This easy chocolate chai latte comes together in minutes and simply combines chai tea bags, cacao powder, oat milk, sweetener and the optional extra spices. It makes for a warming cup of tea that's ultra creamy and packed with a delicious combo of dark chocolate + aromatic chai flavors. This recipe is naturally vegan and dairy-free.
Here is a new Starbucks-inspired drink that we absolutely love: Chocolate Chai Latte!
I love making my own treats from all the fun and creative Starbucks's drink menu. Just to name a few, I enjoy these Starbucks-style peanut butter coffee (sometimes on their secret menu) and cardamom latte in the Winter. But now that the summer is just around the corner, I know I'll be making lots of Acai strawberry lemonade and matcha lemonade.
And this new chai latte with chocolate is another favorite that will be made on repeat!
Ok, I say with chocolate, but actually, this recipe uses raw cacao powder to bring that yummy dark chocolate flavor. It makes for a healthier recipe with less added sugar and a lot of antioxidants.
The cacao powder pairs with chai tea and extra spices, such as star anise, cardamom pods and cinnamon sticks. If you don't have these spices handy, don't worry I'll share a few more options.
All you have to do is briefly simmer the spices in water, then use this spiced-up water to steep the chai tea bags. Then, stir in the cacao powder and sweetener before assembling with foamy warm oat milk. So easy, quick and delicious!
Let me know if you give it a try! ❤️
What is chai
Chai means "tea" in Hindi, and comes from the word "Cha" from China (that also means "tea" in Chinese). Nowadays, chai often refers to a blend of different aromatic spices that are served in the form of tea. To refer to a chai tea made with spices, then the term "masala chai" is more correct.
Fun fact: It is believed that Chai has been used for a very long time (more than 5000 years!) for healing properties. Chai started as an herbal medicinal drink (ordered by a king in India) instead of a beverage you enjoy for fun or its taste. Herbs and spices were steeped in water to help treat all sorts of ailments, such as pain, mood disorders and blood circulation and respiratory issues.
You can now order chai latte in most coffee shops, which looks quite different from how chai was served centuries ago. The popular chai tea drink of today usually includes spices, black tea, milk and a sweetener, which is somewhat similar to how you serve a coffee latte.
Chai spices typically combine cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves, star anise, black peppercorn and fennel. There are many different kinds of chai spice mix, which vary depending on geographical region and cultural influence.
Why you should try this recipe
- Easy and quick recipe, all done within 15 minutes
- Amazing hot drink filled with warming spices to keep you cozy on a cold day
- Highly customizable
- Healthy spiced tea: rich in antioxidants and free of artificial flavors!
- Delicious dark chocolate flavor meets aromatic chai spices for such a tasty match
- Creamy and rich consistency
- Uses creamy oat milk, making it fully vegan and dairy-free
Ingredients you will need
(All the detailed ingredients are in the recipe card below)
- Chai tea bags: this recipe uses already chai spices-flavored tea bags to ensure the spice flavor is strong. I used the rooibos chai tea from the brand Numi. This is a caffeine-free tea, making it ok for kids to enjoy or to sip on in the evening. You can use any chai tea that you like, such as chai black tea (which would add delicious earthy notes to this drink).
- Spices: I used a combination of cardamom pods, star anise and cinnamon sticks. If you don't have whole spices, then you can also add a pinch of ground spices instead. Ceylon cinnamon will give you a stronger and more authentic flavor compared to Cassia cinnamon, just something to keep in mind.
- Raw cacao powder: unsweetened cocoa powder works well too. Raw cacao powder is less processed than cocoa, meaning that it carries more antioxidants. I also like how it adds a more intense chocolatey flavor.
- Plant-based milk: I use oat milk from Oatly for making drinks since it is creamy, thick and naturally a little sweet. It also foams beautifully! You can also use other plant-based milks, such as almond milk (mild nutty flavor), cashew milk (creamier), soy milk (higher in protein) and even coconut milk (the most creamy and with a yummy flavor).
- Maple syrup: great liquid sweetener for making drinks and the maple flavor goes great with all the chai spices. Brown sugar would work too.
How to make a dark chocolate chai latte
(Keep scrolling down for the full recipe in the recipe card)
Simmer the spices
Pour the water into a small pot and then add the cinnamon stick, star anise and cardamom pods. Cover and bring to a simmer. Keep simmering on medium heat for about 5-10 minutes.
Steep the tea
Turn off the heat, uncover and add the tea bags. Cover and let the tea steep for 5-7 minutes. Once done, remove the tea bags and the whole spices.
Add the cacao powder and sweetener, then stir to combine.
Froth the hot milk
Warm up the oat milk and froth, if desired. I like to use a hand-held frother as seen in the video.
Assemble
Divide the chai tea between 2 mugs and then top it off with the frothed warm milk. Sprinkle some ground spices over and enjoy!
Helpful tips
- You can sift the cacao powder into the water to avoid lumps, although the warm water helps make sure the powder dissolves well.
- If you do not have whole spices, then feel free to swap for ground spices. In that case, you do not have to simmer the spices in water first. Simply steep the tea in the hot water and add the ground spices when you add the cacao powder. Great spices include cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, cloves and ginger. A chai spice mix would be perfect here as well. Start with a pinch of each and adjust the amount to your preference.
- For an extra strong chai flavor, you can add more whole spices to the water or simply simmer them for longer.
- To froth the milk, I like to use a hand-held frother: it is cheap (10$!), easy to buy online and gives a great foam without having to use expensive fancy equipment. If you have an espresso machine, then you can simply use the frother attached to it.
How to make an iced chocolate chai latte recipe
Just like making a dirty chai latte, you can turn this recipe into an iced chocolate chai latte drink very easily. To make it that way:
- Simmer the spices, steep the tea and add the cacao powder and sweetener as described. Then, transfer the chocolate chai tea into the fridge to cool it down before serving.
- When ready to serve, foam the cold oat milk.
- Pour the cooled-down chocolate chai tea into a glass filled with ice cubes.
- Top it off with the foamy oat milk.
- Stir and enjoy!
Serving suggestions
This drink is amazing if you can froth the oat milk as it will create a beautiful foamy layer over your drink. This is my favorite way to serve it. But, if you don't have a frother, no worries, you can also just pour the warm oat milk over the tea.
Once served, feel free to garnish your drink with more goodness, such as:
- Whipped cream: I like making my own whipped cream using canned coconut milk, but this oat milk whipped cream is great too and more convenient.
- Grated dark chocolate: add some shaved chocolate over your drink for a nice look but also to add more chocolatey flavor as it melts into the warm tea.
- Spices: add a sprinkle of cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom when serving.
Variations
This recipe makes for an easy drink to customize to your preference. Here are a few variations:
- Dirty chocolate chai latte: add a shot of espresso for a boost of caffeine.
- Vanilla chai hot chocolate: this drink would be great with some vanilla extract. Add ¼ teaspoon to the warm milk.
- Orange chocolate chai latte: feel free to include some orange zest when adding the whole spices for a nice zesty twist to your drink.
- Spicy chocolate chai latte: my husband likes his drink with some heat, so I'll often include a pinch of cayenne pepper and a few crack of black peppercorns. Try it, it is amazing!
FAQs
Can I use chocolate instead of cacao powder?
Yes! This would make for a very decadent drink! Simply omit (or reduce) the cacao powder and add chopped dark chocolate to the warm water. Then stir to help melt it within the tea. You might also want to adjust the amount of sweetener.
Is there caffeine in this drink?
The amount of caffeine will depend on what type of chai tea you use. I used caffeine-free rooibos chai tea so I could share it with my kids. Chai black tea is another popular type of chai tea and contains some caffeine. Make sure to check on your packaging to see how much caffeine yours has. As a side note, raw cacao powder also contains some caffeine (20-25 mg of caffeine for 2 tablespoons).
Similar recipes to try
- Cinnamon milk tea
- Pink latte
- Orange peel tea
- Chai latte smoothie
- Turmeric hot chocolate
- Pumpkin spiced milk
- Strawberry latte
- Lavender milk tea
- Hemp chocolate milk
- Oat milk hot chocolate
I hope you like this chocolate chai latte recipe as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it was. Your feedback is so helpful!
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📖 Recipe
Chocolate Chai Latte
Equipment
- Milk frother optional
Ingredients
- 3 cups water
- 3 bags chai tea - I used caffeine-free Rooibos chai tea, but Chai black tea is great too
- 1 cup oat milk - I used full-fat oat milk from Oatly
- 2 tbsp maple syrup - or to taste
- 2 tbsp raw cacao powder - cocoa powder works too
Optional additions
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 star anise
- 2 cardamom pods
Instructions
- Skip this step if not using whole spices (see notes): Add the water to a small saucepan and then add the cinnamon stick, cardamom pods and star anise. Cover, then bring to a simmer. Let the spices simmer for 5-10 minutes.
- Then, turn off the heat and add the tea bags. Steep for 5-7 minutes. Then, remove the spices and bags of tea.
- Add the cacao powder and maple syrup to the tea and stir to combine. Set aside.
- Warm up the oat milk and froth (optional).
- To serve, pour the chocolate chai tea into 2 mugs, then top it off with the warm oat milk. Stir and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- If you are not using whole spices, then simply warm up the water and then steep the tea bags. You can also add some ground spices when you add the cacao powder to boost the chai flavor. A pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom and ginger would work well.
- You can also use some dark chocolate: simply chop and add to the warm tea, then stir to melt. In that case, omit or significantly reduce the cacao powder and adjust the sweetener accordingly depending on how sweet your chocolate is.
- To make an iced chocolate chai latte: allow some time for the spiced chai chocolate tea to cool down in the fridge and skip warming up the milk. To serve, pour the chocolate chai mixture over a tall glass filled with ice cubes and top it off with cold oat milk (frothed or not).
- Nutrition: please note that the nutritional information is an estimate per serving provided for informational purposes only (calculated by software) and accuracy is not guaranteed. Consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if you need precise nutrition calculations for health reasons.
NUTRITION
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