Do you love tea lattes? Do you wish you could make them at home without spending a fortune at the coffee shop? Well, you’re in luck! Making tea lattes is easier than you think! You can also customise them to your liking with different teas, milks and sweeteners. In this post, we will show you how to turn your tea into a latte at home, what teas are best for making lattes, and some tips and tricks to make them even more delicious.
What is a Tea Latte?
A tea latte is a drink that consists of tea and steamed or frothed milk. It’s similar to a cafe latte, which is made with espresso and milk, but with tea instead of coffee. A tea latte can be made hot or iced, and it can be flavoured with various ingredients such as spices, syrups or extracts. A popular type of tea latte is a chai latte, which is made with spiced tea and milk.
What Teas are Best for Making Tea Lattes?
You can use any type of tea to make a tea latte, but some teas are better suited for this purpose than others. Generally, you want to use a strong tea that can hold up well with milk and sweetener. Some teas that are great for making lattes are:
- Black teas: These are the most common teas for making lattes, as they have a robust and full-bodied flavour that pairs well with milk. Some examples of black teas that are good for making lattes are English breakfast tea, Earl Grey tea, Assam tea and Keemun tea.
- Green teas: These are lighter and more delicate than black teas, but they can still make delicious lattes with a fresh and grassy flavour. Some examples of green teas that are good for making lattes are sencha tea, jasmine tea, matcha tea and genmaicha tea.
- Oolong teas: These are partially oxidized teas that have a complex and diverse flavour that ranges from floral to nutty. Some examples of oolong teas that are good for making lattes are Ti Kwan Yin tea, Da Hong Pao tea, milk oolong tea and orange blossom oolong tea.
- Herbal teas: These are not true teas, but infusions of various plants, fruits and spices that have different health benefits and flavours. Some examples of herbal teas that are good for making lattes are rooibos tea, chamomile tea, mint tea and ginger tea.
Flavoured teas or blends can also work well for making tea lattes. Just make sure they have natural ingredients that do not lose their flavour or aroma over time. Some flavoured teas or blends that can be used for making tea lattes are peach green tea, vanilla black tea, lavender earl grey tea and chai spice blend.
How to turn your tea into a latte at home?
So, you now want to turn your tea into a latte? You just need to follow these simple steps:
- Make a tea concentrate: Choose your tea leaves and measure out 2 heaped teaspoons of loose leaf (or 1 tea bag). You can adjust this ratio to make your tea latte stronger or weaker according to your taste.
- Brew your tea in about 150-200ml (about 1/3 of the cup) of hot water to make the tea concentrate. Steep it for the time recommended on the instructions for your tea type (we recommend steeping for a little longer than usual with tea lattes). You can use a teapot, a mug or a French press to brew your tea. Strain the tea leaves or remove the teabag and sweeten your tea if desired. You can use sugar, honey, maple syrup or any other sweetener of your choice. Learn How To Strain Tea Without a Strainer: 7 Easy Methods.
- Heat your milk on the stovetop, in the microwave, or with a steamer. You can use any type of milk you like, such as whole milk, skim milk, almond milk or oat milk. You can also flavour your milk with some vanilla extract, cinnamon or nutmeg if you like.
- Froth your milk using a milk frother, a French press, a whisk, blender, or steamer. You want to create small and even bubbles that will make your tea latte creamy and foamy. You can also skip this step if you prefer a smooth and flat tea latte.
- Pour your tea into a large mug or a glass and top it with your frothed milk. You can also sprinkle some ground cinnamon, cocoa powder or matcha powder on top for some extra flavour and decoration.
Tips and Tricks When Making Tea Lattes
Here are some additional tips and tricks that can help you make your tea lattes even better:
- Experiment with different combinations: You can mix different types of teas or add some fresh fruits, herbs or spices to your tea lattes to create your own unique blends and flavours.
- Make it iced: You can also make iced tea lattes by adding cold milk and ice instead of frothed milk. Or cold-brewing your tea in cold water overnight in the refrigerator and adding some ice cubes to your glass before pouring the milk. This will give you a refreshing and smooth drink that’s perfect for summer.
- Make it vegan: You can easily make vegan tea lattes by using plant-based milks such as soy milk, almond milk or oat milk. You can also use vegan sweeteners such as agave nectar, coconut sugar or date syrup.
- Make it decaf: You can make decaf tea lattes by using decaffeinated teas such as decaf black tea, decaf green tea or herbal teas. This way, you can enjoy your tea latte without worrying about caffeine intake or affecting your sleep quality.
Benefits of Making Tea Lattes
Making tea lattes have many benefits for you and the environment. Here are some of them:
- You save money: By making lattes at home, you don’t need to spend a lot of money at the coffee shop. You can also use less tea leaves and milk than hot brewed tea, which means that you save on resources and reduce waste.
- You enjoy better flavour: By making lattes at home, you can customize them to your liking with different teas, milks and sweeteners. You can also use fresh and high-quality ingredients that will give you the best flavour and aroma possible.
- You enjoy better health: By making lattes at home, you can control the amount of sugar and calories in your drink. You can also benefit from the antioxidants and other beneficial compounds in the tea that may boost your immune system, lower your blood pressure and improve your mood.
Conclusion
Tea lattes are a delicious and cozy way to enjoy your favourite teas in a new and exciting way. You can make them at home easily and quickly with some simple steps and tips. You can also customise them to your liking with different teas, milks and sweeteners. Turning your tea into a latte at home has many benefits for you and the environment, such as saving money, enjoying better flavour and enjoying better health. So, next time you crave a warm and comforting drink, don’t reach for the coffee pot or the instant mix. Make your own tea latte and see how amazing it tastes!
If you found this useful, you may find some of our other articles interesting:
- How to Make a Rose Syrup Tea Latte
- How to Make a Simple and Refreshing Iced Tea Latte
- How to Make a Gingerbread Chai Tea Latte at Home
- Cold Brewing Tea: The Ultimate Guide for Refreshing Tea Lovers
- How to Make a Simple and Refreshing Iced Tea Latte
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Photo by Vincent Yeung: https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-ceramic-mug-with-coffee-on-brown-wooden-table-3649498/
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