6 Tea Latte Recipes You Can Make at Home

Tea lattes are delicious but many assume that this exquisite treat is not something you can make at home. We are here to dispel the myth! 

Delicious tea lattes are actually really easy to make. Tea lattes are very similar to a traditional espresso latte. But instead of using espresso, a tea latte is made using strong tea. The key ingredient in any tea latte is steamed frothed milk. 

There are lots of different types of tea lattes. You can find everything from a blossoming rose tea latte to a yerba mate latte. 

As tea connoisseurs, we often make tea lattes at home so below are some of our favourites tea latte recipes. 

How to Make a Tea Latte

The 2 key ingredients of any tea latte are tea and milk.

First, you must steep your tea for about 5 minutes. Then heat and froth your milk. You can do this by simmering your milk on the oven over medium heat and then whisking it. But be careful. If it boils, it will curdle. Another DIY option is to heat your milk and then put it in a blender to froth.

We prefer to use a milk frother since it is the easiest way to make a tea latte. This milk frother is our favourite. It will heat your milk and froth it at the same time so you don’t have to worry about cleaning up bulky pans or that your milk won’t be frothy enough. It makes it easy to prepare that daily soy chai latte we like so much.

Depending on the recipe or your preferences you may need to add additional ingredients to your homemade latte tea recipe. 

Which Frothed Milk To Use

Everyone has their own preference when it comes to milk. You can use any type of milk for your morning homemade chai latte but they each have their own pros and cons. 

Full fat milk is regarded as the best milk by baristas for their high-fat content. It produces “more stable foam” aka a more creamy cup of latte. However, it is also the least environmentally friendly option. 

If you prefer non-dairy alternatives, as we do, there are a few options. Soy, almond, and oat milk are the most popular milk alternatives. Our favourite type of milk is soy. It doesn’t get as frothy as oat milk but it is easy to find in most supermarkets and cafes worldwide. Almond milk and oat milk both have a mild taste so it really brings out the flavour of your black tea latte.

Best Tea Latte Recipes

Chai Latte

Chai lattes are without a doubt the most popular tea latte out there. Even before the advent of variations like the pumpkin chai latte, it was one of Starbucks most popular drinks. 

If you are wondering how to make chai tea lattes at home, follow these steps. Just remember at any time you can swap out regular milk for your given choice of almond milk chai latte or other milk alternatives. 

This masala chai latte recipe brings us back to our days exploring India and Sri Lanka. When it comes to the chai latte ingredients in this chai tea latte recipe, we use ground spices because they are more commonly found around the house. 

However, you can also muddle the full sized spices with a mortar and pestle prior to starting this latte chai recipe. It releases more flavours for this healthy chai tea latte. 

Chai Latte Ingredients:

• 2 cups water
• 3/4 cup of milk
• 2 black tea bags (or the loose-leaf equivalent) 
• 2 whole cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (add more for a strong cinnamon chai latte taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
• half a teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 2 tablespoon sweetener of choice

Instructions: 

1. In a medium saucepan add the water, black tea, cinnamon, ginger, cardamon, nutmeg, and all spice. Bring to a boil, remove it from the stovetop and let it steep for about 5 minutes.
2. Heat milk and sweetener over medium heat and whisk or use your milk kettle.
3. In a mug combine half chai tea and half milk. Use any leftover chai mixture for lattes later in the week. It can be stored for up to 5 days.

Chai Tea Variations

One of the best things about chai tea lattes is their versatility. You can create a completely different drink by tweaking the ingredients. 

• Vanilla Chai Tea Latte: Add 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract to the recipe above or use a vanilla flavoured milk for a vanilla chai latte.
• Skinny Chai Latte: Use a non-fat milk and a low calorie sweetener like all natural stevia or monk fruit extract in your chai tea latte. Almond milk or coconut milk offer a good alternative to regular milk, since they are both low in carbs and calories.
• Low Carb Chai Tea Latte (Keto Chai Latte): Almond milk or coconut milk are the most widely used milk for people on the keto diet. If that is you, craft your chai latte with almond or coconut milk and skip the sweetener.
• Vegan Chai Latte: For any vegans out there simply swap out traditional milk for a milk alternative and use a vegan friendly sweetener like maple syrup. In cafes, a chai tea latte with almond milk is the most requested non-dairy alternative.
• Iced Chai Tea Latte: Create an iced chai latte by preparing the drink as per the recipe above and then pouring it over ice. You can’t start the spiced chai latte recipe out cold or the flavours won’t combine.
• Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte: To get those fall flavours simmer the chai mixture, milk and sweetener then whisk in 2 tablespoons of pumpkin puree and pre-packaged pumpkin spice.
• Eggnog Chai Latte: For this festivate version add equal parts chai tea mixture, milk, and eggnog to your drink. 

Rooibos Tea Latte

For a caffeine-free tea experience try a rooibos latte. We first learned about Rooibos lattes while in South Africa and have been enjoying this delicious drink ever since. 

This recipe is perfect when you want a cozy winter drink but don’t want that hit of caffeine that green tea latte recipes or chai lattes provide. You can also follow the recipe below with chamomile tea for an equally soothing chamomile latte.

Rooibos Tea Latte Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup water
• 2 cups milk
• 3 rooibos tea bags (or the loose leaf tea equivalent)
• 2 teaspoons of sweetener of choice
• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract 

Instructions:

1. In a medium saucepan boil the water. Turn off and let the tea steep for 5 minutes. 
2. Heat milk and sweetener over a medium heat and whisk or use your milk frother.
3. Enjoy! 

READ NEXT: Coca Tea (Mate de Coca), the fuel of the locals in the Andes of South America

Matcha Latte

It is no surprise this green latte has caught the attention of the masses. Not only does a green matcha latte taste great but matcha is loaded with antioxidants. It is also high in caffeine which makes a homemade matcha latte a perfect pick me up. In our opinion, the best matcha latte recipe is simple. This one has 4 simple ingredients. 

Matcha Latte Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon matcha powder
• 1 tablespoon boiled water
• 2 tablespoon sweetener of choice
• 1 cup milk

Instructions:

• In a small bowl whisk boiled water and matcha powder with a matcha whisk.
• Heat milk and sweetener over medium heat and whisk or use your milk frother
• Combine and enjoy!

Matcha Tea Latte Variations

Like chai there are many different variations of a traditional matcha latte.

• Coconut Matcha Latte: The best milk for matcha latte? Some say it’s coconut. The flavours pair well together in a coconut milk matcha latte.
• Matcha Turmeric Latte: For an extra kick of antioxidants add a tablespoon of turmeric to your matcha powder just before whisking. This vibrant root is also known to have powerful anti-inflammatory effects. 
• Vegan Matcha Latte: Swap out traditional milk for a milk alternative and use a vegan friendly sweetener like maple syrup. An oat milk matcha latte and almond milk matcha latte are popular vegan latte options. 
• Iced Matcha Latte: To create an iced matcha green tea latte, simply prepare the recipe above and pour it over ice. Perfect for a hot day!
• Keto Matcha Latte: Use a low carb milk alternative such as almond milk or coconut milk. 

London Fog Latte

Made with earl grey tea, a London Fog drink is another popular Starbucks drink that can be made at home. Despite its name, the earl grey latte actually originated in Vancouver, Canada and is sometimes called a Vancouver Fog in the UK instead of a London Fog. You can use lavender in your London Fog recipes too, so if you have some at home don’t be shy about adding a teaspoon or so. 

London Fog Latte Ingredients:

• 1 earl grey tea bag (or the loose leaf tea equivalent)
• 1/2 cup hot water
• 1/2 cup of milk
• 2 teaspoons sweetener of choice
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

• Steep your earl grey tea bag in hot water for 5 minutes.
• Heat milk, sweetener, and vanilla extract over medium heat and whisk for frothed milk or use your milk frother.
• Combine and enjoy your earl grey tea latte.

Green Tea Latte

Not to be confused with a healthy matcha latte, a green tea latte recipe uses traditional green tea. Like matcha it has been shown to have powerful health benefits and some studies recommend drinking it everyday for its powerful antioxidants. This recipe for green tea latte lovers is simple and quick.

Green Tea Latte Ingredients:

• 1 green tea bag (or the loose leaf tea equivalent)
• 1/2 cup hot water
• 1/2 cup of milk
• 2 teaspoons sweetener of choice

Instructions:

• Steep your tea in the hot water (not quite boiling) for 5 minutes
• Heat milk and sweetener over medium heat and whisk for frothed milk or use your milk frother.
• Combine and enjoy!

Peppermint Tea Latte

Peppermint is great for digestion and so easy to make into a tea latte. It is also caffeine free and has been shown to fight bad breath and ease pain. However, we tend to drink it just for its pleasant minty taste! Try this latte for a cozy after dinner drink. 

Peppermint Tea Latte Ingredients:

• 1 peppermint tea bag (or the loose tea equivalent)
• 1/2 cup hot water
• 1/2 cup of milk
• 2 teaspoons sweetener of choice

Instructions:

• Steep your tea in the hot water for 5 minutes
• Heat milk and sweetener over medium heat and whisk for frothed milk or use your milk frother.
• Combine and enjoy!

These tea lattes recipes show just how easy it is to craft this cafe style beverage at home. You can really use any type of tea bag or combine loose leaf or different tea bags flavours in one latte. 

Get creative! Anything from a royal english breakfast tea latte to a green chai tea is possible.

READ NEXT: 16 Different Types Of Tea: Varieties, Benefits, Characteristics & More

What is your favourite type of tea latte?