk: a coil whisk and a fast arm.
I just heat up some milk with the tea bag in a small saucepan and whisk until it starts foaming.
Voila! Frothy milk in your homemade chai latte.
jenna you can totally froth milk with a french press. just pump it back and forth (sounds bad, but you know what i mean), and microwave it after.
ps you cant warm it first or it wont froth
mind = blown
At first glance I thought that was caramel being poured into the saucer! I’ll take either the chai or tea cup of caramel. I’m not that picky.
Great recipe! I loves me some chai
Would you know how to make herbal chai??
Not to be nit-picky, but a latte has steamed milk, a capuccino has frothed. Frothing involves holding the steamer wand closer to the top to create more bubbles (thus creating foam), steaming is just holding the wand near the middle or bottom of the milk to heat it.
Worked as a barista… made me a little crazy.
So delicious. Im drinking it now and such a yummy way to start a chilly day down the coast.
THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH. THIS WAS JUST WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR SIMPLE AND TO THE POINT. I WAS ABLE TO PRINT ON ONE PAGE. BEST RECIPE YET. BIG FROSTY SMILE TO YOU.
PEN
Hi,
I am on the search for a good soothing reciepe for chai.Yours looks very good !
I have been buying chai online and stumbled on a fairly good instant chai on
http://www.chaichai.eu/ – but i must say that yours is a must try -)
All the best
Bettina
One of the many bitter sweet moments about living in San Francisco is the wonderful coffee from the 500 specialty coffee shops that charge $5 for a 12 oz drink. I am even guilty of working at one so I don’t ever have to pay such a ridiculous amount for coffee that I make for myself! Fortunately, I bacame a barista after I stopped drinking coffee. It was too much for my system. I was getting acne and headaches while building a tolerance to caffeine. I, like many of you lovely people, found joy and relief from enjoying a great cup of chai. Thanks for the recipe!
In terms of the foam, putting it in a blender for a minute or two will do wonders. I am not sure how true this is for all blenders but mine makes pretty nice foam.
I grew up in a traditional Chinese household and my mom was an acupuncturist in China. I am familiar with these “warming” spices but never really took them seriously until I got older. Basically, warming spices allow your blood, chi, energy to flow more smoothly in your body. Sometimes, stress (mental, emotional, and physical) blocks the energy flow which can manifest into physical discomfort. Ginger, cinnamon, and other “warming” herbs can loosen any tight spots we might have in our bodies.
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