Description
A soothing homemade chai latte featuring a rich, spiced syrup made from scratch. This ritualistic drink combines black tea, warm milk, and aromatic spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger for a comforting self-care experience.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (200g) white granulated sugar
- 1 cup (240ml) water
- 10–12 green cardamom pods
- 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 1 large cinnamon stick (3 inches)
- 2 inches (30g) fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
- 6–8 whole cloves
- 2 black tea bags (Assam or Ceylon)
- 1.5 cups (360ml) milk (whole, oat, almond, or coconut)
- Optional: 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup for extra sweetness
Instructions
- Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved.
- Add cardamom pods (cracked open), peppercorns, cinnamon stick, sliced ginger, and cloves to the sugar water.
- Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered for 15 minutes until the syrup thickens slightly and turns light amber. Do not boil vigorously.
- Remove from heat and let the syrup cool completely to allow flavors to meld and spices to settle.
- Strain the cooled syrup through a fine mesh strainer into a jar or measuring cup, discarding the spices.
- While the syrup cools, boil 1 cup of water. Turn off heat and steep black tea bags for 5 minutes.
- Remove tea bags, squeezing gently to extract flavor, and set the strong tea aside.
- Heat milk in a saucepan or microwave until hot (around 160°F/70°C) but not boiling. Froth if desired.
- To assemble, add 2-3 tablespoons of chai syrup to a mug. Pour in the strong brewed tea, then top with the hot frothed milk.
- Stir gently and enjoy warm.
Notes
Crack the cardamom pods with the back of a knife to release the seeds for better flavor infusion. Let the syrup cool completely before straining to prevent grittiness. The syrup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. For a ‘Dirty Chai’, add a shot of espresso. For ‘Golden Turmeric Chai’, add 1 teaspoon turmeric powder to the syrup while simmering.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: Indian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 large mug
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 27
- Sodium: 60
- Fat: 5
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 8
Keywords: chai latte, homemade syrup, fall recipe, self care, cozy drink, masala chai, autumn spices, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger