Spiced Sierra Chai Latte with Cardamom and Cinnamon

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-12 · Updated 2026-05-12

A warming chai latte infused with fragrant cardamom and cinnamon, capturing the essence of Sierra mountain spices in a creamy drink. This Indian-inspired recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, brings together water, black tea leaves, whole milk for a refreshing, crowd-pleasing drink — a bright, easy pour for parties, gatherings, or any warm-weather afternoon when you want something festive without alcohol-only options. Each serving lands at about 150 calories and feeds 3, so it works for entertaining, brunch, or a non-alcoholic option at the bar cart. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 2 tbsp black tea leaves
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 6 cracked green cardamom pods
• 1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick
• 1-inch piece sliced fresh ginger
• 4 whole cloves
• 4 whole black peppercorns
• 3 tbsp brown sugar

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups water to a boil. Add 6 cracked green cardamom pods, 1 cinnamon stick (3-inch), 1-inch sliced fresh ginger, 4 whole cloves, and 4 whole black peppercorns. Reduce heat and simmer spices for 5 minutes to release aroma.
2. Step 2: Add 2 tbsp black tea leaves to the simmering spiced water and steep for 4 minutes until dark and fragrant.
3. Step 3: Strain the tea through a fine mesh sieve into a clean saucepan.
4. Step 4: Stir in 1 1/2 cups whole milk and 3 tbsp brown sugar, then heat over medium just until steaming (do not boil) while whisking to combine.
5. Step 5: Pour into mugs and serve immediately, optionally garnished with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon.