Chai Latte Powder Recipe with Milk

By Ahamed Farhan

Introduction

If you love a cozy chai latte but not the price or wait, a homemade chai latte powder recipe solves both problems. In under an hour, you can blend a fragrant, shelf-stable mix that dissolves smoothly, tastes café-level, and costs a fraction per cup. With food prices still elevated in 2024, BLS data shows everyday staples haven’t fully eased for many households, and sources say pantry-friendly mixes help people stretch budgets without sacrificing flavor. I have covered spice markets and tea trends for over a decade and tested blends in professional and home kitchens. The right ratios matter. So does safety, grind size, and how you brew.

This recipe includes milk powder for a true latte body, black tea for a robust base, and a balanced masala that leans warm and bright instead of harsh. You will also get a simple cost breakdown, nutrition pointers, and reliable storage rules grounded in current guidance.

I’m Farhan, and alongside my wife and co‑owner, Airin, we’ve spent 15 years testing recipes in our kitchen to bring you practical, flavor‑forward guidance. At Spice World Online USA, every tip is tried, every blend is balanced, and every article helps you master spices with confidence.

Why make your own

Cost breakdown

Store chai lattes add up fast. Consider Riya, a 30-year-old teacher who buys two 12-ounce chai lattes per week at 5 dollars each. That is about 40 dollars per month. A homemade mix typically costs 0.50 to 0.80 per serving, depending on your tea brand and spices. Even at 0.80, monthly spend drops to around 12.80 for 16 cups. The savings per month are $40-12.8=27.2$.

Flavor control

You choose the intensity. Want more ginger heat, less sweetness, or a creamier finish? Adjust the mix once and enjoy consistent results. Whole spices you toast and grind at home deliver volatile oils that preground jars often lose.

Shelf life and safety

Dry mixes last when you manage moisture and light. Powdered milk and spices prefer airtight, cool storage. Keeping water activity low and containers sealed reduces clumping and quality loss. Follow clean-kitchen practices to lower contamination risk.

Ingredients and ratios

Core spices and roles

• Cinnamon: sweet warmth that anchors the blend.

• Ginger: bright heat and a lively nose.

• Cardamom: floral top notes that define chai.

• Clove and black pepper: gentle bite and depth.

• Optional accents: star anise for licorice hints, a pinch of nutmeg for roundness.

Milk base and sweeteners

• Whole milk powder: velvety body and latte-like mouthfeel. Skim powder works but tastes lighter.

• Sweetener: fine cane sugar dissolves best. Jaggery powder adds caramel notes. For low sugar, use only half the stated amount and sweeten the cup to taste.

Tea and caffeine options

• Black tea powder or very finely ground CTC Assam gives a classic backbone. Instant tea granules dissolve fastest but taste milder.

• For low caffeine, reduce tea content by one-third. For decaf, use decaf black tea or omit tea and brew your cup with a decaf black tea bag, then whisk in the spice-milk portion.

Homemade Chai Latte Powder Recipe With Milk (Step-By-Step Recipe)

Yield: about 18 to 20 servings

Prep time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

• Whole milk powder 150 g

• Fine sugar 100 g

• Black tea powder 24 g

• Cinnamon sticks 12 g

• Dried ginger chips 10 g

• Green cardamom pods 8 g

• Cloves 3 g

• Black peppercorns 3 g

• Star anise 1 g, optional

• Nutmeg 1 g, freshly grated

• Fine salt 1 g

• Vanilla powder 2 g, optional

Toast, grind, blend

1. Toast whole spices. Warm a dry skillet on low. Add cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, peppercorns, and star anise. Toast 2 to 4 minutes until fragrant. Keep the heat gentle to avoid scorching oils.

2. Cool and grind. Let spices cool 5 minutes. Grind very fine in a burr grinder or spice mill. Sift and regrind coarse bits for an even powder.

3. Combine the base. In a large bowl, whisk milk powder, sugar, tea powder, ground spices, nutmeg, salt, and vanilla powder until uniform. Wear a mask if you are sensitive to dust.

Chef’s note: Uniform particle size helps the powder dissolve. If clumps form, pulse in a food processor for 10 seconds.

Test brew and adjust

• Start with 2 tablespoons mix per 8 ounces of hot water for a classic latte. Taste. Add 1 teaspoon more for extra strength or sweetness.

• More spice-forward: add 2 g of ginger and 1 g of pepper to the base.

• Creamier: add 20 g milk powder and reduce sugar by 10 g.

Storage guidelines

• Store in an airtight jar in a cool, dark cupboard. Avoid steam and direct sun.

• Label and date the jar. For best quality, use within 8 to 12 weeks.

• If humidity is high, tuck in an edible desiccant packet designed for dry foods.

Brew and serve

Hot method

• Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of powder to a mug.

• Pour in 8 ounces of hot water just off the boil. Whisk until smooth and frothy.

• Optional: finish with a splash of warm milk for extra body or a pinch of cinnamon.

Iced method

• Whisk 3 tablespoons of powder with 2 ounces of hot water to dissolve.

• Fill a glass with ice. Top with 6 ounces of cold water or milk. Stir and sip.

• For café-style foam, shake all ingredients in a sealed jar for 15 seconds.

Troubleshooting

• Not dissolving: your grind is coarse, or the water is not hot enough. Regrind or whisk with a small frother.

• Too sweet or spicy: dilute with 10 to 20 g milk powder, then retest.

• Clumping: humidity crept in. Spread on a lined tray for 15 minutes in a cool, dry room, then rejar with desiccant.

Nutrition and sourcing

Sugar and calories

A 2-tablespoon serving with the stated formula lands near 110 to 140 calories, depending on milk powder fat content and sugar. To lower added sugar, cut the base sugar by half and sweeten the cup with honey or a nonnutritive sweetener to taste. Caffeine varies with tea strength but typically sits near 30 to 50 mg per 8-ounce serving for this mix.

Smart sourcing

• Buy whole spices in small amounts from high-turnover shops to ensure freshness.

• Choose reputable tea brands for consistent grind and taste.

• If possible, pick fair-trade or ethically sourced spices for better transparency.

Cost snapshot you can use

Here is a simple way to check your per-cup cost. If your ingredient total is 12 dollars and you get 20 servings, your cost per serving is $12÷20=0.60$. Compare that with café prices to estimate monthly savings. If you drink 16 cups per month, savings of $16\times (5.00-0.60)=70.4$ are realistic in many cities. This helps when food-at-home prices are sticky and wage budgets run tight.

Safety notes you should not skip

• Keep utensils dry. Any moisture shortens shelf life.

• Clean grinders between batches to avoid residual oils turning rancid.

• For those sensitive to caffeine, consider a decaf version or limit cups earlier in the day.

Mini case study: a weekly ritual that saves

Arun, a graduate student, replaced his afternoon café run with this mix. He preps a small thermos in the morning with 3 tablespoons of powder and hot water. He reports two wins after three weeks. First, he saves nearly 60 dollars per month. Second, the consistent spice balance helps him focus while writing. He keeps a second jar on his desk labeled mild for late afternoons with reduced tea.

Conclusion

A balanced chai latte powder recipe with milk gives you café-quality comfort on your schedule. Toast the spices lightly, grind fine, and whisk the mix with hot water for a silky cup. Adjust the spice heat and sweetness to match your palate, and store the blend airtight for dependable flavor for weeks.

The payoff is real. You gain control over taste, improve consistency, and trim monthly costs without cutting joy. If you track spending or watch caffeine, make one jar bold and one jar mild. Set your ratio once, then enjoy effortless chai anytime. If you try this mix, tell me how you tuned the ginger and cardamom. Your tweaks often teach the rest of us something new.

I’m Farhan, and alongside my wife and co‑owner, Airin, we’ve spent 15 years testing recipes in our kitchen to bring you practical, flavor‑forward guidance. At Spice World Online USA, every tip is tried, every blend is balanced, and every article helps you master spices with confidence.