Chai Tea Latte is a spiced tea drink that originated in India. It has become increasingly popular in recent years, particularly in the western world. There are many reasons for its popularity, but one of the main ones is likely its unique flavor.
Did you know where the word ‘chai’ comes from? Now a world-famous term, ‘chai’ is generally associated with South Asia. However, the Hindi word ‘chai’ has been taken from the Chinese word for tea, ‘cha.’
Well, it’s a good thing food and language are not bound by the borders. Because one theory is that ‘masala chai’ was invented by the empire of modern-day India. It was initially conceived as an ayurvedic beverage. However, now it is a delicious drink enjoyed by all.
Masala chai, at its core, is a type of black tea. However, what makes it unique is the ‘masala’ part of the term. Masala means warm spices like ginger, cardamom, fennel, black pepper, clove, and cinnamon added to the chai.
Bouncing off the idea that food should not be purist, many modern-day cafes have their own version of masala chai. Specifically, it’s the chai tea latte! This rendition of masala chai is created using 3 base ingredients. They are steamed milk, a spiced tea concentrate, and sweetener. The phrase became common in American coffeehouse culture by 1994.
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What is Chai Tea Latte?
A Chai Tea Latte is a spiced black tea latte that originated in India. It is made by combining black tea, milk, spices, and sweeteners. The most common spices used in a Chai Tea Latte are cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger. However, there are many variations of this popular beverage, and some recipes also include black pepper, nutmeg, and fennel. A Chai Tea Latte is typically served hot, but it can also be enjoyed iced.
Masala Chai vs. Chai Tea Latte
Now, you might wonder if there’s a difference between masala chai and a chai tea latte. It could be said that masala chai is the blueprint from which chai tea latte takes inspiration. Traditionally, for masala chai, loose Assam tea, your spices of choice, and water are boiled together. You’d allow the tea to then brew to your preferred intensity. After that, an equal amount of milk and optional sweetener is added. Finally, you strain this mixture through a sieve – or in the olden days, through a muslin cloth.
On the other hand, a chai tea latte is a little less traditional and a little more indulgent. If you’re a coffee enthusiast, you might know that a latte is ⅓ parts espresso and ⅔ parts dairy. Likewise, a chai tea latte is heavy-handed on the milk. This is especially in comparison to the 50:50 milk-water ratio of masala chai. As such, chai tea lattes are the perfect beverage when you’re craving a warm drink that’s creamy, gentle, and luxurious.
Chai Tea Latte: A Step-by-Step Recipe Walkthrough
To make a chai tea latte at home, start by thinking about your ingredients:
- What kind of milk do you like?
- Cow’s milk is traditional, but barista-style oat or soy milk works well too.
- Are you alright with consuming cane sugar, or would you like healthier alternatives?
- Jaggery is a traditionally-used white sugar alternative.
- Organic honey and maple syrup are solid choices as well.
- Next, what kind of tea do you prefer?
- One option is to purchase premixed chai tea bags.
- Alternatively, you can build your own chai tea blend from scratch. Do this by combining loose black tea with your preferred spices. Mix and match cinnamon, green cardamom, star anise, fennel, black pepper, cloves, nutmeg, and dry ginger.
- Lastly, do you want whole spices or ground spices?
- Do you foresee making this beverage often? If yes, grind a mix of the whole spices into a fine powder. Storing this in a jar would make future chai tea latte endeavors convenient!
- If chai tea lattes are a more seasonal thing for you, stick to brewing whole spices.
And now, you may begin the process of actually making the tea latte:
- Start by making a chai concentrate.
- For this, combine either chai leaves or a chai tea bag with ⅓ cup water, your desired amount of sweetener, and whole spices.
- This will yield a strongly brewed tea.
- The next step would be to prep the milk.
- To keep things simple, heat your milk in a small pot over medium heat. Bring it to a simmer. Then, pour this warmed milk into your chai concentrate for a homestyle chai tea latte.
- If you enjoy a latte’s classic look and mouthfeel, consider investing in a milk frother. Using a milk frother will add volume to your milk. This is sure to upgrade your chai tea latte!
- Another method of getting a similar result is to vigorously whisk your milk. Do this while it’s heating over the stove to create a foamy texture. Gently pour this foamy milk into a tall glass over your chai concentrate. Voila!
How to order Chai Tea Latte?
Lazy to make your chai tea latte at home? Or perhaps, you’re just yearning for the cafe-style quality of a Starbucks latte. Well, we’ve got the guide just for you.
The official Starbucks website describes their chai tea latte as a “black tea infused with cinnamon, clove, and other warming spices [that] is combined with steamed milk and topped with foam for the perfect balance of sweet and spicy.”
This coffee chain has four chai tea latte drinks on its menu. They are the Chai Tea Latte, Iced Chai Latte, Chai Crème Frappuccino, and Chai Tea. There are only 4 items on the menu, but if you were to get creative, you’d find that you can make multiple drinks out of these set templates. The best part about Starbucks is the ability to customize your drinks, so take advantage of that!
The following guide will cover every single component of a chai tea latte – the chai, sugar, and milk. After that, we will share tips, tricks, and techniques to order the beverage of your dream.
Step 1: Pick your Chai
Most coffee chains offer chai in 2 fundamental ways. It comes in the form of a chai tea concentrate or a chai tea bag.
It is important to note that the concentrate is sweetened by default.
When used to flavor a drink, your desired number of pumps of sweetener will be added.
Out of the 4 offered drinks, 3 are made with chai tea concentrate by default. These are the Chai Tea Latte, Iced Chai Latte, and Chai Crème Frappuccino.
If you’re avoiding sugar, opt for a Chai Tea that uses the tea bags instead.
Note: this is a water-based drink only.
So, if you’d like to turn it into a latte, ask for ⅓ of the cup to be strongly-brewed chai. Then, request the other ⅔ of the cup to be filled with the steamed milk of your choice.
Maybe you want the slurp of a Frappuccino but with no sugar. If so, request unsweetened cold foam atop this chai tea latte.
Step 2: Add sweetener
Maybe you don’t want to go sugar-free but want extra sweetener in your chai tea latte. You will be spoilt for choice with sweeteners at Starbucks.
Sugar is the obvious choice. But if you’d like some extra flavoring, there are other options.
They also offer vanilla syrup, brown sugar syrup, and cinnamon dolce syrup all-year round.
Step 3: Pick your milk
If you aren’t avoiding dairy, here are your cow’s milk options at Starbucks:
Whole milk: This milk has a high-fat content. This will make your chai tea lattes rich and creamy.
Not to mention, it is also a classic choice you can’t go wrong with.
Nonfat milk: This customization is known as the word ‘skinny’ at Starbucks!
Nonfat milk is whole milk with the fat skimmed off. Due to this, it is thinner than whole milk and may be added to a chai latte if you don’t want a rich beverage. Pro tip: ask for a 100% nonfat milk latte with no water if you want a drink with less fat that’s not too watery.
2% milk: The default milk at all Starbucks outlets! Similar to nonfat milk, skim milk is whole milk with the fat skimmed off. But not completely. As the name suggests, it still contains around 2% of fat. A perfect choice for any chai tea beverage.
Breve (half-and-half): For those not counting calories, this is the ultimate choice. Breve is half whole milk, half heavy cream. It is often steamed until it increases in volume. This means any drink it is added to will be rich and fluffy. For a genuinely indulgent chai experience, opt for this choice.
For those looking for plant-based options, Starbucks has multiple choices:
Almond milk: If you’re looking for an ultra-light beverage, almond milk is perfect. With a mild nuttiness and slight sweetness, it is an excellent addition to chai tea lattes.
Oat milk: This dairy-free beverage has an inherent sweetness. Homemade oat milk tends to be watery. But the barista-series oat milk at Starbucks is thick, creamy, and adds richness to your lattes.
Starbucks doesn’t recommend pairing oat milk with chai tea lattes, but we think they make a pleasing combination.
Soy milk: This alternative has the lightness of almond milk with the creaminess of oat milk. It pairs well with tea lattes, but do note that it has a noticeable nutty flavor. If you don’t enjoy that in your lattes, stick to oat milk.
Coconut milk: This milk is naturally fatty and nutty with a slightly floral flavor. It certainly does add a natural sweetness to your chai tea lattes.
How to Customize your order + secret menu
- To make your drinks decadent:
- Order your drink with 100% milk, i.e., without the water.
- Add vanilla sweet cream cold foam atop your drink.
- Customize with a caramel drizzle garnish.
- Substitute the default 2% milk with oat milk or breve.
- Ask for a whipped cream topping.
- To add more flavor:
- Ask for a sprinkle of cinnamon – or DIY it at the counter with the shakers.
- Ask for a sprinkle of cinnamon dolce powder.
- Substitute regular sugar with brown sugar syrup.
- Add on your desired amount of pumpkin sauce.
- Add on your desired amount of mocha sauce.
- For the best of both worlds:
- Can’t decide between tea or coffee? Or want an extra caffeine buzz? Get a Chai Tea Latte or Iced Chai Latte with an added shot of espresso.
- Are you a fan of matcha? Get an Iced Matcha latte or hot Matcha Latte with a pump or two of chai concentrate.
- In a pinch:
- Has your Starbucks run out of chai? If it’s fall season where you are, ask for a black tea of your choice. Customize it with steamed milk and pumpkin spice. Pumpkin spice mix and chai masala have similar ingredients. With this, you’ll still be able to satisfy your chai tea latte craving.
Is Chai Tea Healthy?
There are many health benefits associated with drinking Chai Tea. Black tea, the main ingredient in Chai Tea, is rich in antioxidants. It has been shown to improve heart health, lower cholesterol levels, and reduce the risk of stroke. The spices in Chai Tea, such as ginger and cinnamon, have also been linked to numerous health benefits, such as anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Therefore, drinking Chai Tea may help boost your immune system, fight off infections, and reduce inflammation throughout your body.
Cafe chains like Starbucks worldwide have incorporated chai into their menus. They’ve made this South Asian drink fancier and universally palatable. In Indian homes, though, masala chai is a humble staple. In fact, people often drink it more than once a day!
Here are some of the star ingredients in chai tea lattes that make it healthy:
- Black tea:
- Reduces blood pressure.
- Improves cholesterol levels.
- Supports heart health.
- Ginger root:
- Supports healthy joint and muscle function.
- Aids with gut health and promotes healthy digestion.
- Soothes nausea and upset stomachs.
- Creates calm and balance in the body system.
- Cinnamon:
- Contains manganese and calcium.
- Reduces blood pressure.
- Improves cholesterol levels.
- Supports heart health.
- Aids with gut health and promotes healthy digestion.
- It is high in antioxidants.
- Green Cardamom:
- Helps with metabolic syndrome and diabetes.
- Kills bacteria and fungi.
- Supports heart health.
- Fights gum disease and cavities.
- Maintains liver health.
- Prevents ulcers.
- Cloves:
- Aids with gut health and promotes healthy digestion.
- It is high in antioxidants.
- Cow’s milk:
- Reduces blood pressure.
- Supports heart health.
- Maintains bone health.
- It is a natural source of protein.
- Boosts the product of serotonin.
With this, it is no wonder that coffee lovers often switch to Chai Tea Latte for their caffeine kick. But, overall, chai tea lattes are a great addition to your diet.
However, there are two sides to every coin. The ingredients in chai tea lattes have a myriad of benefits. That is not to say that it is 100% healthy. Due to the black tea in it, chai tea does contain caffeine. As such, if consumed in large quantities, it may be harmful. To avoid this, you may opt for caffeine-free tea leaves instead. Still perfectly delicious, but minus the jitters.
Moreover, a Starbucks chai tea latte has more sugar than a can of soft drink. So if you’re grabbing this drink often, thinking that the spices make it healthy – not necessarily so. Instead, try opting for a lightly-sweetened or unsweetened version at your local cafe to avoid this. Or perhaps, the next time you’re craving a chai latte, you may want to whip up our recipe for a chai tea latte or masala chai at home.
Good luck – and happy cooking!
