How cozy does this cup look? Yes, this vanilla chai latte is the equivalent of putting on a fuzzy sweater and curling up by a roaring fireplace. In fact, maybe it will help me with my aversion to making it through the winter! This tea is flavored with the beautiful spices of masala chai: cinnamon, cardamom and ginger. Add to it the frothed milk foam from a cafe latte, and you’ll feel like you’re drinking a fancy tea latte from your local coffee shop. Here’s how to make it (and why not to order a chai tea latte).
Why not to say chai tea latte
First up: let’s talk terminology. Avoid saying the words “vanilla chai tea latte.” In fact, ban the phase chai tea from your vocabulary all together. Why? The word chai translates to “tea” in Hindi, so saying chai tea is like saying “tea tea.” The more correct term for the Indian tea blend is masala chai. The word masala refers to a blend of spices used in cooking. Just like the word curry, a Westernized reduction of a complex blend of Indian spices, the American concept of chai can appropriate a rich Indian cultural tradition.
So what’s a vanilla chai latte?
A chai latte is a Western invention: it takes traditional masala chai, the milky spiced tea from India, and combines it with frothy steamed milk of a latte. The mashup was popularized by Starbucks in the 1990’s. Many coffeehouse versions of a chai latte have little left of the traditional Indian inspiration: they’re often too sweet and overly spiced. The recipe below for a vanilla chai latte is gently spiced and subtly sweet, with a beautiful vanilla essence. It combines our masala chai recipe for milky tea with chai spices, then adds steamed milk for a frothy top. It’s just sweet enough and light instead of overly rich.
Make a homemade chai spices blend
Masala chai spices can include many different ingredients based on the cook, just like curry powder. This Homemade Chai Spice mix uses common chai spices, but note there are many more used regionally in Indian blends. Often traditional masala chai will use whole spices, or require the cook to grind whole spices in a mortar and pestle. This blend uses ground spices for simplicity, and it also allows you to use this mix in baking recipes. Here’s what you’ll need for the chai spices:
CinnamonGingerCardamomBlack pepperNutmegClovesFennel seed
How to froth milk for a vanilla chai latte
The most important part of a vanilla chai latte is frothing the milk! You’ll need a little technique to get the perfect foam, and some equipment. If it’s your first time frothing, we highly recommend reading How to Froth Milk before you start.
The best milk for a tea latte? Our favorite is 2% milk. Use whole milk if you like a richer latte, but avoid skim.*Heat the milk to 150 degrees (scalding). The temperature is important for the perfect frothy foam. Use a food thermometer for best results. Or wait until the milk is hot to the touch with some small bubbles starting to form on the outside, but it’s not yet simmering.Use a French press or hand frother. We used our French press to froth the milk and it worked great. You can also use a hand frother (which works even better!), or simply vigorously whisk the milk. For the French press, pump 100 times or 1 minute: this should result in beautiful, creamy and frothy foam!
*Want a vegan vanilla chai latte? These tips work only for dairy milk. Go to our Vegan Chai Latte post for how to froth non-dairy milk.
Sweeteners for this vanilla chai latte
This vanilla chai latte is crafted to be just sweet enough! If you’re used to super sugary drinks from Starbucks, you can add a little more sweetener in advance. Here’s what we like to use to sweeten it just right:
Maple syrup (favorite). Maple syrup is our favorite natural sweetener for drinks: it adds nuance without maple flavor. (We also use it for cocktails.)Simple syrup. Simple syrup has more of an intensely sweet, straightforward flavor. Honey or agave syrup. These natural sweeteners also add gentle sweetness.
More fancy tea drinks & tea lattes
Love drinking tea lattes? Here are a few more ways to enjoy the flavor of chai spices:
Chai Latte Here’s how to make a chai latte at home…the easy way! This drink is creamy and cozy spiced with the perfect fluffy foam topping.Matcha Latte or Iced Matcha Latte These classic green drinks are creamy and delicious.Perfect Tea Latte Make a straight-up tea latte without the spices: even simpler. Vegan Chai Latte Make it plant based by using oat milk! Dirty Chai Latte Add a shot of espresso to your chai latte (our favorite).Masala Chai Go traditional and enjoy this beautiful masala chai, sans foam.Iced Chai Latte This sweetly refreshing tea latte is made with black tea, cozy spices and milk. Or opt for coffee with an Iced Latte!
This recipe is…
Vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based and dairy-free, go to Vegan Chai Latte. No reviews **You can skip straining if desired: the spices will settle to the bottom of the drink.
