For a quick and easy homemade hot Chai Tea Latte, we're using tea bags to brew up a cozy and delicious sipper ready in about five minutes with four simple ingredients. Chai tea bags infuse flavor and spice into the tea, while a touch of vanilla and sweetener of choice adds balance. Warm frothed milk creates richness and mellows the tea. This recipe is vegetarian or vegan.
Bring the water to just under boiling: 208 Fahrenheit (98 Celsius). Steep the tea in a 12 ounce (340 grams) tea cup or coffee mug until it's dark and fragrant, four to five minutes. Press the tea bags against the side of the cup to drain. Discard the bags.
While the tea steeps, froth the milk with sweetener of choice using a handheld electric milk frother or steaming wand of an espresso machine. If using a handheld frother, gently warm your milk before frothing.
Pour the vanilla extract into the tea, then pour in the warmed frothed milk into the mug. Top with foam and if desired, a sprinkle of cinnamon over the top.
Enjoy right away, warm.
Notes
*For a Stronger Tea: I found this recipe delicious with two tea bags. However if a stronger chai flavor is desired, you can use three tea bags.To use loose leaf chai tea, measure 2 1/2 teaspoons of tea (equivalent to two tea bags) and steep using a tea infuser. This recipe is adapted from my London Fog Tea recipe. Nutrition estimate is calculated with whole milk included.