Description
This homemade pumpkin chai latte is made with fragrant whole chai spices, brown sugar, and pumpkin puree. Warm, cozy, and perfectly spiced, it’s an easy fall drink made in about 15 minutes from scratch without boxed chai concentrate.
Ingredients
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1/2 teaspoon whole green cardamom pods, about 8 total
- 1/4 teaspoon whole fennel seeds
- 2 whole cloves
- 1 cup water
- 1-inch piece of fresh ginger root, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg, optional
- 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice, optional
- 1-2 teaspoons loose black tea, such as Assam, or 1 black tea bag
- 1 cup oat milk, or other milk of your choosing
- 1-2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean paste, optional
Instructions
Add the cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, fennel seeds, and cloves to a clean kitchen towel, Cover, then crush with a rolling pin or the handle of a knife. Alternatively, use a mortar and pestle.
Add the crushed spices to a small pot along with the water, sliced ginger, nutmeg, and allspice. Set the pot over medium heat and once it reaches a simmer (little bubbles breaking the surface), set a timer for 5 minutes and let it continue to simmer.
After 5 minutes, add the black tea, milk, brown sugar (use 1 tablespoon for less sweet and 2 for more sweet), and pumpkin puree. Stir well, then bring the mixture back to a simmer. Simmer for 2 minutes then remove the pot from the heat.
Strain the tea to remove the whole spices and tea leaves then stir in the vanilla if using. If you have a milk frother, you can froth your chai a bit if you like or top it with some extra frothed milk.
Enjoy immediately! If you are doubling the batch, store leftovers in a bottle in the fridge and enjoy within a week. Enjoy iced or reheat on the stove.
Notes
- The nutmeg and allspice are optional additions as they are added more for a pumpkin spice vibe than being essential to the chai flavor.
- Use 1 tablespoon of brown sugar for a less sweet chai and 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons for a more sweet version. You can use any sweetener you like in place of the brown sugar but I think maple syrup is equally delicious!
- I do not recommend using ground spices in place of the cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and fennel here. They leave a gritty texture and the flavor isn’t as pronounced.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Beverage