Chai Latte (hot Or Iced) Recipe

Name: Buenos Aires Bakery & Cafes CHAI LATTE (Hot Or Iced) Recipe
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 3 cups Water; 4 tbs Black tea bags (Assam or strong black tea) or 3 tbsp loose-leaf; 2 cups Whole milk; 4 tbs Granulated sugar; 1 tbs Brown sugar (optional, for deeper caramel notes); 1 tbs Fresh ginger, thinly sliced; 8 to taste Green cardamom pods, lightly crushed; 1 each Cinnamon stick; 4 each Whole cloves; 3 each Black peppercorns (optional, for warmth); 1 each Star anise (optional); 1 tsp Vanilla extract (optional, rounded flavor); 1 pinch Salt; 1 cups Chai concentrate; 1 cups Milk (whole, 2%, oat, almond, or alternative); 1 cups Ice (for iced chai); 1 tsp Sweetener (simple syrup, honey, or extra sugar) - adjust; 1 to taste Whipped cream or ground cinnamon (optional garnish)

Inspired by Buenos Aires Bakery & Cafe

Time30m

Serves4

Make Chai Latte (hot Or Iced) Recipe in just 30m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.

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Ingredients

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Chai Concentrate (makes ~4 servings)

3 cups Water

4 tbs Black tea bags (Assam or strong black tea) or 3 tbsp loose-leaf

2 cups Whole milk

4 tbs granulated sugar

1 tbs Brown sugar (optional, for deeper caramel notes)

1 tbs Fresh ginger, thinly sliced

8 to taste Green cardamom pods, lightly crushed

1 each Cinnamon stick

4 each Whole cloves

3 each Black peppercorns (optional, for warmth)

1 each Star anise (optional)

1 tsp Vanilla extract (optional, rounded flavor)

1 pinch Celtic sea salt

To Assemble (per serving)

1 cups Chai concentrate

1 cups Milk (whole, 2%, oat, almond, or alternative)

1 cups Ice (for iced chai)

1 tsp Sweetener (simple syrup, honey, or extra sugar) - adjust

1 to taste Whipped cream or ground cinnamon (optional garnish)

Method

Chai Concentrate (makes ~4 servings)

Toast spices

In a dry small skillet over medium heat, toast the crushed cardamom, cinnamon stick, cloves, peppercorns, and star anise for 1–2 minutes until fragrant, shaking pan frequently to avoid burning. Remove from heat.

Simmer base

In a medium saucepan combine 3 cups water, toasted spices, sliced fresh ginger, and a pinch of salt. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat.

Brew tea

Once simmering, add the black tea (tea bags or loose-leaf in an infuser). Reduce heat to low and simmer gently for 5 minutes to extract strong tea and spice flavor.

Add milk and sweetener

Add 2 cups whole milk, granulated sugar and brown sugar (if using) to the saucepan. Stir to dissolve the sugar. Warm the mixture over low heat — do not boil — for another 5 minutes to marry flavors and slightly reduce. If using vanilla extract, stir it in at the end of this step.

Strain and cool

Remove from heat. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve (or cheesecloth) into a heatproof container to remove tea leaves and spices. Press lightly on solids to extract liquid, then discard solids. Taste and adjust sweetness; add a touch more sugar if desired. Let concentrate cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until cold if making iced chai. Refrigerated concentrate will keep 4–5 days.

To Assemble (Hot Chai Latte)

Measure 1 cup chai concentrate into a small saucepan and warm gently over low heat until hot but not boiling (about 2–3 minutes).

Heat or steam 1 cup milk using a milk steamer or steam wand to 140–150°F (60–65°C), creating microfoam if desired. If you don’t have a steamer, heat milk in a separate saucepan until hot and froth with a whisk, hand frother, or jar shake.

Pour the warmed milk into a mug over the warmed concentrate, holding back foam with a spoon. Spoon foam on top. Taste and add additional sweetener if needed. Garnish with a dusting of ground cinnamon or a cinnamon stick or whipped cream as desired.

To Assemble (Iced Chai Latte)

Fill a tall glass with 1 cup ice.

Pour 1 cup chilled chai concentrate over the ice.

Add 1 cup cold milk (your choice). Stir gently to combine. Taste and add sweetener (simple syrup or honey) if needed and stir again.

Top with whipped cream or a sprinkle of ground cinnamon if desired and serve with a straw.