Tea lattes are a delightful way to enjoy your favorite brew. You can serve them hot for a cozy treat or iced for a refreshing sip. By starting with a tea concentrate and adding milk, you can whip one up in just a few minutes! Follow this step-by-step guide to learn how to make a tea latte at home using any type of tea.
WHAT IS A TEA LATTE?
A tea latte is the tea lover’s take on an espresso-based latte. This beverage features a robust tea base (tea concentrate) topped with steamed or frothed milk. You can enjoy it hot or iced, and feel free to add sweeteners or other extras, although that’s optional!
BEST TEA FOR LATTES
Tea lattes can be made with almost any type of tea, whether it’s pure or a blend, and you can use loose leaf tea or tea bags.
The best tea for lattes is simply one that you already enjoy! If you like a particular tea with milk, I recommend trying it as a latte as well.
Herbal Tea: I love caffeine-free lattes for enjoying in the evening without the risk of sleeplessness. Some of my favorite herbal teas for lattes include rooibos, honeybush, chamomile, and butterfly pea flower.
Black Tea: Perhaps the most popular choice for lattes, black teas are bold and malty, making them excellent with milk. Well-known options include Earl Grey and Chai lattes.
White Tea: Similar to green tea, white teas tend to be lighter and aren’t typically seen as ideal for lattes. However, blends with added ingredients can enhance the flavor in a latte.
Puerh Tea: The strong flavor of puerh tea can work beautifully as a latte, especially when combined with additional flavors from blends.
Green Tea: While some green teas may not pair well with milk, others, like matcha, hojicha, and genmaicha, really shine in a latte.
BEST MILK FOR TEA LATTES
Just like with tea, you can choose any type of milk for your latte. However, keep in mind that some milks froth better than others.
Personally, I prefer dairy milk or oat milk for a dairy-free option, as their neutral flavors don’t overpower the tea like almond milk or some nut milks can.
If you’re making an iced latte, you don’t need to worry about frothing the milk, since froth isn’t necessary for that version.
For more details on the best types of milk for frothing, check out my article on how to froth milk with a handheld frother.
TOOLS YOU’LL NEED
- A mug and infuser (if using loose leaf)
- Teaspoon
- Kettle
- Electric or Handheld Milk Frother
INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED
- Tea of your choice (loose leaf or tea bags)
- Water
- Milk
- Optional: Sweetener (I like to use white sugar, maple syrup or even simple syrups like these ones!)
PERFECT TEA LATTE RECIPE
To create the perfect tea latte, starting with a tea concentrate is essential. A tea concentrate is simply a strongly brewed tea that uses double the amount of tea leaves or bags and less water. Using a tea concentrate ensures your latte remains flavorful even after being mixed with milk.
STEP 1
Add your choice of tea to an infuser (if using loose leaf) or directly into a mug (if using tea bags). Heat water to the appropriate temperature for the tea type and pour it over the tea. Steep for the recommended time.
Example: Black tea typically requires freshly boiled water at 100°C (212°F) and should steep for about 5 minutes. For green tea, the water temperature should be lower, and the steeping time shorter.
STEP 2
Strain the tea leaves or remove the tea bags. If desired, add sweetener and stir until dissolved.
STEP 3
Heat and froth the milk until it nearly doubles in volume. Pour the frothed milk over the tea.
STEP 4
Enjoy your latte! You can garnish it with spices, chocolate shavings, candy pieces, or tea powder for an extra touch.
HOW TO MAKE AN ICED TEA LATTE
This process is similar to making a hot tea latte, with a few minor adjustments: adding ice cubes and skipping the milk frothing. To create an iced version, steep the tea just like you would for a hot latte, adding any sweetener (if desired) while the tea is still hot. To assemble, fill a glass with ice, pour in the tea, and then top it with milk.
