Chai latte – description, recipes for the Italian drink

Chai latte is a traditional Italian tea drink. In its homeland, people like to drink this invigorating tea in the morning, replacing strong coffee. But there are also lovers of this drink who can drink it throughout the day. Despite its apparent complexity, you can make your own spiced tea latte and enjoy it on long autumn-winter evenings.

The delicate taste and sweet-spicy aroma of this drink will not leave anyone indifferent; it seems to melt in the mouth, conquering the taste buds and giving incredible sensations. This tea can give a true feeling of pleasure and enjoyment, but besides this it also has a lot of useful qualities.

Spicy chai latte – what is it?

A spiced chai latte is a tea drink with the addition of milk (cream) and spices, very popular in a number of coffee shops like Starbucks.

Where are you from?

In general, the birthplace of latte, a well-known coffee drink, is Italy. Therefore, it is generally accepted that spicy tea latte also comes from this country.

Compound

Traditionally, this drink includes black or green tea, milk and spices. The latter are most often chosen to include cinnamon, cloves, allspice peas, cardamom pods, and chopped ginger root. This set of ingredients resembles the composition of masala tea, a traditional Indian drink. However, they are not the same thing. Tea latte differs in its preparation technology, some ingredients and, accordingly, taste characteristics.

This spicy drink is served in a number of coffee shops. There it can be presented in several options:

• chai latte made entirely from instant powder mixture;
• a drink made from powder, to which sweet syrups with flavors are added;
• natural tea latte made from tea leaves with the addition of milk and spices.

Revival of culture

The aesthetics of the Italian recipe immerses a person in an atmosphere of calm and comfort. This has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the nervous system. In European countries, tea failed to seize the right to a cult drink. The fast current pace has pushed the ceremony of making the drink to the Asian borders. The essence of the Euro recipe is to fill the teapot with leaves or what is left of them. Later, all these remnants of the “tea heritage” are quickly poured with boiling water.

In the near future, various thermal mugs have become fashionable, from which they drink a sip of the “healing drink”, hastily mixing it with sweets and buns. Aesthetics and culture were completely repressed. The spiced chai latte has the responsibility to revive cultural values, a zeal for healthy eating.

The benefits and harms of the drink

When talking about the benefits and harms of tea latte, it should be borne in mind that we are talking about a drink made from natural ingredients. It makes no sense to discuss the “useful” properties of synthetic mixtures diluted with water.

Benefit

Adding milk to tea increases the nutritional value of the drink. It is also enriched with some beneficial substances included in the ingredients. Tea latte contains important microelements and vitamins (A, E, C, group B). The spicy drink has a bactericidal effect. In addition, he:

1. Helps improve mood, invigorates, and is a source of strength. Helps cope with tension, putting the nervous system in order.
2. Provides improved immunity.
3. Promotes cleansing of impurities and toxins.
4. Leads to an increase in the efficiency of brain activity.
5. Excellent warmth in the cold season.

Contraindications and possible harm

The list of contraindications for drinking latte tea is small, the main one being individual intolerance. The drink, especially with the addition of sweeteners, is quite high in calories, so it is better for overweight people to avoid it (there are exceptions).

Also, some scientists are sure that adding milk to tea is a bad habit, because... this combination can lead to disruption of the digestive system and the formation of kidney stones. However, it is worth saying that this question remains controversial; there is no clear answer to it yet.

Calorie content

The calorie content of tea latte depends on its ingredients and preparation technology. A drink with the addition of sugar, honey, syrups, etc. acquires greater energy value. For example, the calorie content of a 354 ml Starbucks latte is approximately 160 kcal.

Nescafe Dolce Gusto Chai Tea Latte capsule mixture for coffee machine contains 449 kcal in 100 g.

Special Ice Cream Recipes

Varieties and brands

Chai lattes are growing in popularity. Today you can not only prepare it yourself, but also buy the finished product. There are different types of this tea, produced under different brands.

Matcha latte

This is a drink made from Japanese powdered green tea - matcha. The latter is very popular in its homeland and is an obligatory element of the traditional tea ceremony. However, residents of Western countries liked matcha latte more – tea in powder form with the addition of milk. This drink with amazing foam has a softer taste. Often, in coffee shops, various designs are created on the surface of matcha lattes.

The drink is often prepared with almond, soy, coconut or rice milk. Also, to add spicy notes to this tea latte, cardamom, crushed ginger root, and clove buds are added. Honey, syrups, and granulated sugar are used as sweeteners.

A popular brand of matcha-based green tea latte is Green Tea Latte Nokchawon from a Korean company. According to the manufacturer, this drink has good dietary properties. It contains no spices.

Spiced tea latte David Rio Chai

The most popular brand of spicy tea latte is produced by the American company David Rio. Its founders, developing their (at first small) business, drew inspiration from the taste of Indian masala tea. The company has created an easy-to-prepare product that is now known in various parts of the world.

Latte tea from David Rio has different flavors and, as the manufacturer claims, is completely natural. Blends of tea (black, green, white) and various organic additives (mango, honey, spices, etc.) are packaged in tins with a bright design. To get the drink, you need to put latte tea in a mug and add hot water or heated milk to it.

Tea latte for coffee machines

You can prepare the drink using coffee machines and special mixtures suitable for them.

Tassimo Chai Latte

All components of this tea are packaged in so-called T-discs (capsules) intended for use in coffee machines. In Tassimo, as a rule, there are 8 servings, each of which is designed for 245 ml of drink. The taste of the resulting tea is spicy with milky undertones.

Dolce Gusto Chai Latte

Capsules with spiced tea latte are designed for coffee machines of the Swiss brand Nescafe. The product contains tea and milk mixtures separately. The first capsule consists of sugar, milk powder, tea extract, natural spice flavors, coconut and palm oils, soy lecithin (emulsifier). The milk capsule is composed of milk powder, sugar and an emulsifier.

Despite the popularity of the brand, this product has low ratings on well-known review sites.

Choosing spices for tea

As mentioned, tea is made using five basic spices. Be sure to include green cardamom, cloves, black peppercorns, cinnamon and fresh ginger when making your chai latte. You can also add other spices such as star anise or nutmeg to change the flavor.

We recommend using whole spices and grinding them by hand. This way you will achieve the most vibrant taste and aroma. If necessary, you can use ground spices to speed up the cooking process.

Spiced tea latte in coffee shops and restaurants - how they make it there

Perhaps the most popular coffee chain that makes spicy chai lattes is Starbucks. By going to the company’s official page, you can find information about the composition of the drinks and their energy value.

For example, let's look at what is included in a black tea latte (with coconut milk) with the addition of spices and honey from Starbucks:

1. The milk base includes water, coconut milk itself, granulated sugar, stabilizers (E418, E415), E472c. Among other things, it consists of concentrated coconut juice and an acidity regulator.
2. The tea base consists of a concentrate - water, black tea, cardamom, pepper, ginger and its juice, cinnamon, cloves, natural aromatics, anise, granulated sugar, honey, vanilla extract and citric acid (E330).
3. Also one of the basics is water.

Other types of tea lattes at Starbucks are prepared using the same principle. One of the fans of this drink describes it this way: “Chai Tea Latte has a very pleasant, slightly sweet, spicy aroma and harmonious taste. Spices do not overwhelm other ingredients. The taste reveals sweet notes of honey and, apparently, syrup. I think everyone will like this drink.”

You can try a similar tea latte at McCafe - coffee shops and restaurants that belong to McDonald's. But on the official website of “Shokoladnitsa” there is a menu with several types of tea, among which, however, there is no spicy latte. Although, according to some information, this drink in these coffee shops is made based on David Rio products.

Pattern creation technique

The technique called latte art is steadily gaining momentum. Craftsmen create different patterns on the surfaces of coffee drinks. But for the record, lattes are barely decorated. Typically, baristas like to work their magic on cappuccino.

And this is not without reason. As you have already noticed, cappuccino has dense foam, and it is not stirred. And the latte is drunk through foam. Having admired enough of the patterns created by the master, you can safely add sugar to the glass and stir. This is not a violation of the rules for drinking this type of drink.

By the way, many countries hold latte art championships, and at the international level. The competition takes into account: the speed of creating a drawing and complexity. Here are some names of famous artists of this movement. Barista George Sabasta from Australia created a Taj Mahal design on a cup of coffee. The Japanese artist Kazuki Yamomoto also creates masterpieces with coffee and milk foam.

And some Korean restaurants invite their visitors to latte art. Because, with the help of special machines, they can take your portrait.

How to make spiced chai latte at home, recipes

You can prepare this drink at home. There are many ways, but we will consider the following recipe.

For 2 servings you will need:

• 250 ml milk;
• 250 ml purified water;
• 1 slice of orange zest;
• 3 buds of cloves;
• 1 cinnamon stick;
• 3 allspice peas;
• 1 pinch of nutmeg;
• 4 tsp granulated sugar;
• 2 tsp loose leaf black tea.

Cooking steps:

1. A saucepan (saucepan) with milk and water is placed on the stove and heated so that the mixture does not boil.
2. After heating, the zest, all the spices, tea and granulated sugar are placed there. The mixture is simmered over low heat for 3 minutes.
3. The saucepan is removed from the stove. The contents are filtered into another container using a fine sieve or gauze.
4. The drink is whipped with a blender until foam is obtained.
5. Tea latte is poured into beautiful mugs and additionally decorated with spices. It should be drunk immediately after preparation.

You can make a ginger tea latte using the classic recipe. It usually also contains cardamom. And ground ginger root replaces the zest.

To get an amazing drink with light foam, you can use tea bags and marshmallows as a decoration. How to prepare tea latte taking into account these nuances, see the following video:

Classic latte

The classic latte recipe does not require rare and expensive ingredients. They can be found in any store at an affordable price:

• 400 ml milk with fat content 3.2%;
• 1 tbsp. l. cinnamon;
• 1 tbsp. l. black tea;
• cane sugar to taste;
• 1-2 peppercorns;
• 2 cloves of ginger.

You can use a Turk for cooking. Put pepper, black tea, sugar, ginger, cardamom into it and add 50 ml of water. Then turn on the burner and wait until it boils. Then add some of the milk, cinnamon and leave the liquid for 5 minutes.

You need to put tea leaves in the teapot and fill it with the prepared liquid of milk and spices. After this, let the drink sit for another 5 minutes. At this time, the remaining milk must be heated to 50 degrees and then whipped into foam using a coffee machine or French press. After the tea has steeped, pour it into the prepared container, and then add whipped milk.

Although a classic latte consists of many elements, it will not harm your figure. The number of calories depends on the amount of added sugar and the fat content of the milk.

Reviews about the drink

As an example, we recommend reading reviews about spiced tea latte left by visitors to our website using the comment form.

SlastR: “Once I was lucky enough to try David Rio tea with mango. I really liked this drink, so I had to find it and order it on the Internet. The basis for its preparation can be either water or milk. It’s especially tasty when you whip up a milk drink with a blender or cappuccino maker. Although my mother prefers this tea with water. The line has different tastes. But for now I drink it with mango. I can recommend this tea latte, but I recommend starting with the smallest jar, because... It’s not cheap.”

Artefaktof: “I can’t resist David Rio milky black tea with vanilla and spices. Banks “fly away” very quickly. This product has many varieties. Contains tea, sugar, milk. Therefore, if you are a little English, then you should like it. The drink has a rich taste. However, it has a significant drawback - it is very expensive: approximately 1 thousand rubles. for 400 g."

Chai lattes are becoming increasingly popular. Its main task is not to cure any disease, but to give a person a good mood, give him vigor, and inspire him to new achievements. So drink quality tea latte and just enjoy life – it’s wonderful!

Beneficial features

Tea latte not only has a surprisingly mild taste, inimitable aroma and airy-light consistency, but the drink has many beneficial properties. Tea is rich in vitamins and microelements that nourish the human body and have a positive tonic effect on it.

See also: The healing properties of monastery tea: myth or reality

By drinking just one cup of chai latte, you can not only lift your mood, but also get a boost of energy and vigor for the whole day. The main beneficial properties of tea are:

• The ability to obtain the elements necessary for the body contained in milk and tea;
• Raises tone, replenishes vitality;
• Copes well with bad mood and depression;
• Saturates the body with calcium, which perfectly strengthens bones, hair and nails, stabilizes the functioning of the heart, normalizes metabolic processes;
• The tea contains various spices that can have a bactericidal effect;
• Strengthening the immune system thanks to antioxidant properties;
• The ability to compensate for the deficiency of vitamins A and B1, 6, 12, as well as E and C;
• Cleansing the body of toxins, removing toxins;
• Improves appetite;
• Has a beneficial effect on the nervous system, calms and relaxes.

As you can see, tea latte is truly a unique drink. You can drink it in the morning at breakfast to perk up, at lunch to replenish your energy reserves, or in the evening to simply relax.

General information about matcha latte

Thanks to its healing properties, matcha latte has gained popularity in different countries around the world. It is appreciated by show business stars and bloggers who prefer a healthy lifestyle. One striking example is the popular American actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who initiated the spread of this drink in the United States.

In addition to the fact that matcha latte is similar in appearance to foamy coffee, it is also not inferior to it in terms of impact, giving the same charge of energy and strength.

This tea is effective for weight loss. But most importantly, matcha latte is suitable for everyone who cares about their health and will complement your diet.

History of the origin of matcha latte

Despite the fact that matcha latte is a good tradition in Japan, its historical homeland can be called China. In the distant X century. followers of Buddhism invented an innovative method of creating tea. A special variety was grown in the shade, then the tea leaves were collected, dried and ground into a powder that resembled powder.

In modern times, matcha latte's journey around the globe continued, and it gradually gained worldwide fame. An additional touch in some countries was the addition of milk, which gave the drink a softer taste, since it was originally bitter and specific.

Composition and calorie content

Ground tea is used as the base for matcha latte. Its difference from other green teas is that it has a higher content of nutrients. This happens thanks to the special technology of its manufacture.

Matcha latte contains:

• magnesium;
• calcium;
• potassium;
• fluorine;
• iodine;
• iron;
• vitamins E, P, A, C;
• alimentary fiber;
• other nutrients.

And the content of antioxidants in it is several tens of times higher than in its traditional counterpart. Such a rich composition has a beneficial effect on human health. The average calorie content is 78 kcal per 100 ml.

Taste characteristics

The unique taste of this product combines the properties of green tea and latte coffee: sweetish, invigorating, aromatic. Milk gives tea a more delicate, soft taste. Therefore, matcha latte is loved by both green tea and cappuccino connoisseurs.

Assorted green tea.