There’s something truly comforting about a warm, spiced drink that wraps you up like a cozy blanket on a chilly day. This Homemade Chai Latte Recipe brings together sweet honey, fragrant spices, and creamy milk for a cozy treat you’ll want to make again and again.

The image shows two white ceramic mugs filled with a drink topped with frothy white foam and a dusting of light brown cinnamon powder on one side. Each foam surface has a whole star anise centered on the cinnamon side. Around the mugs, there are several round, dark brown cookies with a rough texture placed on a white marbled surface, along with scattered cinnamon sticks and star anise for decoration. The scene is bright and clean, focusing on the cozy and warm drink setup photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Homemade Chai Latte Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Homemade Chai Latte Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Homemade Chai Latte Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’m genuinely excited to share this Homemade Chai Latte Recipe because it’s not only simple but endlessly satisfying. The blend of spices warms you up from the inside out, and making it fresh at home beats anything store-bought by miles.

Authentic Flavor: This recipe uses classic spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger that capture chai’s traditional warmth perfectly.
Customizable Sweetness: You control the sweetness by adjusting honey or maple syrup, so it’s just how you like it.
Easy to Make Ahead: The chai concentrate can be steeped ahead of time and stored, making your morning routine much smoother.
Creamy & Comforting: Using your favorite milk type, whether dairy or plant-based, makes it satisfying and suitable for many diets.

Two white ceramic mugs filled with foamy milk and coffee sit on a white marbled surface. Each mug has a thick layer of white foam on top. One mug has a dusting of brown cinnamon powder on half the foam and a brown star anise in the center. The other mug has cinnamon powder fully covering the foam with a star anise on top. Near the mugs are several cinnamon sticks and star anise scattered on the surface. A beige cloth is partially visible at the bottom left corner. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient here plays a role in building that signature chai latte experience. The spices harmonize beautifully, while honey adds natural sweetness that softens the boldness of the tea. Picking good quality spices and fresh tea bags makes all the difference.

Flat lay of a small pile of golden honeycomb next to a small white ceramic bowl of ground cinnamon, a small white bowl of ground ginger, and a small white bowl of ground cardamom, two chai tea bags with visible tea leaves, a simple white ceramic cup filled with steaming boiling water, and a white ceramic cup of fresh cold milk, all arranged symmetrically with perfect proportions, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Honey: I love honey for sweetness because it adds a floral note; maple syrup works great too if you prefer a different flavor.
Ground Cinnamon: This spice brings warmth and a hint of sweetness, a chai essential you want to use fresh and fragrant.
Ground Ginger: A little zing that wakes up your taste buds — opting for fresh ground ginger can intensify the flavor.
Ground Cardamom: The floral and citrusy touch of cardamom gives chai its classic, irresistible character.
Boiling Water: Needed to steep the chai tea bags and release the flavors from the spices.
Chai Tea Bags: A bold black tea base infused with chai spices; choose high-quality brands for a richer taste.
Milk of Choice: Whole milk makes the latte creamy, but oat, almond, or any plant-based milk works beautifully for a dairy-free option.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of my favorite things about making this Homemade Chai Latte Recipe is how flexible it is — you can tweak sweetness, spice levels, and milk choices to match your mood or dietary needs.

Spice Variation: I sometimes add a pinch of nutmeg or cloves for extra depth — try it out and see how it changes the flavor for you.
Dairy-Free Swap: Using oat milk makes the latte beautifully creamy and is perfect if you avoid dairy.
Extra Frothy: If you have a milk frother, don’t hesitate to use it; I swear it turns an already great chai latte into something café-worthy.
Sweetener Switch: Play with maple syrup, agave, or even a bit of brown sugar to find your preferred sweetness tone.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Homemade Chai Latte Recipe

Step 1: Steep the Spiced Chai Concentrate

Start by adding honey and all the ground spices — cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom — into a heat-proof jar or measuring cup. Pour in the boiling water and whisk to dissolve the honey completely. Then, add your chai tea bags and let them steep for at least 15 minutes. This longer steeping time helps all those cozy spices meld perfectly with the tea base, giving you a robust concentrate that's full of flavor but not bitter.

Step 2: Warm and Froth the Milk

While the tea steeps, warm your milk gently on the stove until it’s just about to simmer — no boiling needed. If you’re lucky enough to have a milk frother, now’s the time! Frothing the milk in 1-cup batches gives you that luxurious, airy texture I can’t get enough of. Divide the milk evenly between your favorite mugs.

Step 3: Combine and Enjoy

Top your warmed, frothed milk with the chai concentrate—about one cup per mug works beautifully. Stir gently to marry the flavors and dive in! If you’re not drinking it right away, cool the concentrate completely and store it in the fridge for up to 2-3 days so you can whip up a chai latte without the wait next time.

Top Tip

Over the years of making chai latte at home, I’ve learned a few tricks that turn this simple recipe into something truly special. These tips helped me avoid bland lattes and ensure every cup has the perfect balance.

Long Steeping Time: Don’t rush the steeping — it’s worth waiting 15 minutes or more for deep, rich flavor.
Fresh Spices Matter: Using freshly ground cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom boosts aroma and taste remarkably.
Milk Temperature: Warm milk gently to avoid a burnt taste and preserve creaminess, especially if frothing.
Do the Frothing in Batches: Frothing milk one cup at a time creates better foam and the ideal texture in the drink.

How to Serve Homemade Chai Latte Recipe

Garnishes

On my best chai latte days, I add a sprinkle of cinnamon or a little dusting of ground cardamom on top—it looks pretty and boosts the spice aroma. Sometimes a stick of cinnamon as a stirrer gives a fun visual and extra flavor as you sip.

Side Dishes

I love pairing my homemade chai latte with buttery biscuits or some lightly spiced cookies like ginger snaps. It’s such a soothing combination for a cozy afternoon break or quiet morning ritual.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I like serving the chai in clear glass mugs so the swirling layers of milk and tea are visible. Adding a small sprig of fresh mint or a star anise pod on the side really elevates the experience and impresses guests.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I usually cool the chai concentrate completely and store it in a sealed jar in the fridge, where it keeps well for 2 to 3 days. When I want a quick chai latte, it’s ready to warm and mix, saving time without sacrificing flavor.

Freezing

I haven’t tried freezing the concentrate myself because the spices sometimes change texture and intensity, but if you do freeze it, thaw overnight in the fridge and stir well before reheating.

Reheating

Reheat your chai concentrate gently on the stove or in the microwave on low power to avoid scorching. Then add warmed milk fresh for the best taste and creaminess.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make this Homemade Chai Latte Recipe vegan?

Absolutely! Use maple syrup or agave instead of honey, and swap dairy milk with any plant-based milk, such as oat, almond, or soy, to keep it fully vegan and delicious.

How long can I store the chai concentrate in the fridge?

The chai concentrate keeps well for about 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator when stored in a sealed container, so make sure to use it within that timeframe for the freshest flavor.

Can I adjust the spice levels in this recipe?

Definitely! The spice mix in this recipe is flexible—you can add more cinnamon or ginger for extra warmth or reduce the spices if you prefer a milder chai latte. Just tweak to your personal taste.

What type of tea bags should I use?

I recommend using a good quality black chai tea bag that already includes some spices; this forms the base flavor. If you can find a freshly packed loose-leaf chai blend, even better!

Final Thoughts

This Homemade Chai Latte Recipe quickly became a staple in my kitchen because it’s easy, flavorful, and so comforting. It’s like a warm hug in a mug that you can customize every time. Give it a try—I promise you’ll enjoy making it as much as sipping it, and it might just become your new favorite cozy ritual.