A popular coffee shop drink is dirty chai. A shot of espresso is mixed with masala chai (or chai) to make it. The chai latte is usually made with chai concentrate, tea, steamed milk, and one shot of espresso.
What is Dirty Chai?
In recent years, chai-flavored drinks and foods have been trendy. Dirty chai is an excellent alternative to strong coffee. It is a latte that includes a single or double shot of espresso and steamed milk. It also contains spiced black tea (masala chai). It’s smooth, milky, and mildly spiced. You can also add an extra shot of espresso to increase the coffee’s strength. One of many ways you can use chai spice to flavor kecveto food or drinks is dirty chai. Cardamom and cinnamon are the most common spices used in this drink.
You can have your latte hot or cold. Hot versions contain hot steamed milk, while cold versions contain ice. Cold, dirty chai comes in iced or blended latte forms. In addition, you can make hot and cold lattes with sweeteners.
Uses
Dirty Chai is a popular coffee shop drink you can order when you’re out and about, at work, with friends, or on the move. It’s a delicious energy booster due to the double dose of espresso and black tea. It can be enjoyed alone or as a snack.
How to Drink
For a dirty chai latté, boil 8 ounces of black tea in boiling water for 3 to 5 mins. Add a tea bag or two teaspoons of loose leaf to the water. You will need 1 or 2 shots of espresso, 1 to 2 teaspoons of chai tea mixture, and 1 to 3 tablespoons of milk. Add milk to a saucepan and heat until it is hot. Sprinkle cinnamon if you like.
Caffeine Content
A dirty chai latte contains double the amount of caffeine as black tea and a shot of espresso. For example, a 12-ounce latté includes 160 mg of caffeine, compared to 50-70 mg for a chai latté.
Storing and Buying
You can order this drink at most coffee shops. If it’s not on the menu, ask for a Chai Latte with an extra shot of espresso. For example, the Starbucks “secret” menu includes a dirty chai latte. You can make your drink a double dirty chai by asking for two espresso shots. You can also order your beverage cold as an “iced dirty Chai latte” and “blended dirty Chai latte.” This is made by blending the milk until it becomes smooth and then adding whip cream or other toppings.
Celestial Seasonings sells “spiced espresso tea chai” in tea bags. Balanced, from Target, is a concentrated version you can make at home. Alpine Start offers instant dirty chai lattes in packets. Add water to the packages and stir. All of the store-bought versions are safe to keep in your pantry.
If you want to try drinking dirty Chai latte, look for nearby tea cafes in your area, such as Boba Xpress in Bossier City, to see if they are available.
What’s in Dirty Chai Latte?
You can make this drink with espresso, steamed milk, and spiced black tea.
- Espresso is a concentrated form of coffee. You can make it by forcing a small amount (or nearly boiling) of water through finely-ground coffee beans under pressure. This action produces a one to two-ounce shot of coffee. If you make the coffee correctly, it will have a rich and golden crema (crema). You can make espresso coffee from a variety of coffee beans.
- Steamy milk: To create froth in a latté, milk is exposed to steam at high pressure. Do this by slowly adding steam to the milk to form a layer of tiny bubbles. This action is possible with full-fat, nonfat, and low-fat milk and milk substitutes such as almond, soy, or oat milk.
- Masala Chai (spiced Black Tea): This tea is India’s most famous spiced tea. It is made with a combination of spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves but can also include a single spice like ginger.
- Sweeteners: You can add sugar and honey to this drink.
