This cozy hot beverage is inspired by Starbuck's Chai Latte. Black tea is infused with cinnamon, star anise and cloves along with some other spices. Then this aromatic concentrate is topped with steamed milk and foam.
I am not a tea drinker but I can definitely enjoy some sweet hot beverages. I find the Starbucks Chai Latte very warm and comforting and this recipe is inspired from it. A sweet and spicy tea, this drink is a fusion of Masala Chai and Latte. The Masala Chai concentrate which is made with crushed whole spices is then sweetened with honey and finally layered with steamed milk and milk froth.
SPICES USED IN CHAI LATTE
I recommend to use whole spices and roughly crush them for maximum flavour. You can also toast these spices in a pan before crushing them. I use a mortar and pestle but you can use a spice grinder and just do a quick pulse or put the spices in a ziplock bag and use a rolling pin or something heavy. These are the whole spices I am using in this recipe:
- Ceylon Cinnamon Stick
- Green Cardamom
- Cloves
- Black Peppercorns
- Star Anise
- Nutmeg
CEYLON CINNAMON VS CASSIA CINNAMON
Ceylon cinnamon is much more sophisticated in flavour, healthier and aromatic than cassia cinnamon. The ceylon cinnamon is also softer whereas the cassia one is quite hard to touch. Cassia cinnamon (usually the one we get in South Asian stores) is not considered as real cinnamon. And it won't give you the same flavour as the real, true cinnamon. In this recipe I have used the BuyWholeFoodsOnline Ceylon Cinnamon Quills. If you smell the two you can instantly tell the difference. And I strongly recommend using ceylon especially for desserts and drinks.MORE TEA RECIPES
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Starbucks Inspired Chai Latte
Yield: 2
An aromatic sweet and spicy black tea which is mixed with steamed milk and milk foam.
ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cup whole milk, divided
- 2 cups water
- 1 ceylon cinnamon stick
- 1 star anise
- 12 green cardamom pods
- 6 cloves
- 8 black peppercorns
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg powder
- 1 1-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced
- 2-3 tsp loose black tea
- 2 tbsp honey
- ceylon cinnamon powder, to sprinkle
instructions:
How to cook Starbucks Inspired Chai Latte
- Roughly crush the whole spices; ceylon cinnamon stick, star anise, cardamom pods, cloves, peppercorns in a mortar and pestle or grinder. Don't make them into a powder.
- Add them to water, along with ginger, nutmeg powder and loose black tea. You can also use 4-6 black tea bags instead of loose tea leaves.
- Bring the water to boil. Then turn off the heat, cover the pan and let it steep for 10 minutes.
- Then add honey to it and strain this tea. You can store the tea concentrate for up to a week in the fridge.
- Now, in a pan heat 1 cup of milk until you see bubbles appear on the top. Do not boil the milk.
- Take 1/2 cup of milk in a mug. Warm it in a microwave or stove top. Then with a handheld milk frother, froth the milk. You will see a foam appearing on the top. The more you whisk the thicker the foam will become. Alternatively, you can use a blender, whisk or electric mixer to froth the milk too.
- In a cup, pour 2/3 of the black tea concentrate, 1/3 of the steamed milk, leaving an two inches on top for the foam. With a spoon pick some foam from the frothed milk and drop it in the cup.
- Sprinkle cinnamon powder and enjoy hot!
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PRODUCTS USED IN THIS RECIPE
I have used the Ceylon Cinnamon Quills, Ceylon Cinnamon Powder and Raw Acacia Bulgarian Honey from the Whole Foods Online shop.
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