Most people think of coffee when you mention a latte. I have to remind myself to add the word ‘tea’ in front of ‘latte’ when ordering from a coffee shop. I love simple tea from a teapot with a bit of honey. I love iced teas of all flavors. But most of all I love a warm and creamy tea latte. As the weather turns cooler, I cherish my tea time with even more delight.
My daughter orders herbal tea lattes from the coffee shop, while I am more likely to order an earl grey, chai, or jasmine latte. When at home we make herbal tea lattes in the evening, after dinner.
Anything you order from a café or a tea/coffee shop, you can make at home. With more time at home than ever before, it’s time you learn how to make all of your favorites. Many of these recipes can be used for coffee lattes as well, for your family members who prefer the strong taste of a fine coffee. Or when you want a jolt of caffeine to perk you up and help you through your day.
What is a Tea Latte?
In the simplest terms, a tea latte is a tea mixed with steamed milk. Many prefer a sweetener to be added. Chocolate milk can be added to bold teas (chai spice and black tea blends) and there will be no need to add a sweetener. Check out the sweetener and milk options at the end of this article. Experiment until you find the ones you adore.
Supplies
- A tea kettle for the stove, electric tea kettle, or simply choose a small pot to boil water.
- Frother is optional. Can substitute a whisk if you have not upgraded your tea supplies.
- Spoon (I prefer a tall iced teaspoon for mixing).
- Sweetener of choice.
- Milk of choice.
Tea Latte Recipes
Herbal Tea Latte
If you are living caffeine-free as a temporary health goal or a forever way of life, you can enjoy a creamy, hot tea latte that will inspire the feeling of a cup of caffeine without the guilt. The addition of steamed milk will add extra protein and will fill you up. Experiment with different milk varieties even if you are a dairy fan. Oat and coconut milk (from a carton) do not whip up as well as almond and dairy milk. So, if you enjoy a thick foamy milk topping, choose wisely.
Ginger, Lemon, and Rose Latte
This delightful tea is delicious while also beneficial to the immune system. You can prepare it in several ways.
If you have fresh ginger:
Peel a thumbnail size piece of ginger. Chop into small pieces and add to a small saucepan. Add two cups of water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer and cover for 7-10 minutes. If you do not cover to simmer, you will lose precious ginger tea as it evaporates.
Strain the ginger out of the tea. Add ½ to 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice and a ½ teaspoon of rose loose-leaf tea. Steep for 10 minutes and strain. Honey is the preferred sweetener for this tea, due to its healing properties. Rose sugar and lavender syrup would also be delicious in this tea. Steam or froth your milk and add ¼ to ½ cup to your mug and enjoy!
If you have powdered ginger: Boil 2 cups of water. Remove from stove. Add ¼ teaspoon of ginger powder and mix well. Add ½ to 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice and a ½ teaspoon of rose loose-leaf tea. Steep for 10 minutes and strain. Finish with your sweetener and steamed milk.
This lovely combination of Mint, Chamomile, Lavender, and Moringa is delicious and soothing. Full of health benefits, this tea is good for your immune system, heart health, and adds digestive support. Steep this tea for 4 to 30 minutes to come up with the perfect flavor for you. I love adding lavender syrup to this creamy latte, with almond or oat milk. Choose your favorite combinations of sweeteners and milk.
Earl Grey and Lavender
Boil a cup of water and add loose-leaf earl grey and culinary lavender. Only steep for 4 minutes or you will end up with a bitter tea. My favorite way to drink this tea is steaming hot with honey or lavender syrup and frothy whipped almond milk. I find almond milk to be the frothiest and foamiest of the dairy-free milk choices. I use a hand-held frother and turn it on in the pan of warmed milk after the fire is turned off.
When you want to be good to your digestive tract, steep and enjoy this You, Me, & Uni blend of red clover, cornflower petals, comfrey leaf, and dandelion. This caffeine-free tea is wonderful as an after-dinner tonic. You can steep this tea for 10 – 30 minutes for a stronger brew. Add extra sweetener when serving to kids for a magical tummy-ache potion.
Golden Milk
Drink your medicine with this delicious, creamy blend of spices and warm milk.
I mix turmeric, cardamom, and cinnamon. After I steam my milk, I add one teaspoon of this spice blend and mix very well. I then add maple syrup for some bold sweetness. There is no need to steep or strain. If this drink sits for too long, the spices will gather at the bottom. Just use your handy portable frother to stir it back up!
Chai Latte
Chai is perhaps the most popular tea latte in the world. Depending on where you consume this creamy, sweet, hot beverage, the flavor will differ. If you have never had homemade chai with fresh tea and spices, you are in for a treat. This drink will not taste like the sugar-overload chai’s you order from Starbucks.
Chai tea bags come in several varieties and usually contain black tea. Some include black pepper for more spice. Tumeric is a great addition to chai and will add more warmth to your drink, as well as immune-boosting and anti-inflammation benefits. Several tea companies make loose-leaf chai blends, creating a more robust flavor than the smaller tea leaves of a teabag.
Caffeine-free Chai:
Steam milk and then add cloves, ginger, cardamom, and cinnamon. Maple syrup is my favorite sweetener for chai, due to its bold flavor.
Milk Choices
Milk choices are plentiful these days! When adding dairy milk to your tea lattes, consider buying from local farmers and choosing organic for the best health choice. For the vegans and lactose-intolerant, try:
- Almond milk
- Oat milk
- Coconut milk
- Soy milk
- Cashew milk
- Hemp milk
*If frothing milk to add to a latte, avoid coconut milk from a carton and oat milk as they do not form foam very well.
Sweeteners
Sweetener choices are endless these days. You can choose from raw organic sugar, local honey, pure maple syrup, agave syrup, monk fruit sugar, stevia, several artificial sweeteners, white sugar, and coconut sugar. There are also many flavors of syrups to add to tea, including the standard simple syrup. Make your own or buy from specialty shops.
Consider ordering tea from You, Me, and Uni, hand-crafted by a master herbalist, Jennifer Vollbrecht. Drink it hot as a latte, make it cold, or mix it in a mocktail for a non-alcoholic treat. Purchase Meditative State of Mind or Know Your Gut, Trust Your Gut for two amazing tea blends already prepared for your benefit! They make incredible Holiday gifts.
Anastacia Elizabeth Walden is a writer, editor and the owner of Walden Writes For Women.
