Can chai lattes be made vegan or without dairy?

Yes! Although I prefer using whole milk, any dairy-free or vegan milk alternative can be substituted in this recipe. I'd recommend using one with a neutral flavor and no sugar added, since this latte is already sweetened. Oat milk would be a great choice! For a vegan chai latte, use maple syrup or brown sugar as a sweetener rather than honey.

Can I add collagen to this recipe?

Absolutely! Adding collagen peptides to this latte is any easy way to get a little extra protein in your diet, and it doesn't affect the taste at all. I always use Vital Proteins , and recommend adding 1 scoop per latte.

How many servings does this recipe make?

This recipe will make enough chai concentrate for two lattes, but you can easily scale it to make extra. I like to make a triple batch that will last for a week's worth of lattes. There are buttons included in the recipe card below to automatically scale the ingredient measurements if you decide to do this.

How should I store chai concentrate?

If you're not using the chai concentrate immediately - or if you make a bigger batch - store it in a mason jar in the refrigerator until ready to use. It should last for at least a couple of weeks.

Are chai lattes gluten-free?

Yes! While you should always verify the ingredients in any store-bought chai latte mix, all of the ingredients traditionally used in this tea latte are naturally gluten-free.

Easy Homemade Chai Tea Latte Recipe (made from scratch)

Easy Homemade Chai Latte

Lattes garnished with star anise and cinnamon, with extra spice and honey in the background.

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5 from 2 reviews

Curl up with a blanket and this easy-to-make chai tea latte - it's just the thing to warm you up on brisk fall mornings and chilly winter evenings. This drink is sweet, creamy, and full of cozy spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves. For an extra boost of caffeine, just add coffee to make it a dirty chai!

Author: alexandra
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Steep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 1 hr 15 minutes
Yield: 2 lattes 1x
Category: beverages
Method: stovetop
Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

Scale

Chai "Concentrate":

(yields 14-16 ounces)

2 cups (16 ounces) water
2 cinnamon sticks
1 star anise, chopped
8-10 cardamom pods, split
4 whole cloves
1/2" slice ginger root
1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns

Latte:

14-16 ounces chai concentrate (from above)
2-4 good-quality black tea bags
1 cup milk (preferably whole milk)
2-3 tablespoons honey or sweetener of choice, to taste

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Instructions

Chai Concentrate:

In a medium saucepan, combine all of the ingredients for the chai concentrate. Bring to a boil on the stove and boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat, cover, and let steep for 1 hour. Strain the spices out of the water before using. Transfer to a jar and refrigerate if not using immediately.

To make Chai Lattes:

Transfer the strained chai concentrate back into a medium saucepan. Bring to a near-boil on the stove (205°F-210°F on an instant-read thermometer). Meanwhile, prep two mugs with 1-2 bags of black tea each, depending on desired strength.
Pour the hot concentrate over the tea bags in each mug, dividing evenly between each. Let steep for 5-6 minutes. Press excess water out of tea bags before removing.
While tea is steeping, combine milk and honey and froth using a milk frother or other method of choice (see post above for more info.). Divide frothed milk evenly between the two mugs of tea and serve immediately.

Notes

Ingredient notes:

Use decaffeinated black tea for decaf chai lattes.
To use loose leaf tea instead of tea bags, start with 2 teaspoons of tea leaves per latte, and adjust to taste. Add tea leaves to hot concentrate in saucepan after step 1, cover, and steep for 5-6 minutes before straining into mugs.
Unsweetened dairy-free or vegan milk can be used if desired. I'd recommend oat milk.
Honey, maple syrup, or brown sugar can be used to sweeten this chai latte. Use one of the latter two options for a vegan latte.
Optionally, add a scoop of collagen peptides to each latte for added protein.

Storing chai concentrate:

Concentrate can be stored in a lidded mason jar in the refrigerator until ready to use. It should last for at least a couple of weeks.

Other recipe notes:

After the concentrate has boiled it will have decreased in volume slightly. Use the full amount for 2 lattes, or 7-8 ounces per latte.
To "froth" milk without a milk frother, pour the milk into a large jar, shake it vigorously, and then microwave for 30-60 seconds.

Find it online: https://www.brighteyedbaker.com/chai-latte/