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Vegan Chai Latte

Our inspired take on classic Indian chai lattes! Creamy, plant-based, perfectly spiced, and customizable to taste. The perfect warm drink for chilly winter days.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 2 (chai lattes)
Calories: 36 kcal
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Indian , Vegan

Ingredients

  • 2 cups water
  • 1 heaping Tbsp loose leaf black tea*
  • 2 Tbsp whole chai spice blend* (use less if ground)
  • Cane sugar, maple syrup, or other sweetener of choice (to taste)*
  • 1 cup unsweetened dairy-free milk (more to taste)
  • Coconut whipped cream (for topping)
  • 1/2 scant cup raw cashews (optional // soaked in cool water overnight or very hot water 1 hour - then drained)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Add water, tea and spices to a saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer for another 10-15 minutes to fully steep.
  2. Remove from heat and add almond milk and sweetener of choice and stir. Warm for 2-3 minutes off the heat, and then pour over 2 serving mugs (amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) using a fine mesh strainer.
  3. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more sugar or maple syrup (or honey if not vegan) for sweetness, and ground cinnamon for a little extra warmth.
  4. OPTIONAL: For extra creamy texture, add your chai tea mixture + soaked cashews to a blender and blend until creamy and smooth. Taste and adjust sweetness/seasonings as needed. I added more sweetener, ground cinnamon and ground ginger for extra spice.
  5. Either reheat briefly on the stovetop or microwave and serve. Heat modestly as the mixture can thicken quite a bit when reheated for too long (due to the cashews). If it gets too thick, thin with more almond milk or water.
  6. Top with coconut whip and a dash of cinnamon and serve. Leftovers keep well covered in the fridge for up to a few days, though best when fresh.

Notes

  • *If you don’t have loose leaf tea, use 2-3 black or chai tea bags per 1 Tbsp loose leaf tea.*For the whole chai spice blend, we used a store-bought mix that is no longer available. It was made with cardamom pods, fennel seeds, cloves, black pepper, cinnamon, and ginger. If you can't find a similar store-bought blend, you can reference our newer Easy Masala Chai, or try with ground spices (see next note).*Chai spice blend (if using ground spices): 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp ginger powder, 1/2 tsp each black pepper, ground cloves + cardamom (more tips at The Kitchn). Mix these spices together and then add according to desired spiciness.*Don’t forget to adequately sweeten. If it’s overly spiced and under-sweetened, it’s a no go. When in doubt, add a little more sugar, maple syrup, agave or sweetener of choice.*Nutrition information is a rough estimate for 1 of 2 lattes calculated with 1 Tbsp sugar and without cashews.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1chai latte Calories 36 (2%) Carbohydrates 5g (2%) Protein 0.5g (1%) Fat 1.8g (3%) Saturated Fat 0.2g (1%) Trans Fat 0g Cholesterol 0mg (0%) Sodium 292mg (12%) Fiber 0.5g (2%) Sugar 3.8g (8%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 2(chai lattes)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 36

% Daily Value*

Serving 1chai latte
Calories 36 2%
Carbohydrates 5g 2%
Protein 0.5g 1%
Fat 1.8g 3%
Saturated Fat 0.2g 1%
Trans Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 292mg 12%
Fiber 0.5g 2%
Sugar 3.8g 8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.