Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups filtered water
- 2 black tea bags (Assam/Darjeeling)
- 1 inch fresh ginger, sliced
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1–2 cinnamon sticks
- 4 cardamom pods, crushed
- 1 cup whole milk or alternatives (oat, almond, or coconut work)
- 2 tbsp honey or sugar (to taste)
Instructions
- Prep: Boil water, crush cardamom pods, slice ginger – prepare all ingredients (2-3 minutes)
- Infuse: Add spices to boiling water, simmer gently for 5 minutes to extract spice oils
- Steep: Add tea bags, reduce heat, steep covered for 5 minutes, avoid over-steeping
- Finish: Remove bags, add vanilla and sweetener, stir in milk and heat through gently (2-3 minutes)
Notes
- Crush cardamom pods with flat knife blade to release aromatic oils effectively
- Use whole milk for richness or coconut milk for dairy-free creaminess
- Adjust spice quantities to taste – start mild and increase gradually
- For extra froth, whisk vigorously for 30 seconds before serving to create café-quality texture
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Beverages
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 120 calories
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 65mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 12mg
Keywords: spiced vanilla chai, homemade chai, chai tea recipe, spiced tea, vanilla chai latte, traditional chai
