DIY Dirty Chai Latte

If you're looking for a delicious, comforting winter beverage that combines the best of both tea and coffee, look no further than the Dirty Chai Latte. This sweet and spicy twist on a conventional chai latte is perfect for chilly mornings or evenings. With the cool of fall and winter right around the corner, let's get down and dirty (chai lattes)!

Ingredients: 

• 3/4 cup water
• 3/4 cup strongly brewed coffee (espresso works well!)
  
• 6 tbsp milk (suggested use: dairy; may substitute for non-dairy options) 
• 6 tbsp loose black tea leaves or 2 Chaibag tea bags
  
• 3 tbsp sugar (optional) 
• 1 tsp ginger (ground or grated)
• 1 tsp cardamom (ground)
• 1/2 tsp cloves (ground)
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon (ground)
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Recipe Steps with loose tea leaves: 

1. Boil the cup of water in a kettle. Transfer the boiled water to a stove-top vessel and add the sugar and spices.  Let this mixture come to a boil on medium-to-high heat.
2. Add the loose tea leaves and allow the tea to brew in the boiling water for a couple of minutes. 
3. Turn the heat to low and add the milk. Turn the heat back up to medium, stirring occasionally to mix the milk uniformly in the chai brew. 
4. Notice the chai brew change color with the addition of milk, and allow it to come to a boil again. 
5. Take the prepared chai off the heat and pour it into your favorite mug over a strainer, to collect the masala and tea leaves above your mug.
   
6. Add the brewed coffee to your chai mixture.

Recipe Steps with ChaiBag's Dirty Chai flavored teabags: 

1. Boil the cup of water in a kettle. Transfer the boiled water to a stove-top vessel and add the milk and sugar.  Let this mixture come to a boil on medium-to-high heat. Boiling the water, milk and sugar together will really help bring the chai flavors home, when you steep the Chaibag tea bag.
2. Take this mixture off the heat and pour it into your favorite mug. 
3. Add the 2 Chaibag tea bags and steep them for a couple of minutes, removing thereafter.
4. Add the brewed coffee to your Dirty Chai mixture.

Preparation notes:

- Milk: while dairy milk is a conventional choice, you may choose non-dairy options if preferred

- Sugar: you may choose to substitute with any other sweetener such as raw sugar, honey or stevia

- Strength of tea: the more loose tea leaves you use and the longer you boil the tea leaves or steep the teabag, the stronger the taste of the tea will be

Ta-da!!! Cozy-up with your Dirty Chai Latte and envelope yourself in strong fall vibes.