One benefit of traveling is being able to taste specialties at local diners and coffee shops around the world. While warming up in a charming coffee shop in Stockholm, I tried my first-ever rooibos chai latte. I will never be able to re-create that precise beverage, but this is pretty darned close! And I don’t have to wait in line at a crowded café.
All winter long, I have spices simmering in water on the stove, which makes the house smell amazing and adds moisture to the furnace-heated air. Taking that practice one step further, similar spices create a concentrate with lots of flavor as the base for chai tea. Simmer cinnamon, cloves, and allspice for at least 15 minutes before adding tea. (Be generous with the water, since some of it will evaporate.)
Warmed milk (2%) can be frothed by whichever method you prefer, but this inexpensive little frother came in a french press set many years ago. I use it several times a week, even though the french press is long gone.
This beautiful teapot belongs to my daughter – another thing I get to “babysit” while she lives overseas. 😊
Chai needs a little sweetener, and even though I am not a fan of syrupy frou-frou drinks, this is just the right amount of sweetness.
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Rooibos Chai Latte
Description
Warm, sweet, comforting, and oh-so-wonderful
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp whole cloves
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 3 allspice
- 4 whole cardamom
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 Tbsp rooibos tea (or 4 tea bags)
- Honey or sugar to taste
- 1 cup milk, warmed and frothed
- Raw sugar for garnish
Instructions
- Simmer the cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, and allspice in water for 15 minutes
- Add tea and simmer another 2 minutes before removing from heat, then allow to steep 10 minutes
- Add vanilla and sweetener to taste (I use 1 tsp of honey or maple syrup, or 1/2 tsp monkfruit sugar substitute)
- Warm and froth milk, then filter tea
- Fill each cup halfway with tea, then using a spoon to hold back the foam, pour in warm milk
- Top with milk foam and garnish with raw sugar
- Serves 4, or 2, or 1 — depending on the size of your mug 😂
