Spiced Tea Latte (Printable version)

A comforting blend of tea, spices, and milk, ideal for cozy morning or afternoon moments.

# List of ingredients:

→ Tea & Spices

01 - 2 cups water
02 - 2 black tea bags or 2 teaspoons loose black tea
03 - 1 cinnamon stick
04 - 4 whole cloves
05 - 4 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
06 - 1-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced
07 - 2 black peppercorns
08 - 1 star anise (optional)

→ Dairy & Sweetener

09 - 1 cup whole milk or any plant-based milk
10 - 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup, to taste
11 - ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Combine water, cinnamon stick, cloves, cardamom pods, ginger, peppercorns, and star anise in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
02 - Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes to extract flavors from the spices.
03 - Add black tea bags or loose tea in an infuser and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.
04 - Pour in the milk and gently heat until steaming, avoiding boiling.
05 - Remove from heat, discard tea bags, and strain out the spices.
06 - Stir in honey or maple syrup and optional vanilla extract until combined.
07 - Pour into mugs and enjoy hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The spices create this incredibly cozy aroma that fills your entire kitchen—it's basically bottled comfort
  • Ready in just 15 minutes, making it perfect for those mornings when you need something special but don't have time
  • So customizable that you can adjust the spice intensity to match your mood, whether you want bold or subtle
  • Works beautifully with any milk you have on hand, making it naturally adaptable to dietary preferences
02 -
  • Never boil the milk directly—it can curdle or develop that slight burnt taste that ruins everything. Gentle heat is your friend here
  • If you're using loose tea instead of bags, an infuser is worth it because fishing wet tea leaves out of spiced liquid is exactly as annoying as it sounds
  • Crush the cardamom pods just enough to open them—a light whack with the side of a knife is perfect, too much and you'll have tiny seeds everywhere
03 -
  • Make a spice blend jar ahead of time—combine dried cinnamon pieces, whole cloves, crushed cardamom, and dried ginger in a glass jar so mornings are even faster, just add water and simmer
  • If your tea tastes bitter, the water temperature might have been too high or the steeping time too long—true mastery is knowing when to pull back

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