Oat Milk Chai (Tea)

Oat Milk Chai (Tea) is delicious and creamy with a touch of spice. I make it the way authentic chai is made with a Chai Spice blend and simmered on the stove.

While traditional Indian chai is usually made with with cow’s milk, I tested out many alternative milks and found this to be a good substitute and wanted to share the recipe.

Note, chai means tea, so please don’t say chai tea! You’re saying tea tea then 😊

Chai is one of my favorite things and love to try out different flavors. Some include hot Chocolate Chai, Rose Chai, Biscoff Chai

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Delicious flavor profile | Creamy oat milk + warming chai spices, yum!

Simple ingredients |Use ingredients you likely have in the pantry.

Flexible recipe |Easy to tweak to your personal preferences.

Ingredient Notes

Oat milk –

Black tea – You can use either loose black tea or tea bags.  I always use the Wagh Bakri brand for loose tea leaves when making chai.  My family used to use Lipton tea bags before the switch over to loose leaf tea.

Chai Masala Powder – This Indian spice blend can be found in Indian grocery stores or you can make it at home.

So, you can either use the chai masala powder you regularly use or make your own fresh blend, as outlined in the recipe card below.

Chai spices and blends can be tweaked according to the flavors you like for the perfect chai.

You can use ground spices or whole spices ground with a mortar and pestle like cardamom pods or fennel seeds. Cinnamon sticks and cloves are other examples.

Fresh ginger is always delicious too!

Sugar – I’ve used white sugar.  Feel free to use the sweetener of your choice. Brown sugar, coconut sugar, maple syrup, and honey all work.  Just taste and adjust to your preference for sweetness.

Milk – I usually use 2% milk. You can also use whole milk for a creamier cup.  Feel free to substitute with plant-based milk for a vegan option.

Other popular cozy Indian drinks include Turmeric Milk and Saffron Pistachio Milk.

Other Milk Types

I’ve tried other non-dairy milk types which include almond milk, coconut milk, cashew milk, soy milk, macadamia milk. WIll share more about Vegan Masala Chai soon.

How to Make Oat Milk Chai

To make oat milk chai:

1. Place water, sugar, cardamom powder, ginger powder, and loose-leaf tea or tea bags in a small saucepan on medium-high heat on the stove.
2. Let it come to a simmer and rolling boil for about 3-4 minutes.  This allows the tea flavor to develop.
3. Add milk and cocoa powder to the hot water. Let it come to a boil. Turn to medium heat.
4. Let simmer for 5-6 minutes.
5. Turn off the stove.
6. Strain tea with a fine mesh strainer and serve.

Chai is best made fresh.  You can explore making and using a chai concentrate.

Serving Suggestions

Cookies: Pistachio Saffron Cookies, Coconut Cookies, Sugar Cookies, Chocolate Chip Cookies or Masala Chai Cookies

Masala poori, salted butter crackers.