The best low calorie chai latte
This low calorie chai latte is the perfect way to replace your daily Starbucks order. It tastes just as good (if not better) than the Starbucks one and has a fraction of the calories. A grande chai latte from Starbucks has 240 calories and this recipe has just 33 calories for the same serving size! Plus, this latte is made with real spices as apposed to just a chai syrup!
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A chai latte is such a classic. It has been one of my go-to drinks for years. If I’m not having this 30 calorie iced caramel latte, I’m definitely making myself a large cup of this chai latte. It is very authentic to a masala chai which contains cardamom, ginger, cloves and cinnamon to name a few. This low calorie chai latte is not only spiced to perfection, but it can be made just as sweet (or not sweet) as you like it!
If you’re anything like me and have always been told that liquid calories are the devil and will take up too many calories when you’re in a deficit, I’m here to tell you there’s a very simple way around it. 240 calories for a Starbucks chai latte may be too many calories to fit within your deficit but there is a very simple way to turn that 240 calorie latte into a 33 calorie latte without any compromise on taste!
Not only does this low calorie chai latte taste incredible, it is also so easy to make, it’s vegan and completely sugar-free! So if you’re trying to lose weight whilst keeping your sanity, this low calorie chai latte is perfect for you. Whether you enjoy it with your breakfast, as a mid-afternoon pick me up or even alongside a sweet treat at the end of the night, this latte is here to satisfy!
Low calorie chai latte
My favorite thing about this latte is probably the fact that it is so customizable. We all know what goes into a chai latte but if you don’t have star anise lying around, you can just leave it out. You can add in or remove any spices and adjust it according to your taste. Personally, I love an overly spiced chai so if you’re anything like me, all the spices are going in!
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- Ready in under 10 minutes.
- This latte is sugar-free, dairy-free and is completely vegan!
- Very authentic, sweet and satisfying!
- Requires just 8 ingredients.
- Contains almost 10x fewer calories than the Starbucks chai latte without compromising taste!
- Perfect for anyone in a calorie deficit cutting down liquid calories.
- The BEST low calorie chai latte ever!
Ingredients
Exact ingredient quantities can be found at the bottom of this page.
To make this low calorie chai latte you will need:
Black tea bag – Use any good quality black tea you have.
Unsweetened almond milk – As always, unsweetened almond milk is my go-to for any beverage. It has the lowest amount of calories of any milk and it tastes great too! You can use any milk you would like here but the calories will be higher depending which you go for.
0 calorie brown sugar – You can use any 0 calorie sweetener for this recipe but I always recommend this brown sugar replacement. It tastes so good and doesn’t leave any of that bitter aftertaste a lot of sweeteners do. Plus, it works great for hot drinks as it dissolves and again, no weird aftertaste!!
Cinnamon – I used half a cinnamon stick for this recipe but you can use ground cinnamon too. If you’re using ground cinnamon, I would recommend 1/2 tsp.
Cardamom – A classic in any chai latte. I used whole cardamom pods but again, ground cardamom will work just fine. Make sure you crush open the pods to get all the flavor! If you’re going to use ground cardamom, I would recommend 1/4 tsp for a milder flavor or 1/2 tsp for a stronger flavor.
Clove – I opted for whole cloves as opposed to ground cloves but both work the same. If you’d prefer ground cloves, I’d recommend a 1/8 tsp of ground cloves.
Ginger – You can either use fresh ginger or ground ginger here. Fresh ginger would probably give a stronger flavor so I would recommend that if you’re after a stronger flavor. I opted for ground ginger which works great too.
Peppercorns – To add that final touch of spice.
How to make a low calorie chai latte
- Add all of the spices and the teabag to a saucepan. Pour in 125ml of boiling water and set aside, covered for 10 minutes. This allows the tea and spices to infuse into the water and create a super flavorful chai.
- Remove the spices from the saucepan and add in the milk and sweetener and set over medium-low heat to simmer. Once the edges start to bubble, remove from the stove.
- Alternatively, you can heat the milk up in the microwave, add the sweetener and mix until well combined. Then strain in the infused tea and mix again.
- Serve in your favorite glass or mug and enjoy!
Low calorie whip cream
This part is completely optional but I love a foamy latte. It is made with steamed milk and adds an extra layer of creaminess and really elevates this low calorie chai latte!
- Warm up 50 ml of any milk of your choosing, make sure it is piping hot. I used barista oat milk
- Using a milk frother, whisk the milk until it’s super foamy and thick – that’s it! Now add it to your chai latte and enjoy!
more low calorie drinks…
33 Calorie Chai Latte
Ingredients
- 1 black teabag
- 125 ml boiling water
- 200 ml unsweetened almond milk
- 2 tbsp 0 calorie brown sugar
- ½ cinnamon stick or ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 cardamom pods or ¼ tsp ground cardamom
- 1 clove or ⅛ tsp ground cloves
- 2 peppercorns
- ½ tsp ground ginger
Instructions
- Add all of the spices and the teabag to a saucepan. Pour in 125ml of boiling water and set aside covered for 10 minutes. This allows the tea and spices to infuse into the water and create a super flavorful chai.
- Remove the spices from the saucepan and add in the milk and sweetener and set over medium-low heat to simmer. Once the edges start to bubble, remove from the stove, about 2-3 minutes.
- Alternatively, you can heat the milk up in the microwave, add the sweetener and mix until well combined. Then strain in the infused tea and mix again.
- Serve in your favorite glass or mug and enjoy!
Nutrition
