If you love the iced pumpkin chai latte, you’ll enjoy the Dirty Chai Latte! This warm and bold coffee drink combines rich espresso with fragrant chai spices, creating a perfect balance of sweet and spicy.
Contents
Dirty Chai Latte recipe
Dirty chai latte combines the aromatic spices of traditional chai tea with the bold kick of espresso. This combination creates a harmonious and unique fusion of spices and coffee.
This drink boasts a smooth, milky texture complemented by a blend of fragrant spices, like cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and black pepper. With the addition of espresso, it provides a delightful caffeine boost. It’s a perfect morning drink, as well as an afternoon pick-me-up.
This dirty chai latte pairs perfectly with classic breakfast pastries like croissants, muffins, and cinnamon rolls. For a crunchy contrast, try British-style butter biscuits, ginger snaps, or biscotti. Cakes like banana bread, lamingtons, gulab jamun cheesecake, chocolate treats, and dark chocolate truffles are great choices.
For savory options, try Indian snacks like samosas, pakoras, and chutney paneer wraps. You can enjoy the drink with spiced nuts like almonds and cashews. Creamy desserts like cheesecakes, vanilla sponge cake, or affogato also work well.
This is how to make the dirty chai latte – a bold, creamy, and spiced drink.
Dirty Chai Latte
Nutrition
Ingredients
For the Chai Tea
- 2 cups water
- 2 black tea bags or 2 tablespoons loose black tea
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 4-5 whole cloves
- 4-5 green cardamom pods crushed
- 1- inch piece of fresh ginger sliced (or 1 teaspoon ground ginger)
- 1-2 tablespoons sugar or sweetener of your choice adjust to taste
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract optional
For the Latte
- 2 shots of espresso about 2 ounces
- 1 cup milk of your choice dairy, almond, oat, etc.
- Ground cinnamon for garnish
Instructions
Make the Chai Tea
- In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil.
- Add the black tea bags (or loose black tea) along with the cinnamon stick, cloves, cardamom pods, and ginger.
- Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 10 minutes to allow the flavors to steep.
- Add sugar (or sweetener) and vanilla extract (if using) to taste. Stir well.
- Strain the chai tea into a separate container, discarding the spices and tea bags. Set aside.
Make the Latte
- Brew 2 shots of espresso using your preferred method (espresso machine, stovetop, etc.).
- In a small saucepan, heat 1 cup of milk over medium heat until steaming (but not boiling). You can froth the milk using a frother, whisk, or by shaking it in a jar if you want a frothy texture.
- In a large mug, combine the prepared chai tea and the espresso shots. Stir well to blend the flavors.
- Pour the steamed milk over the chai and espresso mixture, holding back the foam with a spoon if you want to layer it.
- Top with any remaining froth and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon for garnish.
- Enjoy your warm, bold Dirty Chai Latte as a comforting treat any time of day!
SIMILAR RECIPES:
Variations
There are many versions of this dirty chai latte. You can try these suggestions below:
- Iced Dirty Chai Latte uses cold brew coffee instead of hot espresso for a smoother, less acidic flavor. The chai concentrate is mixed with the cold brew over ice, then topped with cold milk or a dairy-free alternative.
- Vegan Options use vegan milk like oat milk, almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk, or cashew milk. However, if you want a better frothing experience, oat milk is a better option.
- Green Tea Version uses green tea for a lighter flavor.
- Spice Intensity Adjustments
- Add a pinch of nutmeg for warmth
- Incorporate star anise for a licorice-like flavor
- Sprinkle in some allspice for complexity
- Grate fresh ginger for an extra kick
- Dust with cocoa powder for a mocha-chai fusion
- Irish Dirty Chai Latte includes Irish cream or whiskey for added richness.
- Seasonal and Specialty Variations incorporate seasonal flavors into chai blends.
- Pumpkin spice dirty chai adds pumpkin puree and extra cinnamon.
- Peppermint mocha dirty chai adds peppermint extract and cocoa.
- Lavender honey dirty chai infuses honey with lavender.
- Mango lassi dirty chai blends with mango puree.
These variations not only enhance the flavor profile but also provide a festive touch to your daily coffee ritual.