This homemade, delicious matcha chai latte uses authentic, homemade masala chai and ceremonial-grade matcha powder to make a vegan, plant-based pick-me-up that your tastebuds will love! 

What Makes This Recipe Great

Think of this Matcha Chai Latte as a fusion drink. It’s a classic Japanese matcha latte but made with masala chai instead of plain plant milk. I created this drink in collaboration with my friend Pratik, of Hungry Empire, and love that it embodies our two cultures! With his homemade masala chai and a shot of matcha, you get the most delicious drink, or Matchai, as we’re calling it.

The spices in the masala chai add complexity and warmth to the drink, and the matcha addition helps to balance out the sweetness of the chai. Both drinks pair well with their earthy flavors, and it’s one of my absolute favorite matcha drinks. 

Not only that, but it’s gorgeous in colour and a great coffee-free alternative drink. You can enjoy it hot or iced, so it’s perfect year-round, no matter the weather.

What is Masala Chai

Chai in Hindi translates to tea, and the ingredients used to flavor and spice the tea vary greatly depending on what region of India you’re in. Typically, chai is always made with tea, spices, milk, and sugar and can be found on most street corners in India. 

This recipe comes from my friend Pratik, whose family is from Gujarat, and the ingredients reflect that. This isn’t your typical matcha chai latte from Starbucks. This is an authentic, amazing drink that is made completely dairy free, has tons of health benefits, and has the perfect amount of caffeine for a morning or afternoon pick-me-up. 

Masala Chai Ingredients

Chai concentrate, spice mixes, chai tea bags, and latte mixes can be commonly found in stores nowadays, but as with most recipes, making it from scratch produces an even more flavorful result. The best part is that it’s completely customizable too! To make the masala chai, you’ll need:

• Fennel seeds.
• Star anise seeds.
• Cardamom pods.
• Peppercorns.
• Cinnamon.
• Nutmeg.
• Clove.
• Fresh ginger.
• Fresh mint leaves.
• Plant milk: Use your favorite. I find that oat milk, almond milk, or coconut milk work really well. 
• Sugar.

To turn the masala chai into a fusion chai matcha latte, you’ll also need a few more things:

• Ceremonial grade matcha powder.
• Hot, but not boiling water.

Make Chai Spice From Scratch

Making chai spice from scratch is a lot easier than you might think, and with Pratik’s expert guidance, you, too, can make it at home. We start by toasting all of our spices in a dry pan until aromatic. You want to make sure you’re shaking the pan to avoid any spices burning. Pay special attention to the fennel seeds, as they’re the smallest in size and most prone to burning.

Once toasted and your kitchen smells amazing, let the spices cool down for a little bit before you transfer them to a spice grinder. Blend until a fine powder forms, and your chai spice is ready to go!

As mentioned, the spices used will vary based on region, household, and preference, so feel free to play around with the ingredients and ratios. It’s completely customizable! Best of all, you’ll end up with a spice mix that you can use not only for lattes but also syrups, baking, dry rubs, and more.

How to Make a Matcha Chai Latte

1. Start by toasting all of your spices in a dry pan over medium heat until aromatic, about 5-7 minutes. Frequently shake the pan to avoid burning spices, and pay special attention to the fennel seeds as they’re the smallest in size and most prone to burning.
2. Once the spices are lightly toasted and aromatic, remove from heat and let cool for 5-6 minutes.
3. Transfer the spices to a spice or coffee grinder and blend until you have a fine powder. This is your spice mix.
4. Bring 1 cup of water (for 2 servings) to a boil in a small pot, or use the cup you intend to serve in to measure with. You’ll want to use half of the serving up to measure out the amount of water, then add it to a pot to bring to a low boil.
5. Once the water is simmering, grate in fresh ginger, add the fresh mint leaves, black tea, and sugar to taste. As the water starts to pick up and boil, add warmed plant-based milk. You’ll want to use the same amount of plant milk as you did water, and make sure to stir constantly so the milk does not burn on the bottom of the pot. Add 1/4 tsp of the masala chai spice mix.
6. Bring the mixture up to a strong boil and then drop the heat. Repeat once more for two full boils. Remove from heat and let sit–the tea will continue to brew as it sits.
7. Strain your mixture using a fine sieve and adjust with any additional sweetener as desired. You can enjoy it like this for a traditional hot chai.
8. Sift ceremonial-grade matcha into a whisking bowl using a fine sieve, then add 1/2 cup hot, but not boiling water. Use a bamboo matcha whisk to whisk in an M-shaped motion for about 1 minute until the matcha is fully suspended in the water and a nice layer of froth sits on top of the matcha.
9. To serve, prepare two glasses of ice, then divide and pour the masala chai over the ice, followed by the whisked matcha, divided between the two glasses.

Secrets to Success

• Enjoy this matcha chai latte hot or iced! 
• You can also store the prepared masala chai in the fridge, in an airtight container for up to a week, and then add in the fresh matcha when ready to enjoy.
• If you’d prefer to use a pre-made chai concentrate or chai spice mix, you can absolutely do that. I’d recommend simmering with fresh ginger and mint, as it really elevates the drink and adds layers of complexity to the drink. I had never had it with fresh ginger and mint before trying Pratik’s recipe, and it’s a game-changer!
• All of the whole spices used in this recipe can be found at an Indian grocery store. I highly recommend looking for one in your area, as the drink is so much more delicious when prepared with freshly ground spices. If you do not have access to whole spices, you can also use ground spices and adjust to taste.
• Using a coffee grinder or spice grinder is really important for achieving the finely ground spice mix. You can use a mortar and pestle, but it will be a really brutal workout!
• For more on matcha green tea and where to find ceremonial-grade matcha powder, refer to the Ultimate Matcha Guide.
• If you want your finished latte any sweeter, feel free to add a touch of maple syrup. 

Serving Tips

• To serve, prepare two glasses of ice, then divide and pour the masala chai over the ice, followed by the whisked matcha, divided between the two glasses.

Recipe FAQs

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If you make this recipe, be sure to let me know what you think with a comment below! Follow me on Instagram for more delicious recipes!