This creamy, foamy, hot beverage epitomizes pleasure for many tea drinkers. Even those who enjoy coffee have a hard time resisting the sweet comforting spices, ones we smell first and then savor as we taste them. During the holidays the incense and flavors of chai are even more nostalgic and pleasing: the familiar flavor of cinnamon, the healthy bite of ginger, the peppery quality of allspice, and the earthy excitement of cloves, the subtle exotic presence of cardamom, and the pungent, almost bitter flavor of nutmeg.
We’ve all seen instant chai powder at the grocery market. But most instant drink powders contain refined sugar, hydrogenated oils and overall, less than healthful ingredients. These are unnecessary. Whole foods, full of nutrition + a spice or coffee grinder quickly makes this dreamy, creamy drink into a real food reality!
One main difference? There will be settling with this real tea version. If you wish to avoid this, simply steep the drink for 3-5 minutes, once blended; then pour through a strainer into your cup.
NOTES ON INGREDIENTS:
There are two approaches to this recipe: either buying a high-quality mix of bulk chai spices or measuring them out individually. Both create pretty much the same outcome, although whole spices ground fresh are more flavorful. The choice depends on your preferred sourcing.
For example, Mountain Rose Herbs has an excellent chai blend. If you like ordering from them, their mixture works perfectly for this recipe. You can also order through our affiliate Amazon this Frontier Organic and Fair Trade Chai blend . One recipe option uses this measurement.
However, if you have most of what you need already, and you only need a couple more spices to get started, I give the quantities below for measuring the spices separately.
This recipe can be made with whichever milk you like best. Instead of using powdered milk, as most factory-made chai latte blends do, this recipe uses milk instead of water to create your latte. Choose raw milk, goat milk, coconut milk, nut milk, whatever suits your diet. All will work well and taste great.
Regarding the tea, you can also choose which tea suits you best: black tea, decaffeinated tea, or red rooibos. All blend beautifully in the spice grinder, creating this instant tea delight!
NOTES ON EQUIPMENT NEEDED:
I tried out few spice grinders before landing on (affiliate) my favorite . If you have a coffee grinder at home, it is likely the only tool you’ll need. The recipe requires a fine powder. I purchased my grinder just for this recipe and am excited to have it from this point forward, finally a spice grinder in my very own kitchen! If you don’t have one yet, they are inexpensive and effective, so nice to have on hand.
INSTANT CHAI LATTE POWDER
Makes approximately 1-1/2 cups powder or 8-16 oz. servings of Chai Latte
Recipe can be doubled
- 2/3 cup loose black tea or rooibos (this will measure out to slightly less than 1/2 cup tea powder, once blended in spice grinder)
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar (or substitute granulated sweetener of choice; or add honey to taste at the time of serving)
- 1/2 cup collagen or gelatin (optional)
- 2 tablespoons whole spice chai blend
-OR- - 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon each: allspice, cardamom, cloves, and nutmeg (these spices can be measured once powdered)
- Place 12 oz. hot milk of choice and 1 tablespoon Instant Chai into a blender.
- Blend 12 seconds on medium speed. Serve and enjoy.
Bulletproof Variation- Use hot water and 2 tablespoons butter or coconut oil, in place of hot milk.
Iced Latte Variation- In warmer months, use collagen instead of gelatin. Blend cold milk with spices. Pour, strained, over ice.
- Makes approximately 1-1/2 cups powder or 8-16 oz. servings of Chai Latte
- Recipe can be doubled
- ⅔ cup loose black tea or rooibos (this will measure out to slightly less than ½ cup tea powder, once blended in spice grinder)
- ½ cup coconut sugar (or substitute granulated sweetener of choice; or add honey to taste at the time of serving)
- ½ cup collagen or gelatin (optional)
- 2 tablespoons whole spice chai blend
- -OR-
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ginger
- ¼ teaspoon each: allspice, cardamom, cloves, and nutmeg (these spices can be measured once powdered)
- Place 12 oz. hot milk of choice and 1 tablespoon Instant Chai into a blender.
- Blend 12 seconds on medium speed.
- Serve and enjoy.