If you ask me, a matcha chai latte is one of the most underrated morning drinks out there. You get the warm, spiced depth of masala chai paired with the smooth, earthy flavor of matcha in one cozy cup. It's not too strong, not too sweet, and hits that sweet spot every single morning.
Why this Recipe Works
Homemade Chai: There is just something about making your own chai at home that you simply can't beat! This recipe uses spiced chai tea bags for a quick and easy brew that gives you that rich, bold flavor without any extra fuss.
Easy to Make: This matcha chai latte comes together in 5 minutes with simple ingredients. That's quicker than the drive-thru at Starbucks and so much easier on your wallet!
Cozy and Comforting Flavors: The warm spices in the chai, think ginger, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg and allspice, pair so beautifully with the earthy, smooth flavor of matcha. I especially love making this one during the cooler months when I want something cozy in my hands first thing in the morning.
Jump to:
Ingredients
- Hot Water: You can boil the water in a mug in the microwave or heat it up with a tea kettle. Either works great!
- Chai Tea: Use spiced chai tea bags for the perfect flavor. You can find these at most grocery stores, Trader Joe's and Tazo are two of my favorites.
- Hot Milk: For rich and creamy frothed milk, I recommend using whole dairy milk. You can also use your plant-based milk of choice like almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk! I would avoid rice or soy milk as they don't froth as easily and we want that beautiful foamy texture on top.
- Simple Syrup: I like to use simple syrup here, but you could also use honey, pure maple syrup, or a few dashes of sugar. I love using organic lower sugar syrups, I get mine from Portland Syrups!
- Matcha Powder: Use a high quality earthy matcha powder that is organic and pure for the best flavor. Quality really does make a difference here!
- Vanilla Extract: Look for pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste for the best flavor. If you have a vanilla syrup on hand, you could also use that in place of the simple syrup and vanilla extract together.
- Cinnamon: A little dusting of cinnamon on top is the finishing touch. You could also use ground nutmeg, cloves, or ginger if that's what you have on hand.
- Garnish: Totally optional, but a star anise or cinnamon stick makes this drink feel extra special and gives you that real coffeehouse look at home.
See the recipe card for exact quantities.
Instructions
Step 1: Start by steeping your chai tea bags and hot water in your preferred mug of choice for about 3-5 minutes. The longer you steep the chai, the richer the flavor will develop.
Step 2: While the chai tea steeps, heat the milk. If you have an electric milk frother and steamer, add the milk and froth and steam to heat, creating that perfect foamy texture.
Step 3: If you do not have an electric frother and steamer, heat the milk either in the microwave or over the stove top in a small saucepan on medium heat.
Step 4: Once the milk is heated, use an electric handheld frother for about a minute to froth the milk.
Step 5: Once the tea is steeped and the milk is frothed, remove the tea bags and add the simple syrup and a dash of vanilla to your mug
Step 6: In a separate small bowl, add a splash of hot water to the matcha powder and whisk together until fully combined. Set aside.
Step 7: When pouring the frothed milk into the mug, use a spoon to hold back the foam until the end. Pour all of the hot milk in with the chai tea first.
Step 8: Pour the matcha liquid into the mug before adding the milk foam.
Step 9: Then pour the milk foam layer on top at the end to create those beautiful layers.
Step 10: Top with a dusting of cinnamon and garnish with star anise or cinnamon sticks as desired.
Step 11: Enjoy your cozy morning pick me up!
Quick Tip
Chai flavors vary significantly depending on the brand of tea you are using. Flavors like black tea, ginger, cardamom and allspice can be bold or light depending on your brand, so it's worth experimenting a little!
For this matcha chai latte, I have found that if I am using Trader Joe's chai tea, two tea bags works well since those are on the bolder side. If I am using Tazo or another brand, I usually go with three tea bags for the same amount of water to get a stronger flavor.
Also, when it comes to the matcha, don't skip whisking it with a small amount of hot water first before adding it to the cup. This makes sure it fully dissolves and you won't end up with clumps in your drink! My Easy Vanilla Chai Latte ~ Perfect Recipe with Tea bags is proof that these small steps make such a difference in the final result!
FAQ
I typically use a tea kettle to heat water on the stove. You could also heat the water in the microwave for about 1 minute until boiling. Either method works well!
Yes! Follow the recipe, but only froth half of the milk. Combine the steeped tea, vanilla, the cold half of the milk, and simple syrup. Pour over ice and then add the matcha whisked with water. Top with the frothed milk. One thing to keep in mind - the hotter the tea, the faster it melts the ice. If you have time, let the tea mixture cool in the fridge first for the best results!
Absolutely! Simply heat 4 oz of your favorite chai concentrate. Tazo chai concentrate works great here. You can also make a homemade chai concentrate by batching the tea, vanilla, and simple syrup combination ahead of time and storing it in the fridge.
Yes, this recipe is really flexible with sweetener. Honey, maple syrup, a vanilla syrup, or even just a few dashes of sugar all work well here. I love using a lower sugar organic simple syrup for a lighter sweetness that doesn't overpower the matcha and chai flavors.
I recommend using a high quality ceremonial or culinary grade matcha that is organic and pure. The quality of the matcha really does impact the flavor. A good matcha will be smooth and earthy without being bitter. You can find great options online or at most health food stores. If you love earthy, cozy drinks like this one, my whole collection of Chai Tea Recipes is a great place to explore next!
Equipment
Electric Frother and Steamer: An electric frother and steamer works best for this recipe to both heat and froth your milk at the same time. An electric handheld milk frother is a great option if you don't have the frother and steamer combo appliance.
Tea Kettle: Use a tea kettle to heat your water, or simply use a microwave.
Bamboo Matcha Whisk: Not required, but it does make it so much easier to fully whisk your matcha with water before adding it to the drink. It also prevents any clumps!
Storage
Since this is a fresh latte, it's best enjoyed right away for the best flavor and foam. If you need to prep ahead, you can batch the chai tea and simple syrup combination and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
When you're ready to enjoy, just reheat the chai mixture, froth fresh milk, and whisk your matcha. It comes together in just a couple of minutes! I do this for my Lavender Chai Tea Latte Recipe ~ How to Make at Home too, and it makes the morning routine so much easier.
Related
Looking for other great drink recipes? Try these:
Pairing
These are some of my other favorite recipes:
Matcha Chai Latte
Ingredients
- ½ c 4 oz boiling hot water
- 2 chai tea bags
- 5 oz hot whole milk a little over ½ c
- ½ teaspoon matcha powder
- 1-2 tablespoon simple syrup
- dash of vanilla extract
- dusting of cinnamon
- garnish with star anise or cinnamon sticks
Instructions
- Start by steeping your chai tea bags and hot water in your preferred mug of choice for about 3-5 minutes. The longer you steep the chai, the richer the flavor will develop.
- While the chai tea steeps, heat the milk. If you have an electric milk frother and steamer, add the milk and froth and steam to heat, creating that perfect foamy texture.
- If you do not have an electric frother and steamer, heat the milk either in the microwave or over the stove top in a small saucepan on medium heat.
- Once the milk is heated, use an electric handheld frother for about a minute to froth the milk.
- Once the tea is steeped and the milk is frothed, remove the tea bags and add the simple syrup and a dash of vanilla to your mug.
- In a separate small bowl, add a splash of hot water to the matcha powder and whisk together until fully combined. Set aside.
- When pouring the frothed milk into the mug, use a spoon to hold back the foam until the end. Pour all of the hot milk in with the chai tea first.
- Pour the matcha liquid into the mug before adding the milk foam.
- Then pour the milk foam layer on top at the end to create those beautiful layers.
- Top with a dusting of cinnamon and garnish with star anise or cinnamon sticks as desired.
- Enjoy your cozy morning pick me up!
Leave a Reply