How to Brew Chai Tea Latte?
The name Chai literally translates to "tea," derived from the Chinese word "cha." Chai has a long history of being a popular beverage. However, it was not always associated with black tea, until British colonization of India. The earliest versions of chai were entirely spice-based, with no tea at all.
It is a loose-leaf tea that is brewed in hot milk and usually sweetened with honey or sugar. While Chai lattes are frequently made with either a soluble powder or a syrup that mimics the flavor of chai. Chai latte is significantly sweeter than chai tea.
Chai tea can provide a variety of notable health benefits depending on the spices used and how it's brewed. It's often low in calories, making it a good replacement for sugary beverages like hot cocoa or apple cider. Other possible advantages include: lower blood pressure. High in antioxidants like catechins and theaflavins which fight oxidative stress and may help prevent cancer and other diseases.
Chai Spices:
2 cinnamon sticks, broken
2 tsp. black peppercorns, whole
10 garlic cloves
6 green cardamom pods, cracked
1/2 inch piece finely sliced fresh ginger
Tea:
4 cup of water
6 tea bags (black or English Breakfast)
Sweetener (1/2 cup), honey, maple syrup or sugar
Milk:
3 cups cold whole milk, almond milk, oat milk, or other dairy-free substitute
In a small saucepan over medium heat, toast the cinnamon, peppercorns, cloves, and cardamom for 3 to 4 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally.
Bring the water and ginger to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes on low heat. Remove from the heat and add the tea bags or loose-leaf tea. Steep for 10 minutes, covered.
Add the sweetener while the tea is still warm and stir until combined or dissolved. Pour the tea through a strainer. Pour the tea into a pitcher or teapot using a fine-mesh strainer. Remove the spices and tea leaves. Refrigerate it for later use, or keep it warm while frothing the milk.
Froth whole milk by shaking it in a jar or whisking it vigorously over medium-high heat. To froth non-dairy milks, use an immersion blender before heating. Warm the frothed milk in a small saucepan over low heat. Fill each mug with 3/4 cup of the warm tea base. Stir in 1/2 cup warmed milk to combine. Add a heaping spoonful of milk froth on top.
If you want an iced chai latte, use a little less water when brewing the tea and then pour it over ice.
Make your own flavored simple syrup to use as a sweetener if you want a flavored chai latte, such as vanilla or cinnamon!
By: Douglas
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