Ladies, if you haven't yet been introduced to this incredibly delicious tea latte, it’s high time that you meet.
Chai, which literally means “tea”, is a tea latte that originated in India. So technically, with this recipe, we’re making a “tea tea latte” at home instead of heading to the local café to have a sip of our faves. The result is a significantly less expensive (and much healthier!) alternative.
A traditional chai tea latte is composed of black tea and milk made fantastic by an assortment of warming spices. You can enjoy this soothing brew to cosy up chilly mornings or have it iced for a refreshing kick of energy mid-day.
We love this recipe over at the WMBT HQ, and we honestly don’t mind saying “Chai There!” to this cup instead of our usual morning coffee.
And guess what, mums, if you like this recipe, you will enjoy the other nine included in WMBT’s soon-to-be-released booklet, "Drinks for Mum". There you’ll find a range of recipes – from hearty hot chocolate to a power smoothie to an ice-cold gin and tonic. It’s always a great idea to have season-spanning, all-occasion beverages on standby! So be sure to check that one out, too.
Let’s Spice It Up!
Welcome the day with a cup full of benefits!
Chai tea is such a soothing and incredibly flavourful beverage with spicy and sweet contrasts. Some of the warming spices we’ve used to create this treat from scratch include:
- Cinnamon
- Fresh Ginger
- Cardamom
- Whole Cloves
- Star Anise
Each cup has everything a busy mum needs to jumpstart a great day. It’s the perfect alternative to a cup of coffee or cocoa, especially when you’re feeling a bit under the weather.
- Not only is it delicious, but it also serves up a ton of health advantages!
- Rich in antioxidants which may work to boost heart health.
- Helps give that much-needed sustained energy and alertness.
- Natural ingredients like ginger and cinnamon are said to be good for digestion and inflammation.
- Helps improve metabolism and promote weight loss.
- Has reduced caffeine for when you want to cut back.
Why We Love Chai Tea Latte
Heading out for a chai latte? Don’t!
One of the best things we love about this simple recipe is how it helps us skip the line at the café to make this inexpensive alternative right in the comfort and convenience of home.
We’re fans of its health benefits as well. No added sugars, no crazy calories – just clean ingredients that are actually good for you. Perfect! And the best part? It’s also a versatile drink we can easily elevate to suit our taste!
Vegan Alternative: We love the creamy texture of full-fat milk, but feel free to substitute it with plant and nut-based alternatives like almond milk, coconut milk, or oat milk.
Froth It!: To get that frothy finish, use a high-powered blender or milk frother. Not in your cupboard? No worries, a whisk will do just fine.
Make It Dirty: Need an extra kick of caffeine? Make it a dirty chai tea latte by adding a shot of espresso or strongly brewed coffee.
Make It Fun: Add a good dose of charm to your fabulous hot or iced drink by serving it up with a cute and colourful reusable straw and silicone cup. Our picks are the WMBT Bendie Straw and the WMBT Silicone Grip Cup. They’re non-toxic, durable and dishwasher safe. Yes, mums – they’re perfect for us, too! Using these is a fun and awesome way to steer clear of single-use plastics.
Make it ahead – We love this genius hack over at the WMBT HQ! Make this simple recipe even easier by freezing a batch in the WMBT Freeze & Bake Poddies.
Simply pop out four to five poddies and pour your milk over them for an elevated iced chai tea latte. Another super option? Turn it into an ice-blended drink by throwing in your poddies and cold milk in the blender.
Finish With A Flourish: For a hot drink, add an extra pinch of cinnamon to garnish. If you like it iced, top it off with whipped cream.
Makes 2 Cups of Tea | Prep 20 minutes
Ingredients
- 500 ml (2 cups) filtered water
- 3 whole cloves
- 4 green cardamom pods, slightly cracked
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 star anise
- 3 black peppercorns
- 2 cm fresh ginger, grated
- 2-3 black tea bags or 2-3 tsp loose leaf black tea
- 250 ml (1 cup) full fat milk
- 1-2 tbsp maple syrup
Method
Add water, whole spices, and ginger to a small saucepan and bring to a boil before adding the tea bags or leaves.
Reduce to medium-low heat and simmer gently for 5-10 minutes. The longer you simmer, the stronger the flavour.
Add milk and stir to combine.
Increase the heat slightly, allowing the milk to come to a boil, before lowering the heat again and simmering for a further 5 minutes.
When ready to serve, remove from heat and add the maple syrup (if using) and stir to mix through before pouring into a We Might Be Tiny Grip Cup and enjoying.
Ready to make an excellent cup of your own? Be sure to tag us at @wemightbetiny on social media. We’d love to see it!
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