Chocolate Chai Latte
User Reviews
5
Chocolate Chai Latte
Description
This recipe starts by toasting a mixture of whole spices including Ceylon cinnamon, cloves, green cardamom, star anise, black peppercorns, fennel, and coriander seeds, releasing their aroma and flavor. The toasted spices are boiled in water to infuse the liquid, after which heavy cream (or a milk and whipped cream substitute) is added and gently heated without boiling. Dutch-process cocoa powder and vanilla essence are whisked in to introduce deep chocolate notes complemented by sweetener and a pinch of salt to enhance flavors.
The resulting latte is a thick, creamy drink with a vivid balance of warming spices and smooth chocolate. The preparation avoids overcooking to preserve the fresh character of the spices and creaminess of the cocoa mixture.
Adjusting spice quantities or omitting any based on preference is possible, and optional ginger or additional spices can be included cautiously to avoid curdling. This beverage is rich and aromatic, serving as a luxurious alternative to plain hot chocolate or chai tea alone.
The recipe offers flexibility in sweetness and spice intensity, making it adaptable for personal taste and occasion.
Ingredients
Chai Spices
- 1 ceylon cinnamon stick Not to be confused with Cassia Cinnamon
- 7 cloves You can substitute all the spices with a Chai Tea bag (If you don't mind a caffeinated hot chocolate.)
- 12 green cardamom
- 1 star anise
- ¾ teaspoon black peppercorns
- ¼-½ teaspoon fennel green
- ¼ coriander seeds
Chocolate Chai Tea Latte
- 2 Cups water
- 1 Cup heavy cream Substitute: 2 Cups whole milk + 3 Tablespoons whipped cream
- 2-8 Tablespoons Dutch-process cocoa powder unsweetened
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla essence Add this before the sweetener as vanilla can be used as a sugar substitute, or vanilla extract
- 1.5 Tablespoons sugar Substitute: honey, simple syrup, chai syrup, brown sugar syrup or maple syrup.
- Pinch of salt to enhance the flavor, optional
Instructions
- Bash the whole spices with the back of a knife or rolling pin, then toast them in a dry pan till fragrant.Note: if using ginger, don't add till the milk and water have come to a boil, to avoid curdling the ginger
- Add the water and boil for 5 minutes on medium-high or high heat. If adding tea, switch off the fire after boiling, add the tea, cover and steep the tea for 3-5 minutes.
- Bring the fire back to medium or medium-low, then add 1 Cup of heavy cream (or 2 Cups of half-and-half/whole milk, and stir in 3 Tablespoons of whipped cream after the liquid has started steaming.)
- Gently heat till steaming but not boiling. You don't want the temperature to be more than 200F (but honestly, using a food thermometer here is just overkill! Watch for steam rising above your pot- once you see it, it's time to turn the heat down slightly.)
- Whisk in your desired amount of cocoa powder. The more you use, the stronger the chocolate flavor will be (but the more sweetener you will need to use, and the more whisking you will need to do. I've even used 8 Tablespoons previously!)
- Stir in the vanilla, then sweeten to taste and stir in the pinch of salt (if using)
- Pour the drink into a heat-proof mug through a sieve, so that you can get rid of the whole spices. (They're probably good for another boil though, if you're the budgeting sort.)
- Spritz on the whipped cream and decorate with marshmallows, cocoa nibs and cinnamon sticks. Dust cinnamon or cocoa powder and brown sugar on top.
Notes
- Adjust the selected spices and their amounts according to preference; omit any disliked spices.
- Additional spices such as nutmeg, mace, white pepper, ginger, or cayenne can be added carefully, considering cooking temperature to prevent curdling.
- Nutritional information is approximate and automatically generated, so use as a guideline only.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 1Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 1040 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 1040kcal | 52% |
| Carbohydrates | 55g | 18% |
| Protein | 12g | 24% |
| Fat | 90g | 138% |
| Saturated Fat | 56g | 280% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 4g | 24% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 23g | 115% |
| Cholesterol | 269mg | 90% |
| Sodium | 101mg | 4% |
| Potassium | 766mg | 16% |
| Fiber | 14g | 56% |
| Sugar | 27g | 54% |
| Vitamin A | 3533IU | 71% |
| Vitamin C | 7mg | 8% |
| Calcium | 350mg | 35% |
| Iron | 6mg | 33% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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