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IS CHAI TEA VEGAN?

Traditional chai latte (or chai tea) is not vegan, as it is made with dairy milk and sweetened with honey.

However, it is very simple to make a vegan chai tea at home, or simply ask your local coffee shop to prepare you a plant based version.

Read this post to learn how to make the perfect vegan chai tea at home.

Also I’ll be sharing all the simple swaps you can request in order to enjoy your favourite cuppa when out and about!

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Ah, chai tea! I simply love this spiced and creamy drink, especially on a cold day in winter, when I’m craving the cosy feeling of snuggling up on my sofa with a good book in my hands.

Nothing beats the pleasure of a frothy and deliciously indulgent hot drink topped with cinnamon and other spices!

If you, like me, love a good chai tea or chai latte, and at the same time are conscious of avoiding animal products, I have some good news for you.

Here I am going to share with you what are the minor adjustments needed to brew the best vegan chai latte, whether you want to order a cup at your local Starbucks, or whether you are a fun of homemade chai latte.

IS CHAI TEA VEGAN?

As mentioned in the intro to this post, regular chai latte (or tea) is not vegan. Generally speaking this beverage is made using dairy milk and honey to sweeten.

However, that doesn’t mean you cannot make a super yummy cup of vegan chai tea latte at home!

Making a plant based chai tea is as easy as swapping some traditional ingredients with vegan options.

Read till the end to get my best tips and the perfect vegan chai latte recipe!

WHAT IS A CHAI TEA?

From www.tasteofhome.com: “Originating in India nearly 5,000 years ago, chai has been loved by many. Legend has it that chai didn’t originally contain tea leaves, milk or sugar when it was first created. It was only comprised of a mix of spices native to India and was used for Ayurveda, an all-natural Indian healing practice. (Fun fact: “chai” means tea, so when you say “chai tea,” you’re really saying “tea tea.”)

Flash-forward to the 1600s when black tea leaves were discovered in China. Once the tea leaf, known as Camellia sinensis assamica, made its way to India, the chai recipe we know and love today was created.

Today, chai tea is a brewed black tea prepared with multiple aromatic spices like ginger and cardamom, milk and sugar. This blend gives chai its full-bodied, spice-filled flavor and creamy mouthfeel.”

Is a chai latte the same as chai tea?

Although many people use the 2 terms to describe the same drink, strictly speaking, chai tea is not the same as chai latte.

A chai tea is simply a spiced and fragrant tea, made with loose leaves and brewed straight into hot milk (not water), and sweetened with honey (or a syrup or sugar).

On the other hand, a chai latte is a strong black tea infused with spices you make on its own, and then you mix with foamed milk.

Both options, in my opinion, are equally delicious!

IS CHAi tea latte healthy?

Chai latte can indeed be a very healthy drink, if you are mindful of the ingredients that go in it.

I have written a very detailed post on the health benefits of chai tea, and a complete list of the properties provided by the many ingredients.

You can check the post: IS CHAI LATTE HEALTHY?

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HOMEMADE CHAI MIX RECIPE – EASY CHAI TEA LATTE RECIPE – HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE CHAI MIX with essential oils!

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CHAI TEA BENEFITS

Not only chai tea or chai latte are absolutely delicious, but, thanks to all the spices used to brew it, they are packed with health benefits.

According to www.healthline.com, chai tea can:

• improve heart health;
• reduce blood sugar levels;
• lessen nausea;
• improve digestion;
• increase your chances of losing weight. 

And all of those benefits are packed in a gorgeous cup of your favourite drink!

how to order vegan chai tea latte at starbucks or your favourite coffee shop

When you visit Starbucks or your favourite coffee shop, regardless of what drink you order, generally speaking you will be served a non vegan beverage. Unless you let them know you prefer to omit dairy and animal based ingredients.

Ordering a vegan coffee or latte is very easy, and nowadays the vast majority of coffee shops will be able to accommodate you.

Make sure to let the person at the till know you want to swap dairy milk and cream for a vegan option, and the honey for a plant based syrup such as maple syrup, or with stevia.

The barista will be more than happy to accommodate you!

Let’s have a look at the best substitutes you can get for your vegan chai tea!

BEST VEGAN SUBSTITUTES FOR MILK

Thankfully for people like me that only consume non-dairy milk, there are plenty healthy and vegan substitutes to choose from.

To name a few:

• Almond milk;
• Oat milk;
• Coconut milk;
• Cashew milk;
• Macadamia milk;
• Rice milk;
• Soy milk.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST VEGAN MILK

These milk substitutes are all equally tasty, and a worthy substitute to dairy milk.

However, when you are choosing among them, you might need to consider a few important elements:

• Food allergies and intolerances: many people are allergic to nuts or soy, so it goes without saying that if you have special dietary requirements, that should be your top priority when selecting a plant based milk;
• Protein intake, as some plant based milks are higher in value than others;
• Opt for unsweetened versions, if possible, to avoid consuming too much sugar;
• Your personal taste and preference.

When it comes to chai tea or latte, my absolute favourite dairy-free milk is oat milk. I find that it’s just creamy to perfection, and its subtle and almost neutral taste blends perfectly with the spice mix. Yum!

BEST SWEETENER FOR CHAI TEA

Again, there is no rule here to follow, other than your specific dietary requirements and food allergies and intolerances.

For the perfect honey-free chai latte, maple syrup is an excellent substitute. Your local grocery store or coffee shop might have other types of syrups as well, such as macadamia syrup or hazelnut syrup. Vanilla extract is also a worthy substitute for sugar, as is stevia of course.

BEST VEGAN CREAM

If you prefer your chai drink with some indulgent whipped cream on top, make sure to swap dairy cream for a vegan one.

There are a few plant based alternatives readily available nowadays, such as: 

• Coconut cream;
• Soy cream;
• Cashew cream;
• Other nut based creams.

Choose the best option for you, again, based on your personal circumstances and preference.

BE MINDFUL OF HIDDEN INGREDIENTS 

Vegans everywhere (and all the people with specific dietary needs) know the struggle that comes from trying to identify possible hidden ingredients in foods and drinks.

Labels are more often than not hard to decipher, and there is a real risk of consuming a prepared meal or drink that contains undisclosed, non vegan ingredients.

When it comes to chai tea or latte, pay particular attention to:

• Chocolate added to your drink, as it normally contains cow’s milk;
• Protein powders (or in liquid form), as they are whey based in almost all cases;
• Sauces and toppings added to the tea; 
• Pumpkin spice;
• etc.

Furthermore, regular chai tea concentrate used in many cafes is not vegan. 

Always ask, just to be safe.

PERFECT VEGAN CHAI TEA RECIPE

Well, after listing all the lovely ingredients that go in a vegan chai tea, I’m ready to make my own cuppa!

I make chai latte at home on a regular basis, and not only during the winter months. Every day is a good day to enjoy a delicious hot chai in my home, and my girls love it too.

After trying out several recipes, I think I have finally found what is for me the perfect vegan chai recipe.

I hope you like it too!

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO MAKE THE perfect vegan chai recipe AT HOME?

Before we go through the recipe for the perfect chai latte, let me just tell you that there are tens of recipes available on line, and all are equally good I’m sure.

However, after trying different options, I settled on the following spices to use in my homemade chai mix.

• Cinnamon
• Cardamom
• Black Pepper (Peppercorns)
• Star anise
• Cloves
• Ginger
• Nutmeg

perfect vegan HOMEMADE CHAI TEA LATTE

So, here’s the recipe I use to make the best homemade vegan chai latte.

As you can see, it’s a very simple recipe, and you will be able to make a lovely cup from the comfort of your own home. The great thing about this recipe, in fact, is that you do not need any fancy equipment, such as a costly coffee machine.

For this recipe you will need:

• spice grinder or food processor (only if you are using whole spices. Not needed if opting for ground spices instead);
• few glass food containers with labels to store your chai spice mix;
• two saucepans, one to hold the milk and one to make the tea;
• large jar to store tea in the fridge;
• stovetop or microwave oven, to warm up the milk;
• milk frother (any inexpensive one will work);
• a spoon, to stir your chai latte. 
• you favourite mug (mandatory!)
• a good book or your favourite tv show (optional, but highly recommended!)

Ingredients:

Here’s the full list of ingredients needed.

FOR THE SPICE MIX

The chai spices I use are: 

• 4 Tbsp of ground cinnamon;
• 2 Tbsp of ground cardamom pods;
• 2 tsp of peppercorns;
• 1 whole star anise;
• 2 tsp whole or ground cloves;
• 2 tsp ground nutmeg;
• 1 Tbsp of ground ginger.

Bear in mind that you can use whole or ground spices. 

If using whole spices, you will need to ground them first to a fine powder.

Also, the quantities mentioned above are what I use in my own mix, according to what we like in our home. Feel free to adjust them as you wish, by adding a little less or little more of your favourite spice. The result will still be exceptionally good!

FOR THE TEA

• 2 cups of water;
• 2 tea bags of black tea (breakfast tea is perfect);
• Sweetener of choice, to taste.

FOR THE CHAI LATTE

• 1/2 cup of the chai tea you have prepared;
• 3/4 cup plant based milk of your choice;
• Sweetener of choice, to taste;
• Ground cinnamon to sprinkle on top.

Method

Firstly, you will need to prepare your spice mix.

In a large bowl, simply mix all the ground spices, till they are evenly blended.

You can then transfer your mix to a glass jar and seal it and label it accordingly.

Next, you will need to prepare your tea.

In a large saucepan, mix 2 cups of water with 1 Tbsp of spice mix, and bring to boil over high heat. Make sure to stir continuously, to help the spices dissolve into the hot water.

When the water is boiling, turn off the heat, add the 2 teabags of black tea, and let the mix steep undisturbed.

Once the tea has reached room temperature, you can discard the tea bags, and strain it through a fine mesh or cheese cloth into a large glass jar. Close the lid tightly and you can store this tea in the fridge for up to a week.

Next time you are ready to make your chai latte, 

pour 1/2 cup of your pre made tea in a small saucepan, and gently warm it up on the stovetop.

Separately, warm up 3/4 cup of your chosen vegan milk and use the frother to make it all creamy and fluffy.

Now it’s time to grab your favourite mug! 

Slowly pour the tea first, and add more sweetener if you like. Follow with the frothed milk. Lastly, sprinkle some ground cinnamon on top.

Serve immediately and enjoy!

My best tips

I’ve been brewing Chai latte at home for a very long time now, and I feel I’ve learned a few tips during this time. I’m absolutely happy to share them with you, because I want you to be able to enjoy a nice and spicy cup whenever you feel like, and not only when you visit a coffee shop.

GROUND SPICES VS WHOLE SPICES

Firstly, when it comes to making the spice blend, I use them whole whenever possible.

I do feel that ground spices are less potent than whole ones, so I just prefer blending them myself as I need them.

WHOLE CARDAMOM PODS

If you decide to buy whole green cardamom pods, for a stronger taste, and if you have time, you could toast them first on a small pan over medium heat. Just toss them in the pan and make sure to move them around as you toast them, so as not to burn them. After toasting them for a couple of minutes, let them cool down before grounding them, and before adding them to the rest of the spice mix.

not all plant based MILKs will work in this recipe

Cow’s milk tends to have a higher content of fat in it, compared to plant based ones.

If opting for a vegan milk, oat milk is probably your best option if using to make chai latte at home. Not only the mild taste blends perfectly with the spices, but also its consistency is creamy and will froth better than other types of non dairy milks.

Naturally you can try different milks, and play around with different brands, but I honestly would not recommend rice milk or almond milk as they tend to be more watery.

A good option could be to buy the “barista” version of your favourite milk, as they have higher contents of fats and therefore will work better in this recipe.

STRAIN THE TEA WELL

Before storing your tea in the fridge, it is really recommended to run it through a fine mesh strainer or a cheese cloth. Do not skip this step or you will end up with a horrible powered at the bottom of your jar, and in your chai latte.

What kind of tea is used for chai tea?

Generally speaking, you should use a blend of black tea to brew chai tea or latte. You can use loose tea leaves for a better and deeper flavour. However, if that’s not an option, black tea bags are just as good.

In my opinion, black tea is the only type you can use to make a proper chai tea, and I would not recommend you use herbal teas for this purpose.

ADDING EXTRA SWEETENER

If you prefer to add extra sweetener to your chai latte, make sure to do so while you are warming up the milk, and before frothing it. This little tip will make sure your milk will stay fluffy and frothy when you add it to the pre made tea.

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IS CHAI TEA VEGAN? CONCLUSIONS

If you follow a vegan lifestyle, you should not feel that chai latte or chai tea are beyond your reach. Swapping a few simple ingredients is very easy, and can be achieved whether you are at home, or enjoying a chat with friends in a cafe.

Let me know if you decide to give my recipe a go, and please leave a comment below to let me know if you liked it. I’d love to know if you have changed it a bit to suit your taste!