Healthy, Homemade Chai Tea Latte Recipe

Chai tea lattes are absolutely delicious, but if we’re not careful can quickly become financially and calorically expensive!  The original chai tea lattes were incredibly healthy beverages using black tea, spices and milk of choice.  Somewhere along the way they got a lot of sugar added to them.  Then to meet the demand and become more convenient, premade powders came along that are loaded with even more sugar and the addition of chemical additives.

You can still enjoy chai tea lattes and the amazing health benefits they boast by making them at home.  You can even make your own concentrate so that you have a fresh chai anytime you want it during the week.  Below is a simple spice blend you make and several chai tea latte variations: hot, iced, blended and concentrate. Enjoy!

Base spice blend

2 TBS Ground Cinnamon

1 Tsp. Ground Ginger

1 Tsp. Ground Cloves

1 Tsp. Ground Cardamom

1 Tsp. Ground Allspice

1 Tsp. Ground Nutmeg

Combine all spices and use the blend in any recipe that calls for cinnamon to get maximum flavor and nutrition.

Hot Chai Tea Latte

To take the above spice blend and turn it into a classic chai tea latte combine:

180 mL Strongly Brewed Black Tea

120 mL Milk of Choice – Dairy, Coconut, Almond, etc.

1/2 Tsp. All Natural, Unfiltered Sugar – Maple Syrup, Coconut Sugar or Local Honey are great options.

Dash Ground Black Pepper – Freshly ground will give a fresh pop of flavor and nutrients!

1/2 Tsp. Spice Blend

Ice Chai Tea Latte

Combine same ingredients, allow to cool and pour over ice.  You can freeze a batch of chai tea latte as ice cubes and pour a cooled latte over the chair cubes to make sure your drink doesn’t get dilute.

Blended Chai Tea Latte

Freeze your milk of choice into ice cubes and blend with an equal amount of cooled, strongly brewed tea, natural sugar of choice and spices.

To naturally make it creamier, akin to the texture of commercial chai blends, add 1 teaspoon healthy oil like avocado, walnut, olive or grapeseed oil.

Chai Tea Concentrate

Steep 6 black tea bags in 1 liter hot water for 10 to 12 minutes.

Remove bags.

Add 1 heaping TBS of the spice blend, 1 TBS natural sugar of choice, 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper and stir until well incorporated.

Chill bottle in fridge for up to 1 week.

Combine with equal amounts of your milk of choice and serve at preferred temp.

This recipe was originally published on NutritionSheila.com.