Oat Milk Chai Latte

This oat milk chai latte is a sweet, spicy, and creamy drink that will put you in a cozy mood any time of the year! It’s vegan, gluten-free, and full of vitamins and minerals that keep your immune system healthy. The best part? It costs a fraction of what most coffee shops charge!

The best oat milk chai latte

If you’re unfamiliar with what “chai” is, this Hindi word translates to “tea.” Chai lattes are a relatively Western concept. Steamed milk is mixed with chai tea and sometimes espresso, creating a creamy, frothy, and boldly flavored beverage.

I’m here to you that you don’t need dairy to create an equally rich and full-bodied latte. In fact, oat milk is my absolute favorite milk (dairy or not) to make lattes. It’s thick, slightly sweet, and silky smooth.

I pair it with my favorite homemade Best Chai Concentrate, espresso, cardamom simple syrup, and cinnamon powder. Once combined, the flavors transform into one seriously delicious drink you’ll want to make over and over again. You just need 6 ingredients, 15 minutes, and a love for specialty tea drinks!

Main Ingredients & Substitutions

• Chai concentrate: For the quickest prep, use store-bought or homemade Best Chai Concentrate. If you don’t have chai concentrate on hand, use loose-leaf chai tea. 
• Oat milk: I find full-fat or barista blend oat milk offers the creamiest, richest, and velvety smooth taste. I use store-bought oat milk, but you can substitute it with homemade oat milk, cashew milk, pea milk, or soy milk.
• Coffee: Use dark roast or espresso beans for big, bold flavors that hold up well to the chai spices. You don’t technically need espresso to make this chai latte with oat milk, but I love the combination of chai and coffee!
• Cardamom syrup: Provides a complex aroma with a fresh, minty, and sweet flavor. If you don’t have cardamom syrup, you can add maple syrup, brown sugar simple syrup, or simple syrup.
• Cinnamon powder: I love adding extra cinnamon powder on top as a sweet and warming garnish. You could also try nutmeg, cardamom, or allspice.

Instructions

• Step 1: To make the espresso shots, combine your coffee grounds and hot water. Steep the coffee for 5 minutes, then strain it using whichever brewing method you prefer. I use a French press to brew my coffee, but you could just as easily use an Aeropress or espresso machine.

• Step 2: Add a handful of ice to a serving glass, then pour the Best Chai Concentrate over the ice. Add the espresso shots and cardamom syrup (or another sweetener).

• Step 3: Pour the oat milk in and stir your latte until well combined. Dust the top with cinnamon if you’d like before serving it.

Note: If you prefer a frothy consistency, use an electric frother or hand-held frother to mix the milk before pouring it over the sweetened Best Chai Concentrate.

How to make a hot oat milk chai latte

To serve your oat milk chai latte hot, simply combine the chai concentrate, espresso, and sweetener in a heat-safe mug or glass. Lastly, pour over steamed oat milk and dust with cinnamon powder or other chai spices.

You can try adding oat milk whipped cream to the top, but it’s honestly quite decadent with just steamed oat milk!

Storage & Reheating

It’s always best to drink your already-made chai latte with oat milk immediately. If you end up having extras, here’s what to do:

• Fridge: Let the latte cool down if it’s hot, or strain the ice cubes if it’s chilled. Store it in a glass container with an airtight lid (like a mason jar) for up to 3-4 days.
• Freezer: Make oat milk chai latte ice cubes to cool down your next iced chai latte.
• Reheat: If you want to warm up your latte again, add it to a pot on the stove over low-medium heat. Cook until warm, while stirring occasionally.
• Make ahead: Prepare the Best Chai Concentrate and cardamom syrup in advance, then keep them in the fridge. Whenever you feel like an oat milk chai latte again, just brew some espresso and froth your milk!

Variations

• Vanilla: For a twist on traditional chai latte flavors, add a splash of vanilla syrup or extract.
• Hazelnut: Add a dash of hazelnut powder or extract into your chai latte for a nutty and sweet flavor.
• Chocolate: Mix in cocoa powder, chocolate syrup, or melded chocolate to the latte for a rich and chocolatey flavor.
• No coffee: If you’re not a coffee person, omit the espresso completely for a more traditional chai latte taste.
• Matcha: Swap the espresso for matcha powder to create a flavor-intense matcha chai latte.

Top tips

• Sweeten to taste: Add more or less of the cardamom syrup to suit your taste.
• Froth: Don’t skip the milk frother for a light and airy consistency! You can also achieve a similar texture with a blender or French press to froth the oat milk.
• Oat milk: For the most traditional chai latte with oat milk texture, choose barista oat milk. Nothing else really compares!

FAQ

Similar Recipes

If you enjoyed this chai latte with oat milk recipe, be sure to check out some more of my favorite drinks like these:

• Jasmine Green Milk Tea: A rich, creamy, and flavorful boba tea filled with tapioca pearls. 
• Chai hot chocolate: Sweet, decadent, and festive drink with warming spices and chocolatey flavor.
• Indian Masala Chai: A combination of aromatic spices, black tea, ginger, and milk.
• Iced Lavender Latte: Iced coffee flavored with floral notes of lavender.