Authentic Single-Serve Chai Latte Recipe
This authentic chai latte recipe for one person delivers a warm and flavorful spiced tea experience. Combining robust black tea, aromatic cardamom, fresh ginger, and creamy milk, this recipe simmers everything together to create a rich and comforting chai latte. Perfectly customizable with sugar to taste and optional additions like cinnamon and cloves, it’s easy to make and enjoy whether hot or iced.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients
Liquids
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup milk (or more, to taste)
Spices & Flavorings
- 1–3 cardamom pods (crushed) or 1 tsp ground cardamom powder
- 1 inch knob of ginger, sliced
- Optional: crushed cinnamon stick, cloves, mint leaves, and/or a few peppercorns
Main Ingredient
- 1.5 tbsp black tea leaves
Sweetener
- 2 tsp sugar, or to taste (brown sugar and pumpkin spice optional for variation)
Instructions
- Infuse Spices: Heat water in a saucepan over high heat until it comes to a simmer. Add crushed cardamom pods or ground cardamom powder along with sliced ginger. Optionally add other spices like cinnamon stick, cloves, mint leaves, or peppercorns. Simmer on medium heat for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent settling and to release flavors.
- Add Tea Leaves: Toss in the black tea leaves and give it a stir. Bring the mixture back to a low boil over medium heat. Avoid using high heat to allow the tea to steep properly and develop a strong flavor. Simmer for another 1-2 minutes.
- Incorporate Milk: Pour in the milk and stir. When the chai reaches a boil over medium heat, stir well with a ladle. Lower the heat and let it simmer for 1-3 minutes, depending on your preferred chai strength.
- Double Boil: Raise the heat to high to bring the chai to a boil again. This double boiling intensifies the flavor.
- Strain and Sweeten: Strain the chai into a cup to remove tea leaves and spices. Stir in sugar to taste. For an iced version, let the chai cool for 5-10 minutes or refrigerate, then add ice cubes. Adjust sweetness as desired, for example with brown sugar and a dash of pumpkin spice for a Starbucks-inspired twist.
Notes
- Crushing whole cardamom pods exposes the seeds and enhances flavor infusion.
- You can customize this recipe by adding other spices such as cinnamon, cloves, or peppercorns.
- Control sweetness according to your preference; traditional chai tends to be less sweet than commercial versions like Starbucks.
- For a vegan version, substitute dairy milk with almond, oat, or any plant-based milk.
- Simmering the tea gently is key to avoid bitterness and extract maximum flavor.
- Adjust the amount of milk and simmering time to customize the strength and creaminess of your chai latte.
