Chai latte is a hot, aromatic drink that originally came from India and has gained worldwide popularity in the last few years. Known for its rich amount of spices, the chai latte contains several health benefits as well as being tasty. Try our vanilla chai latte recipe today, for a tasty drink for warm Christmas flavours!
What is a Chai Latte
Chai tea is a national drink of India, but is now popular all over the world. This spicy tea is popular in its latte version, with milk added during preparation for a sweeter, warmer drink that can be enjoyed hot or cold.
A Little Bit of History
Originally from India, the word ‘chai’ means ‘tea‘ in Hindi. Chai was initially a plant remedy from Ayurvedic medicine, a traditional Hindu medicine dating back over 5,000 years. It was first made using only milk, herbs and spices. Tea was added later on, towards the XIXᵉ century.
Chai tea is made from black tea with various spices such as ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, star anise, fennel, black pepper and cloves. This blend of spices is known as chai massala, but you can also find chai teas with a blend of spices specific to each tea house.
The chai latte is a delicious blend of spiced black tea, sugar and hot milk. The original recipe is 50% milk and 50% water, but you can make your chai latte with only milk, for a smoother taste.
What Are The Chai Latte Benefits?
Chai tea is a unique blend of a wide variety of spices and plants, each with its own health benefits.
Its main benefit is to improve digestion, thanks to cardamom and ginger, which helps to ease digestion and soothe upset stomachs.
Cloves, which possess antiseptic and analgesic properties, also relieve digestive discomforts.
Ginger, known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, improves intestinal transit, aids circulation and stimulates the immune system.
Star anises also have anti-inflammatory properties, as does fennel, a real ally against respiratory tract inflammation and digestive troubles.
Black tea is full of antioxidants thanks to the ‘long’ fermentation of the tea leaves. Its antioxidants fight free radicals in the body to protect against cell ageing.
Finally, black pepper provides antibacterial benefits to boost metabolisms.
When Is The Perfect Time To Drink Your Chai Latte?
The vanilla chai latte is a beverage with a comforting aroma that is full of benefits for the body. It can be enjoyed at any time of day, but avoid drinking it in the evening if you are sensitive to caffeine or theine that can be found in black tea. Known for its invigorating effect, it is also ideal to start the day or after lunch thanks to its digestive effects.
10 min.
Easy
1 pers.
Ingredients
Water
Semi-skimmed milk or plant-based milk
Sugar
Vanilla pods
Chai tea powder or chai tea bags
Material
1 kettle
1 pot
1 teapot
1 infuser or 1 tea ball
1 milk frother
Preparation
Step 1Boil water to 90°C.
Step 2Pour it into a teapot and add your chai tea using an infuser or a tea ball infuser.
Step 3Once your tea has brewed for enough time, remove your infuser. As chai is a fairly spicy beverage, reduce the brewing time if you prefer a less intense tea. On the other hand, if you prefer a spicier tea, you can leave in the bag or infuser for longer to allow the spices to release their full flavours.
Step 4Heat your semi-skimmed or plant-based milk. As an option, you can froth milk in a separate jug to add a smoother touch to your drink.
Step 5Mix the chai tea and milk with a little bit of sugar and a vanilla pod. Enjoy!
Step 1
Boil water to 90°C.
Step 2
Pour it into a teapot and add your chai tea using an infuser or a tea ball infuser.
Step 3
Once your tea has brewed for enough time, remove your infuser. As chai is a fairly spicy beverage, reduce the brewing time if you prefer…
Step 4
Heat your semi-skimmed or plant-based milk. As an option, you can froth milk in a separate jug to add a smoother touch to your drink.
Step 5
Mix the chai tea and milk with a little bit of sugar and a vanilla pod. Enjoy!
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MaxiCoffee’s Tasty Tip
You can bring your drink to the next level by adding honey or maple syrup for a sweeter touch instead of sugar, or by sprinkling cinnamon powder on top. The vanilla chai latte can easily be customised!
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Chaï Tea – Le Chaï Merveilleux – Comptoir Français du Thé (100g)
Known for its comforting taste, the vanilla chai latte is an ideal recipe for lovers of spicy, soothing flavours to enjoy over Christmas. This easy drink, ready in just 15 minutes, is now appreciated all over the world for its affordability and many health benefits. For more tea recipes, check out our other articles.
