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Dirty chai latte.

Homemade Dirty Chai Latte

Justine Drosdovech
This dirty chai latte features masala chai infused with bold coffee and creamy milk, creating a rich, perfectly spiced, and energizing drink.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine American, Gluten-Free, Indian, Vegan
Servings 4 servings
Calories 47 kcal

Equipment

  • Saucepan
  • Small fine mesh strainer
  • Mug or glass

Ingredients
 

US Customary - Metric

Masala chai

  • 2 cups filtered water
  • 2 green cardamom pods ($0.02)
  • 1 whole clove ($0.01)
  • 5-6 whole peppercorns ($0.02)
  • ½-inch cinnamon stick ($0.02)
  • 1 pod star anise ($0.01)
  • 1-inch piece of fresh ginger, grated ($0.03)
  • 2 teaspoons loose-leaf Assam tea ($0.25)
  • 1 cup soy or coconut milk ($0.23)
  • 1-2 tablespoons maple syrup or agave ($0.27)

Coffee

  • 4 shots espresso, or 6-8 ounces strong coffee* ($0.22)

For serving optional

  • Extra cinnamon or nutmeg
  • Steamed milk
  • Coconut whipped cream

Instructions
 

Masala chai

  • Bring the water to boil in a saucepan. In the meantime, crush the cardamom, cloves, peppercorns, cinnamon stick, and star anise in a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder.
  • Add the crushed spices, grated ginger, and black tea to the boiling water, then lower the heat to simmer for 3 minutes, or until fragrant.

Coffee

  • In the meantime, prepare the coffee (espresso, Moka Pot, or AeroPress) and divide it between mugs.

Serving

  • Pour the milk (soy or coconut) into the simmering masala chai, and bring the mixture to a boil again.
  • Pulling: To aerate the chai, either use a ladle to scoop and pour the mixture from a height back into the pot repeatedly. Alternatively, remove from heat once boiling and wait until the bubbles disappear. Then, transfer back to the heat and bring it to a boil once more. Remove from heat again.
  • Pour the chai through a fine-mesh strainer into the mugs of coffee. Sweeten with maple syrup or another sweetener to taste and top with extra foamed milk. Happy drinking!

Notes

  • Use fresh coffee: It's not just important to use strong coffee. Ensure the beans are freshly ground and prepared for the best-tasting drink.
  • Strain it: Don't forget to strain the tea and spices so your chai latte is silky smooth.
  • Pull the chai: Make sure you use a ladle to pull the chai or double-boil it for a light and airy consistency.
  • Use whole spices: Powdered spices don't provide the same intensity of aroma and flavor as crushed whole spices. Opt for whole over powdered whenever possible.
  • Nutritional information is a rough estimate and should not be taken as health advice.
  • Recipe cost calculations are based on prices found in the top 5 U.S. grocery chains. As such, prices may vary based on your location. All prices are in USD.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 47kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 37.4mg | Potassium: 142.3mg | Fiber: 0.9g | Sugar: 4.5g | Vitamin A: 234.7IU | Vitamin C: 4.6mg | Calcium: 103.4mg | Iron: 0.6mg
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