A creamy, frothy tea latte can make an everyday cup of tea feel like a café treat, without the café run.
Better yet, making a homemade tea latte is surprisingly simple. At its most basic, a tea latte combines strongly brewed tea with warm, frothed milk and, if you like, a little sweetness. Earl Grey, chai, vanilla, almond and even dessert-inspired teas can all work beautifully.
The trick is choosing a tea with enough flavour to hold its own once the milk is added. Loose leaf tea is especially good for this because you can brew it stronger and experiment with all kinds of flavourful blends.
Ready to make one? Here's how to make a tea latte at home, starting with our easy loose leaf tea latte recipe.
What Is a Tea Latte?
A tea latte is made by combining concentrated brewed tea with steamed or frothed milk. Instead of the espresso used in a traditional café latte, all the flavour comes from the tea.
That leaves plenty of room to play. Black tea creates a rich base, chai brings warmth and spice, while rooibos and herbal blends offer caffeine-free possibilities. Dessert-inspired teas can take things in an entirely different direction.
If you're looking for teas specifically chosen to pair well with milk, explore the Tealish Tea Latte Collection.
How to Make a Tea Latte at Home
You don't need fancy equipment to make a great homemade tea latte. This simple loose leaf tea latte recipe works as a base for all kinds of flavours.
The easiest way to remember it?
Strong tea + milk + optional sweetener = tea latte.
Easy Loose Leaf Tea Latte Recipe
You'll need:
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4–5 heaping teaspoons of Tealish loose leaf tea
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8 oz of hot water
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8 oz of heated or steamed milk
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1–2 teaspoons of your favourite sweetener, optional
Instructions:
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Place the loose leaf tea in an infuser and pour the hot water over it.
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Infuse for 3–5 minutes, or follow the brewing directions for your chosen tea.
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Give the leaves a quick stir while they steep to help release the flavour.
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Remove the tea leaves and add sweetener, if desired.
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Warm your favourite milk and froth until light and foamy. No frother? Warm milk works too.
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Pour the milk into your brewed tea.
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Grab your favourite mug and enjoy.
The tea is intentionally brewed stronger than you might drink it on its own. Once the milk goes in, you want the character of the blend to still come through.
This recipe is based on Tealish's existing tea latte brewing method.
Why Use Loose Leaf Tea for a Tea Latte?
Milk can soften the taste of tea, so starting with a generous amount of loose leaf tea helps create a more balanced drink.
It also means you aren't limited to the usual chai or Earl Grey. Toasted almond, vanilla, chocolate, coconut, rooibos and dessert-inspired blends can all make fantastic lattes.
Your tea cupboard just became considerably more interesting.
Shop Tealish loose leaf tea to explore more blends for your next latte.
What Is the Best Tea for Tea Lattes?
There's no single winner. Generally, the best tea for tea lattes is one with a distinct enough flavour to stay noticeable once milk is added.
Here are a few Tealish favourites to try.
Earl Grey for a Classic London Fog
If you're new to making lattes with tea, Earl Grey is an easy place to begin. Its signature bergamot pairs beautifully with milk, creating the base of a classic London Fog.
Tealish Earl Grey Cream, with its bergamot and vanilla notes, is a natural choice for an Earl Grey tea latte.
Try adding steamed milk and a touch of vanilla or your preferred sweetener.
Chai for Warm Spice
There's a reason chai lattes are a café staple. Chai's warming spices mellow beautifully with milk while still delivering plenty of flavour.
The key is to brew it strong enough that those spices don't get lost.
For a seasonal spin, try Organic Pumpkin Chai for a warm, spiced tea latte.
Almond and Dessert Teas for a Treat
This is where things get fun.
Nutty and dessert-inspired teas can turn a simple latte into something that feels a little more indulgent. Almond Biscotti, for example, offers a toasty flavour that pairs naturally with milk.
You can also experiment with blends such as Tiramisu Tea or Creamy Vanilla Tea for a different take on the traditional latte. Explore the Tealish Dessert Tea Collection for more dessert-inspired options.
Rooibos for a Caffeine-Free Tea Latte
Want something cosy later in the day? Try rooibos or another caffeine-free blend.
Earl Grey Cream Rooibos offers bergamot and vanilla notes without the caffeine of traditional black tea, making it an option for a caffeine-free London Fog-inspired latte.
What Milk Is Best for a Tea Latte?
The short answer: the one you actually enjoy.
Dairy milk gives a classic rich texture, while oat milk is a popular plant-based option thanks to its naturally creamy consistency. Almond, soy and coconut milk can work too.
You can also match your milk to your tea. Almond milk can complement nutty blends, while coconut milk can bring out tropical or coconut notes. For a strong black tea, you may prefer something rich but relatively neutral.
There's no perfect pairing, which is half the fun.
How to Froth Milk for a Tea Latte
A handheld or electric milk frother makes things easy, but it isn't essential. A French press can also create surprisingly good foam.
Warm the milk first, then froth until it's airy and smooth.
No frother at all? Just use warm milk. You'll miss the foamy top, but you'll still have a delicious homemade tea latte.
How to Fix a Tea Latte That Doesn't Taste Quite Right
Sometimes the first attempt needs a tweak. Luckily, most tea latte problems have an easy fix.
Too milky? Make the tea concentrate stronger.
Too bitter? Try a shorter steeping time or check the recommended water temperature for your tea.
Tea flavour disappeared? Choose a bolder blend or increase the amount of loose leaf tea.
Not creamy enough? Froth your milk or try a richer variety.
Needs a little sweetness? Start with a small amount of your favourite sweetener and adjust from there.
Your Next Tea Latte Starts With Great Tea
Learning how to make a tea latte comes down to one easy technique: brew the tea strong, add your favourite milk and adjust until it tastes just right.
From a classic London Fog to chai, almond or a dessert-inspired blend, making your own means you aren't limited to what's written on a café menu.
Not sure which tea to try first? The Tealish Tea Latte Bundle is an easy place to start, with three teas selected to pair with milk and a stainless steel basket infuser.
Or explore the Tealish Tea Latte Collection to find your next latte-worthy loose leaf tea.
