A tea latte is a delicious and comforting drink that has become popular at coffee shops and cafes. But what exactly goes into making a tea latte? Let’s break it down into the key ingredients and steps.
The Tea Base
All tea lattes start with a base of brewed tea. Black tea, green tea, white tea, oolong tea, rooibos tea, or herbal blends can be used. The tea is brewed strong, usually double strength, to allow for dilution from steamed milk or foam.
Some of the most common types of tea used are:
- Black tea – Assam, Ceylon, English breakfast
- Green tea – Sencha, matcha
- White tea – Silver needle, white peony
- Oolong tea – Tieguanyin, Da Hong Pao
- Rooibos – Red rooibos
- Herbal – Chamomile, peppermint, hibiscus
The tea used will greatly affect the flavor profile of the final drink. Black tea makes a richer, maltier latte while green tea lends delicate grassy notes. Herbals like peppermint create a refreshing, menthol latte.
Frothy Foam
A signature feature of tea lattes is the layer of frothy foam or microfoam floating on top. This is created by steaming or foaming milk until it takes on a rich, creamy texture.
The most common types of milk used are:
- Whole milk – Creates thick, long-lasting foam
- 2% milk – Less fat than whole milk, still foams well
- Non-dairy milks – Soy, oat, almond, coconut
The milk is steamed using a steam wand on an espresso machine. Non-dairy milks can be foamed using a milk frother. Foam is prepared just before assembly to preserve the light, airy texture.
Flavorings
Spices, sweeteners, and other flavorings can be added to tea lattes to customize the taste.
Common flavorings include:
- Honey – For natural sweetness
- Maple syrup – Adds rich, earthy sweetness
- Vanilla – Enhances creaminess
- Cinnamon – Warming spice flavor
- Cardamom – Perfumey, exotic spice
- Ginger – Zesty kick
- Pumpkin pie spice – Clove, nutmeg, cinnamon
Flavorings complement different tea bases. For example, vanilla goes well with black tea while ginger pairs nicely with green tea. Typically 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of flavoring is added per 8-12 oz latte.
Assembly
To assemble a tea latte:
- Brew a strong batch of tea, double strength. Allow to cool slightly.
- Steam or foam milk until frothy.
- Add any flavorings to the tea.
- Fill cup halfway with tea.
- Pour steamed milk gently over the back of a spoon to float on top.
- Top with more froth if desired.
- Dust with spices like cinnamon or cocoa powder if wanted.
The frothy foam provides an insulating layer to keep the latte hot. Tea lattes are often served in clear glass mugs or cups to show off the layered presentation.
Variations
There are many possible variation of tea lattes depending on the ingredients used.
Type of Tea
- London Fog – Earl grey tea with vanilla and steamed milk.
- Matchaccino – Matcha green tea latte.
- Turmeric Latte – Turmeric, ginger, pepper, steamed milk.
- Rooibos Latte – Sweetened red rooibos tea.
- Masala Chai Latte – Chai tea concentrate with steamed milk and spices.
Flavored Tea Lattes
- Vanilla – Black tea with vanilla syrup.
- Honey cinnamon – Black tea with honey and cinnamon.
- Pumpkin spice – Black tea with pumpkin pie spices.
- Brown sugar – Black tea with brown sugar syrup.
- Lavender – Herbal lavender tea with honey.
Frothy Foam
- Microfoam – Low foam milk texture.
- Foam top – Extra thick layer of steamed foam.
- Froth free – No foam, just hot tea and steamed milk.
Playing around with different types of tea, milk, sweeteners and spices is a fun way to invent your own signature tea latte recipes!
Benefits
Beyond being delicious, tea lattes offer a few potential health benefits:
- Provide hydration from the water and milk/foam.
- Contain antioxidants from tea including polyphenols, catechins, and flavonoids.
- Get beneficial compounds from spices like cinnamon, turmeric, and ginger.
- Typically lower in caffeine than coffee drinks (except matcha).
- Warming and comforting, can promote relaxation.
Of course, the amount of sugar, milk, and caffeine should be monitored for anyone watching their health. But when made properly, tea lattes can be a relatively healthy beverage choice.
Popularity
Tea lattes have exploded in popularity in recent years. They are on the menu at coffee shop chains like Starbucks as well as independent cafes. People love their versatility and the variety of flavors that can be created.
According to a survey by the Tea Association of the USA, tea lattes grew in popularity by 5.3% from 2019 to 2020. They are now the second most popular tea beverage after traditional iced tea.
Their popularity may be attributed to several factors:
- Greater awareness and appreciation of high quality, loose leaf tea.
- The rise of milk foam and espresso machines at cafes.
- Interest in customization and specialty coffee/tea drinks.
- Desire for cozy, comforting hot drinks.
Tea lattes allow the robust flavor of tea to shine with the creamy addition of foamed milk. This winning combination has made tea lattes a staple on cafe menus and a favorite morning or afternoon treat for tea lovers.
| Year | Popularity Growth of Tea Lattes |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1.2% |
| 2018 | 2.7% |
| 2019 | 4.1% |
| 2020 | 5.3% |
Preparation Tips
Follow these tips for making the perfect tea latte at home:
- Always start with fresh, high quality loose leaf tea.
- Grind tea leaves smaller for better extraction.
- Use purified or filtered water just off the boil.
- Steep black tea for 3-5 minutes, green tea for 2-3 minutes.
- Heat milk until steaming with foam on top.
- Pour milk gently into tea using a spoon to hold back foam.
- Use an electric frother if you don’t have an espresso machine.
- Store any leftover concentrated tea in the fridge for iced tea.
It may take some trial and error to nail the ideal tea to milk ratio and foam thickness for your tastes. The beauty of tea lattes is you can constantly tweak and improve your recipe.
Storage
To retain the optimal flavor and texture, drink your tea latte immediately after making. The foam tends to dissipate quickly and the drink may become bitter if left to steep too long.
If you want to make tea lattes in advance, here are some storage tips:
- Brew a strong tea concentrate and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Steam and foam milk just before serving.
- For iced tea lattes, brew tea and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Mix with ice and milk before drinking.
- Avoid storing completed tea lattes with milk/foam for more than 4 hours.
Tea lattes always taste freshest when assembled right before drinking. But storing the components separately extends the shelf life by a few days.
Troubleshooting
Here are some common issues and how to troubleshoot them when making tea lattes:
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Tea is too weak | Use more tea leaves or steep longer |
| Tea is too strong/bitter | Use fewer tea leaves or steep for less time |
| Milk doesn’t foam | Ensure milk is chilled; use whole or 2% milk |
| Foam is thin and bubbly | Steam milk longer; position wand lower in milk |
| Latte has weak tea flavor | Use a tea concentrate instead of single strength |
| Latte doesn’t stay layered | Spoon hot milk over back of spoon slowly |
| Latte gets bitter over time | Only make amount you’ll drink right away |
It takes practice to craft the perfect tea latte! Don’t hesitate to tweak ratios and methods until you nail your ideal drink.
Conclusion
Tea lattes have become a favorite handcrafted drink for good reason – they offer endless versatility to create the perfect combination of tea flavors, milk, and sweeteners. With so many types of tea and possible customizations, you could try a new tea latte every day and never get bored. Understanding the key ingredients and proper preparation methods allows you to create a restaurant-worthy tea latte in your own kitchen. So go forth and experiment with teas, milks, spices and flavors to find your signature tea latte recipe!