Chai Latte: the Ultimate AIP Coffee Alternative
This healthy AIP-compliant chai latte is the perfect drink to start off the day. The warming spices give you a gentle wake up. It makes an excellent coffee replacement.
I have to admit, I was hooked on coffee before I started the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) in January 2024. But when I read that no coffee is allowed, it made it so much harder to get started.
This AIP coffee substitute has been my life saver. It has become my daily go to! And even when I started reintroducing coffee, I still preferred this drink above coffee as my first drink in the morning.
I hope that you can find a recipe that you enjoy as much as I enjoy this recipe. I feel this has been a great contributor for me in keeping me going throughout the elimination phase of the AIP-diet.
My AIP diet friendly chai latte ingredients:
What I love about this chai latte recipe is that it is easy to make. You only need 4 spices. Most of which you might already have in your pantry or can easily find in the grocery store.
Cinnamon comes from the dried bark of trees grown in southeast Asia. A little goes a long way to add a nice spicy punch to drinks and meals.
Ginger is also derived from a root (from southeast Asia) and adds some complex flavor to any dish. A little bit spicy, sweet and fruity all in one.
Cloves are aromatic flower buds of a tree originally from Indonesia and add warmth to the chai
Mace is the outer covering of nutmeg (which is a seed). But because mace itself is not part of the seed it is an AIP-compliant alternative to nutmeg. Keep this in mind for all other recipes where you might need to replace nutmeg.
There are a million different recipes and variations out there. I have seen recipes with 7 or more ingredients. You can use ready to use ground spices, or you can make it using whole spices.
The options are endless, and that’s what I love about it! Once I am back on reintroducing seeds and seed based spices I will definitely try out a few different options.
Experiment with different milk options. Using nut milk, oat milk, coconut milk, normal cow’s milk – try them all and see what you like the best. We prefer to use our homemade coconut milk. The subtle coconut flavor goes very well with this caffeine-free chai latte mix.
Why is chai latte good for you?
I am not going to go into details, as I am no expert in all the health benefits. But from my understanding, there are quite a few health benefits that chai lattes provide.
The benefits depend on the spice combination you add to your mix. But in general, some of the spices are rich in antioxidants and can help regulate digestive systems, thus improving gut health. The cinnamon in chai can help in reducing blood pressure.
2. Add spices to the water
3. As it heats up it will start foaming
4. Make sure it does not boil over and make a mess
How to make a chai latte:
I use already ground spices, for the ease of use. I premix the chai powder in a little mason jar and then I am ready to go for a few weeks. To do this, I just multiply the recipe by 6 and add it to a small mason jar.
In the mornings, I boil a pot of water, and for each cup of water I add 1/2 teaspoons of mix. Once it starts boiling, be careful and keep a good eye. This mixture likes to boil over and make a huge mess.
Remove from the heat once boiled, and let sit for a minute to allow a large amount of the sediment to settle. I then pour it into my cup, add some homemade coconut milk and crawl back into bed.
For my second cup, I reheat the mixture. And if needed, add some more water and reheat. We find that 2 teaspoons of the mixture can give us up to between 4 and 6 cups of latte. Just keep adding water.
Of course this doesn’t sound much like a latte, with only a splash of milk. But that’s how we like it.
If I want this AIP coffee alternative to be a bit creamier, I add more milk and less water. It depends on my mood and how well I slept the night before.
I would love to hear from you about what you think of this recipe, compared to what you are used to. Or perhaps you have some ideas to improve on this recipe? Drop a comment below, or send me a message, let’s exchange ideas and elevate our chai latte!
Enjoy your cuppa chai
Crawl back into bed or curl up on the couch to enjoy your morning cuppa coffee replacement. This warming caffeine-free drink will give you a gentle wake up!
And if you want to shake it up and try something different, why not try this turmeric latte recipe for it’s health benefits, or this beetroot latte for an evening treat.
If you make this chai latte recipe, I would love to hear how it turned out. Either comment below or share a picture on Instagram and tag me @thrive.and.balance
Chai Latte Recipe
Equipment
- saucepan to warm your milk
- measuring spoons to measure our chai powder mix
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons Ginger Powder
- 2 teaspoons Cinnamon Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Mace Powder (or Nutmeg if you are not on AIP)
- ¼ teaspoon Ground Cloves
- 4 cups milk of choice (or milk water mixture)
- Optional: natural sweetener such as honey or maple syrup
Instructions
- measure out 4 cups of milk/water mix into a saucepan. Add a little bit extra (about half a cup) as you will lose some due to the sediment settling at the bottom
- measure out your spices and add to the saucepan
- on your cooktop warm your milk, but do not boil. If using only water you can bring to the boil, but make sure you watch it as it likes to boil over and make a big mess
- turn off the heat, let it sit for a minute and then pour into your cup
- sit back and enjoy
Frequently Asked Questions
Where to buy the ingredients for the chai latte powder mix
- Most of the ingredients are readily available in any grocery store in the spice section. Ginger powder might also be available there, or perhaps in the heath food isle. If not, heath food stores or online places such as Amazon or similar will definitely have it. Mace was the only one I had to order from Amazon, as I could not find it elsewhere.
- Of course organic is always best, as it reduces your exposure to chemicals.
What does chai latte it taste like?
- It is a warm aromatic drink. The spices add a little hint of sweetness, but overall it is a earthy, warming drink. Very difficult to describe the flavor. The milk you choose will also add some flavor.
What other spices can one add to chai latte?
- Chai latte comes in so many variations. Other ingredients I have seen in recipes include black tea, cardamom, all spice, coriander, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg/mace, vanilla, anise, black or white pepper, fennel seeds.
