Christmas Chai Latte
A festive, spiced latte blending yerba mate with traditional chai spices for a warming holiday beverage.
Ingredients
Chai Infusion
- 3 cups water
- 3 tablespoons yerba mate
- 3 sticks cinnamon sticks
- 5 pods green cardamom pods
- 1 pinch cloves
- 1 piece star anise
- 1 inch fresh ginger, thinly sliced
- 1 pinch salt
Latte Additions
- 2 cups milk
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
Instructions
Chai Infusion
- In a saucepan combine water, cinnamon sticks, green cardamom pods, cloves, star anise, fresh ginger and salt. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat for about 2 minutes until fragrant steam rises.
- Remove from heat, stir in yerba mate, cover and steep for 3 minutes.
Latte Additions
- Strain the infusion into a clean saucepan, discarding solids.
- Add milk and maple syrup, warm over medium-low heat for 1 minute until tiny bubbles form around the edges.
Notes
After several rounds of testing, I found crushing cardamom just before steeping preserves its bright, citrusy aroma.
Heat the milk gently—avoid boiling—to keep the texture silky without separation.
Leftover latte keeps well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours.
Nutrition
Serving: 240mlCalories: 180kcalCarbohydrates: 22g
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