The BEST Homemade Chai Latte Recipe You'll Find, Guaranteed.

What I'm about to give you is the famous Bircher Bar Chai Latte recipe that we served to our cafe customers for many years, day in day out.

It became so damn popular that we had to start producing it by the bag and shipping it Australia-wide, more often than not running out of stock as we couldn't keep up with the demand.

After countless emails and requests since closing the cafe-side a few years back now, we've finally decided to release it for anyone and everyone to make chai latte at home.

We first put this recipe together as we couldn't find a good quality Chai Concentrate or Chai Latte mix anywhere that we thought was good enough to serve in our cafe. We spent a long time getting the ratios right for the perfect flavour balance and level of spice.

We hope it brings you much joy, and honestly believe you won't find a better chai latte recipe anywhere!

The Perfect Chai Latte Recipe

We all have different flavour preferences but in my opinion, a true chai latte should be caffeine-free, all-natural and not pre-loaded with sugar or syrup.

There is no need for cheap and nasty 'chai tea latte' or pre-mix sachets or weak and flavourless tea bags when you can have this in your cup in a matter of minutes.

With that in mind, the simple recipe we've created below is one you can knock together in under 5 minutes and will leave you feeling warm and nourished. As it's caffeine-free, it's also a great one before bed to help you wind down.

I'm confident that after making this one for yourself at home, you won't bother trekking to your nearest coffee shop for a chai drink again.

NOTE: The proportions of ingredients below will make 8 serves using 5g of Chai Latte mix per serve. You can add more per serve if you like it stronger

How To Make a Chai Latte at Home

Ingredients:

• 2 tsp of Ground Cinnamon Ground
• 3 tsp of Ground Ginger
• 1 tsp of Ground Cardamom
• 1 tsp of Chinese 5 Spice
• 1/2 tsp of Ground Nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp of Ground Vanilla

Method:

• Take as many serves of the chai blend ground spices as needed and lightly toast in a saucepan to bring out more flavour
• When it starts to emit a wonderful aroma, add your milk of choice and gently heat until warm (but don't let it boil). For a more cafe-style experience, use a steam wand or milk frother to froth that perfect creamy texture before adding in the chai mix. 
• Optional - Add in raw honey, maple syrup, brown sugar or any other sweetener you like to taste.
• Serve with a full cinnamon stick on top, because presentation counts!

Simple as that! Tried, tested and heartily approved by countless customers across the country, I'm sure this will satisfy your hot Chai cravings - and again, I challenge you to find a better recipe!

NOTES:

• We find high-quality cow's whole milk or non-dairy milk such as coconut milk, almond milk, and soy milk all work beautifully with this particular blend. You can also try oat milk or other nut milk to suit your taste.
•  Prefer a frosty beverage? Throw in some ice for an iced chai latte– instant summer comfort!

Try a Dirty Chai Latte Recipe

If you're starting your day with a chai and definitely want that caffeine hit - how about trying out a Dirty Chai? Here's how to make it:

Ingredients:

• 2 tsp of Ground Cinnamon Ground
• 3 tsp of Ground Ginger
• 1 tsp of Ground Cardamom
• 1 tsp of Chinese 5 Spice
• 1/2 tsp of Ground Nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp of Ground Vanilla
• 1 shot of coffee

Method:

• Grab a saucepan and lightly toast the spice blend over medium heat for just a few minutes - this intensifies the fragrance of the spices and adds an extra layer of flavour.
• Add your milk of choice and warm it up on the stove. If you want it extra creamy, froth milk and add it to the chai mix. 
• Make a shot of espresso or prepare a strong brew using an AeroPress or any other method you prefer. Once the chai-infused milk is ready, turn off the heat, pour it into a serving mug and leave some space at the top - this is where we'll be adding our espresso.
• Combine the two to create your Dirty Chai Latte, then taste it and add sweeteners like honey, syrup, or brown sugar if desired. Stir until combined, and garnish with a cinnamon stick for a special finishing touch.

Enjoy your unique concoction - cheers to your homemade chai coffee fusion adventure!

How About a Homemade Chai Tea Latte Recipe?

Want another delicious twist to your classic Chai Latte? Try a homemade Chai Tea Latte! It's the ideal blend for those who want an extra pick-me-up but don't like coffee – just as its name implies, this latte has tea included in it.

To make a chai tea latte, all you need to do is steep 2 tablespoons of loose tea leaves or 2 black tea bags (like English Breakfast tea) for approximately 4-5 minutes. This will yield a strong and flavourful infused tea. Steep the tea for longer if you want an even stronger taste. Once it's done steeping, strain out the tea leaves and add in the spiced milk. And voilà - you now have a yummy chai tea latte all ready to go.

How to Make Chai Concentrate

If you're not quite ready to make a chai latte from scratch yet, don't worry – creating a delicious chai concentrate to take on the go is easy!

To make the chai concentrate, just follow the same steps as making a regular chai latte, but make sure to toast twice as many spices. Then, add water instead of milk, but be careful not to put too much in or the mixture will get diluted.

To serve, mix one part chai concentrate with one part milk of your choice (or dairy-free alternative) and warm it up on the stovetop or in the microwave. You can adjust the ratio of concentrate to milk according to your taste preferences. 

Chai Latte Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

There is often a lot of confusion around the humble chai latte so we thought we'd finish up by diving into some of the most commonly asked questions we get about it:

What Is A Chai Latte?

The modern Chai Latte traces it's origins back to the streets of India where it has been traditionally served as 'Masala Chai' from street vendors or 'Chai Wallah's' across the sub-continent.

You'll often find chai lattes wrongly advertised as chai tea or chai tea lattes with the black tea component generally being the difference. If you are ordering a chai latte from your local coffee shop, be sure to ask if it contains black tea or not as many people use these terms interchangeably.

Does Chai Latte Have Caffeine?

Technically speaking, 'Chai' refers to the tea component of the original Masala Chai recipe and Masala references the chai spices in the blend - but despite the name, most modern chai latte blends are expected to be caffeine-free, while a chai tea includes black tea and hence contains caffeine. But don't worry - using tea in your chai latte is completely optional - so you can decide whether you want a caffeine-free or caffeinated version.

Are Chai Lattes Good For You? Are They Healthy?

If you've chosen to use our recipe listed above - then yes! Absolutely.

This mix is all-natural, sugar-free and caffeine-free, as well as loaded with ingredients that are scientifically proven to have numerous health benefits including immune system support, energy production & nausea relief to name a few.

How Many Calories In A Chai Latte?

This recipe has absolutely zero calories in it as a pure spice mix. Your only calories will come from any milk or sweetener you add.

Are Chai Lattes Gluten Free? Are They Vegan?

Again, no two recipes are the same but our chai spice mix is completely vegan and gluten-free.

What Does Chai Latte Taste Like?

It's a delicious and creamy treat with a hint of sweetness that's sure to warm your soul. The perfect blend of spices like cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and ginger mixed with steamed milk gives it a unique flavour that's sure to bring the taste of the exotic right into your cup.

Depending on how much of each spice is used, as well as the amount of milk and sweetener added, the flavour profile can vary - but all in all, it's a comforting and delightful experience.

Are Chai Tea Bags Good for You?

Chai tea is an absolutely delicious way to get your antioxidants. It's known to have catechins and theaflavins, which help fight off oxidative stress and cancer-causing agents.

Keep in mind, though, that pre-made chai tea drinks or mixes may be loaded with added sugars and dairy. To get the most out of your cup of chai, make sure to read labels carefully and go for unsweetened and non-dairy options whenever possible.

If you really want to enjoy all the health benefits of chai tea, then consider brewing it at home using natural, wholesome ingredients with our easy recipe. Plus, this way you don’t have to worry about extra additives that could cause some harm.

That's It!

We hope you love this recipe as much as our customers did - it's a simple and easy chai recipe with a beautiful flavour profile and no added nasties.

Try it out for yourself and let us know what you think!

📷 @allidoiseat_