Once the cold weather starts, let’s say around mid-October all the way to March (Yes, March!), Chai Latte becomes one of my favorite drinks. I love tea! Hot or cold; black, oolong or white; with or without milk; with or without sweetener. I just love it! Chai is made with black tea and aromatic spices; it originates in India, however all the spices we find in Chai are commonly used in Latin cuisine as well. That is probably why I like it so much! 🙂
I can buy Chai Latte in any of my favorite coffee shops and I often do. Sometimes I find it too sweet or not sweet enough; spices too strong or barely there; not creamy enough, etc. Which is why I like making my homemade version when I can, which turns out just the way I want it. I make it with loose black tea that I normally buy at the Indian store. I also use this tea to make iced tea drinks. The steeping time is key, if you steep your tea for too long it will become bitter.
I like to use almond milk for that extra bit of flavor and because I add the calories with a different milk 🙂 I like my latte to be creamy so I choose to sweeten it with sweet condensed milk. Nice! To obtain that frothy top I use the same old trick my mom did to make us “café con leche” nothing more than my blender. Next time you crave a warm cup of Chai Latte here is a way to please your cravings without having to drive anywhere.
Ingredients:
(makes 4 cups)
3 Cups of water
10 Cardamom seeds, gently crushed. 
2 Cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon pepper corn
4 cloves
1 Star anise
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
2 Tablespoon loose black tea
1 Cup almond milk
1/4 Cup sweet condensed milk
For serving (optional)
Whipped cream
Ground cinnamon
Method:
In a medium sauce pan, bring the water and spices to a boil. Remove from the heat, add two Tablespoons of loose black tea and let it steep for 5 minutes. Pour the tea through a fine mesh strainer into a blender. Add the almond milk and sweet condensed milk. Remove the center piece of the blender cover and place a folded kitchen towel on top. Holding down the towel, blend on low for 1 minute. Serve in mugs and sprinkle with ground cinnamon. If you feel extra greedy top with a dollop of whipped cream (completely optional but ohhh so good!) Enjoy!
Me encanto……