I think it’s wonderful how food memories are formed – I have many but one of my most vivid is for Chai Tea Latte (the fancy ‘cafe’ name) given to India’s national beverage – Masala Chai, or just Chai.
My husband and I spent over 6 months living in our most favourite country (besides Australia of course) and definitely sampled our fair share of Chai. Almost every town we visited claimed ‘the best chai in India’ – though some of the best we had were from the chai wallah pacing the length of the trains (at all hours) with an urn on his head crying ‘chaiiiiyyyy, chaiiiyyyy….’ over and over. It was almost always sold in a small terracotta cup which when done, you threw out of the train window or smashed on the pathway (not a takeaway or foam cup in sight).
Like coffee, there was good and the not so good. Some chai brews were SO sweet that my husband called them ‘hot soft drink’.
The origins of Chai tea is steeped in Indian history and the ancient medicinal philosophy of Ayurveda. So traditionally, each family would have their own recipe based on the constitutions of family members. The blend of spices contains medicinal and healing properties such as relaxing the digestive tract, elevating the metabolism, and increasing waste and toxin excretion.
So on my stove top, far removed from the most fascinating and diverse country I have ever visited, I thought I’d introduce you to my recipe for a delicious, healing chai – and one of my most favourite hot drinks. This is a far cry from a chai tea bag or the flavoured syrups used in coffee shops in Australia – way more delicious and actually healing. It is also something my kids really love and something I believe helps to keep us well through winter.
Why is it healthy?
The spices are all wonderfully supportive to digestion and the respiratory tract so perfect for winter sickness:
Cloves – anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic, calming and soothing to the gut and lungs
Cinnamon – anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, improves circulation, balances blood-sugar levels
Cardamon – anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, improves circulation, calming and soothing to the gut
Ginger – improves circulation, anti-inflammatory especially to the gut, respiratory and muscular-skeletal systems
Turmeric – powerful anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and supports liver function (and, therefore, digestion)
Coconut oil – anti-microbial and offers immune support. It also helps to support the assimilation of the fat-soluble nutrients in the spices.
Vanilla – anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory
Ingredients
The chai latte is made with a combination of warming spices like cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and ginger. You can customise it with your favourite tea (black or rooibos), and enhance the flavour with optional coconut oil or ghee for extra creaminess and health benefits. Sweeten with rice malt syrup or raw honey.
How to make Immunity Chai Latte
Simmer your choice of milk, spices, and ginger in a small pot for about 5 minutes. Add the tea bag and let it steep for a few minutes longer before straining the mixture into a cup. Sweeten with rice malt syrup or honey, and stir in optional coconut oil, ghee, or vanilla for an extra boost of flavour and nutrition.
Serving suggestions and how to store
Enjoy your chai tea latte fresh from the pot, garnished with a sprinkle of cinnamon or turmeric if desired. It’s best served immediately, but if you need to store it, refrigerate the mixture without the tea bag and reheat gently when ready to serve.
Vary this to suit your dietary needs
For a dairy-free version, substitute almond or coconut milk. You can also choose to sweeten the latte with rice malt syrup for a fructose-friendly option, and for those sensitive to caffeine, rooibos tea is a wonderful alternative to black or green tea.
Take a look at the variations (below the main recipe) for suggestions to alter the recipe to suit your specific dietary requirements.
Explore more healthy drink recipe HERE.
Ingredients
- 250 ml milk (of choice) (1 cup)
- 2 clove/s
- ½ cinnamon quill
- 3 cardamom pods -bruised by pressing with a knife or fork handle
- 2 slice/s ginger root
- 1 tea bag -fair-trade black, white or green tea or rooibos tea for caffeine-free*
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric (or a slice of fresh root if you have it, optional but strongly recommended
- 1 tsp coconut oil - or ghee (optional)
- ½ tsp vanilla - powder, extract or essence (optional)
- 1 tsp rice malt syrup or honey - to taste
- *Rooibos tea is available from the tea aisle of supermarkets or health food stores. It is what I chose mostly (I'm a bit caffeine sensitive), always my choice for my kids.
Method
- In a small pot, place your milk, cloves, cinnamon stick, cardamom pods and ginger and bring to a very low simmer for 5 minutes. If you are using the fresh root of turmeric, add this now too.
- Add the tea bag and continue to simmer very gently for a few more minutes.
- I just use a spoon to hold the solids aside as I pour the delicious liquid into a cup to enjoy.
- Sweeten to taste and mix in the optional turmeric powder, coconut oil, ghee and vanilla powder.
Variations
Dairy-free and vegan
Substitute the milk for either almond milk (home made is best, otherwise choose a vegetable oil and sugar-free brand). You could also use a mix of almond milk and coconut milk for a creamier chai.Fructose-friendly
Sweeten with rice malt syrup.Coconut-free
Replace the coconut oil with ghee or just leave it out.How do you like my real chai? Post a comment or rate this recipe.
Download your FREE Immune Health Plan ebook – A practical guide filled with simple tips to help support your immune system so you and your family stay fighting fit this winter.
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Cherrylussh says
Looks wonderful, except for one thing. I just can’t drink milky tea! Love the idea of all the other flavours, though, so what can I substitute for tea? Will be forever grateful if you can solve this dilemma, as I often want Chai as I love the sound of it!
Georgia Harding says
If the milk is the problem, then it is also delicious black (sub the milk with water). If you don’t like tea, you can try the rooibos or green (or you could also leave out the tea altogether too) and enjoy a lovely spice blend G x
Cherrylussh says
Many thanks. I love tea and I love milk – just not together, so I’ll try these combos. Looking forward to them now the cold weather has finally struck in the GC.
Ellen says
Yum! This is the way I learnt to make chai in India, minus the turmeric and coconut oil. I usually use half water half milk. A few peppercorns are lovely in it too if you like it spicier. This is definitely one of my favourites and I brew up a big batch and keep it in the fridge to reheat quickly whenever I want some. I’ll try turmeric and coconut oil in my next batch to up the immune boost. Thanks Georgia.
Georgia Harding says
Yes Ellen the turmeric and coconut oil are my editions – certainly not traditional, just me trying to health-it-up even more. Agree with the peppercorns, love them too. G x
Amy says
This was so nice! The flavours are so delicate and subtle compared with the super sweet Chai lattes you buy. Will definitely be making this again.
Georgia Harding says
Yes, I could never drink chai ‘flavoured’ tea after having the real thing. Glad you liked it Amy G x
Linda Robinson says
Oh so, so nice! and I hate commercial chai tea, very sickly and weird tasting to me.
Georgia Harding says
Agree Linda Robinson, once you’ve had the real deal, you’d never consider the syrup G x
Nicole H says
Would rice milk also work? I might give it a try on the weekend 🙂
Georgia Harding says
Sure will Nicole (sorry for the delayed response, I’ve been on holiday) G x
Loren says
If I wanted to make a big batch, would I just double or triple the ingredients?
Georgia Harding says
I actually just add a few more cardamon pods and if you like a stronger tea, another tea bag too. I just simmer it a bit longer for a bigger batch. I find the cinnamon and ginger are strong enough with a longer simmer (for my taste) but you can play around yourself. G x
Loren says
If I wanted to make a big batch, would I just double or triple the ingredients?
Villia says
I just made this and gave it a little whir with my stick blender to give it a little froth and its Devine 🙂
Georgia Harding says
Great idea, glad you enjoyed it Villia G x
Sam says
I am wondering if I make a large batch, can I store it??
I loveee this however making 1 cup each morning is hard work. Any options? Thanku 🙂
Georgia Harding says
Hi Sam. yes you can make up a batch. If I make it for 4 of us, I increase the liquid (4 cups), but not the spices. Sometimes I just might add in an extra tea or Rooibos bag, but the spices will keep on releasing for an increased volume of liquid (perhaps just simmer and extra 5 minutes). Enjoy G x
Sharene says
I just made this as I wanted something comforting to nurse my current head cold. It was just perfect! Flavours hut the spot and now I am ready to curl up for bed. What I love about your sharing of these recipes is that there are no “buy this product,” just plain simple ingredients that are accessible to everyone to promote good health. Thanks Georgia x
Georgia Harding says
Hope you feel better soon Sharene. I do my best to make health simple and accessible, thanks for your comment G x
Isabel says
Just made this for me and hubby after a windswept day at the beach. Just perfect!
Georgia Harding says
Perfect Isabel- such a warming brew G x
Penny says
After making this and drinking it almost daily I have never brought a chai from a coffee shop again! This is way better!
Georgia Harding says
Yes I can’t do shop bought chai after this either Penny. G x
Lisa Hodge says
I ordered a chai from a Cafe today after seeing this recipe last night. I drank maybe 1/4, it was so sickly sweet. I went straight to the shop to buy all the ingredients. I made it with:
Oat milk
Fresh turmeric
Organic Rooibos Vanilla tea
No sweetener
I probably cooked it longer. It’s was delicious!!! Thank you for a recipe that will provide me much comfort this winter 🙂
Georgia Harding says
Ah so glad you loved it. I also find store bought chai too sweet (I always ask if they make it traditionally or with syrups and get sweeteners on the side). Your version sounds so great Lisa G x
Kirsten says
I’m trying to wean myself off caffeine so have been buying chais but I agree they are sickly sweet and often taste like they have chemicals in them. I made this and it was divine. I didn’t even add a teabag or sweet things! Just the spices and vanilla powder. I made a batch. Beautiful and heart warming.
Well Nourished Team says
Hi Kirsten, really happy to hear you loved it 😀