Easy Authentic Masala Chai Latte [+ chai latte for kids!]

Chai is a deeply rooted part of Indian culture, enjoyed daily in millions of homes, roadside stalls, and tea shops. It's also enjoyed outside of India in neighbouring countries like Pakistan. It's a drink that brings people together, served first thing in the morning, in the afternoon, or over shared moments with family.

Traditionally, masala chai is sipped slowly, often paired with savory snacks like samosas, roasted lentils, or salty snacks known as bhujia. Others might enjoy it with a rusk or sweet biscuits. We think it would pair beautifully with these soft pumpkin cookies or these oatmeal balls!

It's common for many families to enjoy it anywhere from once a day to up to three times daily. One of my fondest memories when traveling to India was the steady supply of chai. Hey, that rhymes!

The base of a good masala chai is black tea, typically Assam or Darjeeling. But if I'm being honest, I typically use a good ol' orange pekoe tea in a tea bag. You can choose loose leaves if you'd like!

If you're concerned about caffeine while pregnant or breastfeeding, it's good to know that chai does contain caffeine-around 35 - 50 mg per cup. This is much less than coffee (which sits around 150 mg per cup) but still enough to offer a gentle pick-me-up. Officially, it's recommended to enjoy a maximum of 300 mg caffeine each day during pregnancy. You can always opt for decaffeinated black tea..

During my postpartum days, I found that the small caffeine boost helped me stay alert without making me jittery. While it's safe to consume caffeine while lactating, some babies may be sensitive and have trouble sleeping.

Masala chai literally means "spiced tea,"(masala = spice and chai = tea) so the spices (masala) are the heart of the recipe. Common spices include cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, fennel, star anise, ajwain, ginger, and even black pepper.

Each household has its own variation, but this is Nita's combination: cinnamon, clove, cardamom and a hunk of fresh ginger!

Sorry, but that's a no. Maybe in industrial settings, but in households that's for sure.

Up until now you may have only had chai that included a syrup from a tetra-box, but I'm here to tell you that ain't it.

Authentic chai is always brewed from scratch. The process of boiling tea, spices, and milk together creates a rich and fragrant experience that, in my humble opinion, no syrup can replicate.

While chai is a staple in many Indian homes, it's important to consider the caffeine content for little ones. Health Canada recommends a limit of 2.5 mg caffeine/kg body weight/day in children. For the average two year old, that would be about 30 mg of caffeine. I typically recommend waiting until around age two or older to offer a milk-diluted version of chai to children. Another option is to make a caffeine-free version using decaf tea or simply reduce the amount of tea leaves in the recipe. This way, they can join in on the cozy ritual without the caffeine.

We also prepare masala milk, which is just milk steamed with chai spices.  In our home we call this "doo doo chai" aka milk chai. My kids loveeee it. And lucky for you, we've included that recipe too - we sweeten it with dates to keep their sugar intake low!

Traditionally, full-fat dairy milk is used to give chai its creamy texture, but understandably if your baby has cow's milk protein allergy and you're nursing, or, you're a vegan family then swap it out for plant-based options. Oat milk works beautifully because of its creaminess, the same goes for soy milk and almond or coconut milk add a nice flavor twist.

Nita's choice: 3% MF cow's milk.

To sweeten or not to sweeten is totally up to you. Personally, I think it's necessary to sweeten chai and if it's not sweetened even a bit, I don't enjoy it. You can use any version of sugar you'd like!