Why We Love This Authentic Indian Chai Recipe
What we in America think of as chai tea, or a chai tea latte, is a far cry from what is traditionally served in the rest of the world. An authentic Easy Chai Tea recipe is made with thick buffalo milk, considerably too much sugar, black tea, and cardamom pods. Served in scant shot glasses from dawn until way past dusk, this beverage is EVERYWHERE you look in India. It’s in little make-shift cafes, sold from chai-wallahs at every bus station, train station, and street corner, brewing in nearly every home. It’s been many years since I last visited India. Yet I’ll never forget sitting in open-air chai shops drinking creamy, ultra-sweet chai with friends. This homemade chai tea recipe is easy to make and tastes just like the chai you can get in India. You might not have these ingredients on hand normally, but they are worth getting for whenever you are craving a cup of hot chai! This make-ahead chai is great to keep on hand, too. You don’t have to buy the boxed stuff anymore!
Ingredients For Chai Tea Latte
Water – The base of the recipe. Use plenty of water, then let it simmer down into strong condensed tea. Star anise – For bold licorice flavor that packs a punch. Cinnamon – Use whole sticks, so they can be easily removed. Green Cardamom pods – Green cardamoms are the best to use here Black tea bags – Or you can use loose-leaf black tea Half & half – Or whole milk. Sugar – To make it sweet, of course!
How To Make Homemade Chai Tea
While traditional Chai is incredibly rich and flavorful, it is surprisingly easy to make at home. I love making a large batch, and reheating a single cup at a time for a few days. Here’s how to make a perfectly creamy and spicy chai tea latte:
Best Chai Tea Recipe Tips
Remember: Chai isn’t meant to be low carb or low sugar. It is meant to be strong, sweet, silky, and packed with spice! If you want your chai recipe to taste authentic, use the half & half and plenty of sugar. For this chai latte recipe, you can use alternative sweeteners such as coconut sugar or date sugar; however, I would not recommend sweetener products such as stevia that will drastically change the chai flavor profile. Also, using any liquid sugar swaps – like maple syrup or honey – will give you the sweetness you need, but will most likely change the chai tea consistency. For a slightly stronger spiced flavor, gently crush the whole spices using a mortar and pestle! If the chai isn’t strong or dark enough, feel free to throw in some more tea bags!
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