Chai lattes are something I like to get when I want something creamy with a little bit of spice and some caffeine as well. Every chai made will be slightly different in terms of flavor since the amount and type of spices used will vary. But, one good thing about making your own chai is that you can adjust the spices to your exact preferences. Though, you are of course welcome to save some time and use premade chai spice mixes or even use premade boxed chai and then just mix in your cocoa powder.
You can also have the best of both of these options by preparing your spices ahead of time and then grinding them up and storing them in an airtight container until you’re ready to use them. You could then premix the cocoa powder into this as well and have an all-in-one mix ready to go whenever you are craving some chocolate chai.
When choosing what milk to use for this drink, you can use whatever milk you prefer, but because the aromatics from the spices are fat soluble, I recommend using whole milk or a milk substitute with some fat to help draw out as much of the spice flavors as possible. And you can also use chocolate milk instead, if you want to make this extra chocolate-y.
Speaking of, the chocolate flavor adds a nice balance to the heavily spiced chai and adds a nice decadence, making this drink a cool sweet treat to enjoy on a hot summer day. Though, this recipe is essentially an iced spiced hot chocolate. So, if you’re craving a hot version of this drink during the cooler months, you can follow this same recipe to make a hot sweet treat to enjoy on a cold winter night as well!
But regardless of if you enjoy it hot or cold, this sweet and spiced chocolate chai drink will be a great way to cap off a day of hard work out in the summer sun or winter winds, with a delicious cooling or warming treat.
Ingredients:
- 1-2 tbsp loose leaf (or 3-4 teabags) black or chai tea
- Some chai spices (either whole or ground)
- 1 Cinnamon Stick (1 tbsp ground cinnamon)
- 3-4 cloves (½ tbsp ground cloves)
- 6 cardamom seeds (½ tbsp ground cardamom)
- 1 star anise (1 tsp ground star anise)
- 1 tsp black peppercorns
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp coriander seeds
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup milk of choice
- 4-6 tbsp cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp honey, sugar, maple syrup, or sweetener of choice
- Some ice
- Some whipped cream (optional)
- Some mini chocolate chips (optional)
Step 1: Prepare & Toast Whole Spices
First, we’ll prepare the chai tea, so for your spices, for any whole spices, give them a smash with the back of your knife or rolling pin or if you’re strong enough, break them apart with your hands into pieces.
And then in a dry pot, give them a toast over medium heat until fragrant.
Just make sure you don’t burn your spices, otherwise your chai will be very bitter.
Step 2: Add in Water, Milk, Ground Spices, & Cocoa Powder; Bring to Boil, Stirring Occasionally; Then Add Tea & Seep for 3-5 Minutes
Then, to your pot, add in your water, milk, any of your ground spices, and cocoa powder.
Give this a stir until everything is dissolved and then heat this until it starts to bubble. During this time, make sure to give the chai a stir, scraping the bottom to avoid scalding the milk.
And then when the milk comes to a boil, turn off the heat and add in the loose leaf or tea bags, give this a stir and cover this and let it seep for 3-5 minutes.
Step 3: Stir in Sweetener of Choice, Strain Out Whole Spices & Tea Leaves, Then Chill in Fridge Until You’re Ready to Serve it
Next, stir in your sweetener of choice, give this a taste, adjusting as needed, and then let this cool for a few minutes before straining out any whole spices as well as the loose leaf tea or tea bags.
Then, place your chai in the fridge for up to a week until you’re ready to serve it.
Step 4: Garnish w/ Whipped Cream, Chocolate Chips, etc., as Desired, & Enjoy!
When you’re ready to serve your drink, in a glass filled with ice, pour in your chilled chai, add your whipped cream, chocolate chips, and/or any other garnish you wish, and with that, your Iced Chocolate Chai is ready to drink.