Chai Latte Recipe: Homemade, Iced and Dirty Chai
A chai latte recipe is simple: mix equal parts spiced chai concentrate and hot frothed milk, which means 1/2 cup of each for one mug. The concentrate is black tea simmered with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger and black pepper, and one batch keeps in the fridge for about 1 week.
Yes, this is a tea drink on a coffee site. Chai belongs on a home coffee bar because it uses the same milk frother, the same syrups and the same mugs you already reach for every morning. It also gives you something to offer the guest who does not drink coffee, and with one shot of espresso it turns into a dirty chai.
What You’ll Need
Whole green cardamom pods – the spice that makes chai taste like chai
Whole cinnamon sticks – simmer cleanly and strain out easily
Assam black tea – strong enough to stand up to milk
Handheld milk frother – foams warm milk in about 20 seconds
Fine mesh strainer – catches the spices and tea leaves
32 oz glass bottle with lid – stores a full batch of concentrate
Chai Concentrate Recipe (Make-Ahead Base)
This homemade chai latte starts with a concentrate you make once and pour from all week. The batch yields about 3 cups, enough for 6 lattes.
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 2 cinnamon sticks (3 inches each)
- 10 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
- 6 whole cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
- 1-inch piece of fresh ginger, sliced thin (about 1 tablespoon)
- 6 black tea bags, or 2 tablespoons loose black tea
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, honey or maple syrup
Step-by-Step
- Crush the cardamom pods with the flat of a knife or the bottom of a mug until they just crack open.
- Add the water, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, peppercorns and ginger to a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Take the pan off the heat. Add the tea bags or loose tea and steep for 5 minutes. Steeping longer makes the tea bitter.
- Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a heatproof jar or measuring cup. Press gently on the tea bags.
- Stir in the sweetener while the liquid is still hot so it dissolves fully.
- Cool to room temperature, then seal and refrigerate.
How to Make a Hot Chai Tea Latte Recipe for One
The ratio is 1 to 1: 1/2 cup chai concentrate to 1/2 cup milk for an 8 oz mug. For a 12 oz mug, use 3/4 cup of each.
- Heat 1/2 cup concentrate in a small saucepan or in the microwave for 45 to 60 seconds until steaming.
- Heat 1/2 cup milk until hot but not boiling, about 150°F. Small bubbles at the edge of the pan are your cue.
- Froth the milk for 15 to 20 seconds.
- Pour the concentrate into your mug, then add the milk and spoon the foam on top. Finish with a pinch of ground cinnamon.
Want it stronger? Shift to 2/3 cup concentrate and 1/3 cup milk.
Chai Latte Without a Machine
You do not need an espresso machine or a steam wand. Warm the milk on the stove and use a handheld frother, shake it in a sealed jar for 30 seconds, or pump it in a French press 15 to 20 times. If you are shopping for a frother, the best milk frothers for home baristas guide compares the main types.
Quick Tea Bag Chai Latte (One Mug, 5 Minutes)
No concentrate in the fridge? This shortcut makes a single mug.
- Pour 1/2 cup boiling water over 2 chai tea bags in your mug. Steep for 5 minutes.
- Remove the bags and stir in 2 teaspoons of sugar or honey.
- Heat and froth 1/2 cup milk, then pour it over the tea.
Two bags matter here. One bag in that much milk tastes thin. Stock up on chai tea bags for the days you run out of concentrate.
Chai Latte Variations
Iced Chai Latte Recipe
Fill a 16 oz glass with ice. Pour in 1/2 cup cold concentrate and 1/2 cup cold milk, then stir. Use concentrate straight from the fridge so the ice does not melt and water it down. A spoonful of cold foam on top works well here too.
Dirty Chai Latte Recipe
Make the hot or iced latte as written, then add 1 shot of espresso (1 oz). No espresso machine? Use 1/4 cup of strong brewed coffee and cut the milk by 2 tablespoons. Two shots makes it a double dirty chai.
Vanilla Chai Tea Latte Recipe
Stir 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract into the mug, or swap in 1 tablespoon of vanilla syrup and use unsweetened concentrate. You can make the syrup yourself with this coffee syrup recipe, or pick up a vanilla coffee syrup.
Pumpkin Chai Latte Recipe
Whisk 1 tablespoon pumpkin puree and 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice into the concentrate as it heats, then add the frothed milk. Strain if you want it smooth. For the coffee version of this fall drink, see the pumpkin spice latte recipe.
Dairy-Free Chai Latte
Oat milk froths the best of the plant milks and tastes naturally sweet. Almond and soy both work; look for a barista-style oat milk for thicker foam. Sweeten the concentrate with maple syrup or sugar if you avoid honey.
Chai Latte Mix Recipe (Dry Spice Blend)
For a pantry version, stir together 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoons ground cardamom, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper. Add 1/2 teaspoon of the mix to a mug of strong black tea with sweetener and frothed milk. Packed in a small glass spice jar, it makes an easy Christmas or housewarming gift.
How to Store Chai Concentrate
Keep the concentrate in a sealed glass bottle or jar in the fridge for about 1 week. Shake before pouring, since fine spice settles at the bottom. For longer storage, freeze it in an ice cube tray and move the cubes to a freezer bag. Mixed lattes with milk do not keep well, so combine only what you plan to drink.
Homemade Chai Latte
Ingredients
Method
- Crush the cardamom pods with the flat of a knife or the bottom of a mug until they just crack open.
- Add the water, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, peppercorns and ginger to a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Take the pan off the heat. Add the tea bags or loose tea and steep for 5 minutes. Steeping longer makes the tea bitter.
- Strain through a fine mesh strainer into a heatproof jar or measuring cup. Press gently on the tea bags.
- Stir in the sweetener while the liquid is still hot so it dissolves fully.
- Cool to room temperature, then seal and refrigerate.
- Heat 1/2 cup concentrate in a small saucepan or in the microwave for 45 to 60 seconds until steaming.
- Heat 1/2 cup milk until hot but not boiling, about 150°F.
- Froth the milk for 15 to 20 seconds.
- Pour the concentrate into your mug, then add the milk and spoon the foam on top. Finish with a pinch of ground cinnamon.
Marcus’s Pro Tips
- Toast the spices first. Stir the dry whole spices in the empty pan over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant, then add the water.
- Crack, do not grind. Lightly crushed pods and whole cloves give a clear concentrate. Ground spices leave grit in the mug.
- Add tea off the heat. Boiling black tea turns it harsh. The spices take the long simmer; the tea only needs 5 minutes.
- Sweeten the batch lightly. You can always add syrup to a single mug, but you cannot take sugar out of the bottle.
- Label the bottle with the date. A week goes by faster than you think.
Which Chai Method Should You Use?
| Method | Time | Makes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole-spice concentrate | 25 minutes | 6 lattes | Daily drinkers and iced chai |
| Tea bag version | 5 minutes | 1 mug | A quick single cup |
| Dry chai latte mix | 2 minutes to blend | About 12 mugs | Gifts and pantry storage |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ratio of chai concentrate to milk?
Use equal parts: 1/2 cup concentrate to 1/2 cup milk for an 8 oz latte. For a stronger, spicier cup, use 2 parts concentrate to 1 part milk.
What is a dirty chai latte?
A dirty chai latte is a chai latte with a shot of espresso added. If you do not have an espresso machine, 1/4 cup of strong brewed coffee gives a similar result.
How long does homemade chai concentrate last?
Stored in a sealed container in the fridge, it keeps for about 1 week. Freeze it in ice cube trays if you want to keep it longer.
What is the best tea for a chai latte?
A strong black tea such as Assam or an English breakfast blend holds its flavor against milk and spices. Lighter teas tend to disappear once the milk goes in.
Can I use ground spices instead of whole?
Yes. Use the dry chai latte mix above, about 1/2 teaspoon per mug. Expect a little sediment at the bottom, and strain through a fine mesh strainer if it bothers you.
Does a chai latte have coffee in it?
No. A regular chai latte is black tea, spices and milk. Only the dirty chai version includes espresso or coffee.
Once the concentrate is in your fridge, a chai latte takes about two minutes. Pair it with a good frother from the milk frother guide, try the pumpkin spice latte next, and find a spot for the bottle with these coffee bar ideas.
Marcus Webb writes about home coffee for BrewElevate. He researches and compares brewing gear, beans and recipes so home brewers can make a better cup without overspending. His rule: if he wouldn’t be comfortable buying it himself, it doesn’t make the list.
