Skip the coffee shop and make this DIY Dirty Chai Latte Recipe at home! Made with cashew or almond milk, this delicious drink is dairy-free, gluten-free and perfect for fall.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Oregon Chai®. The opinions and text are all mine.
There are plenty of areas of my life where I feel like I excel, but self-care has never been one of them.
Over the years, I’ve struggled to make time for the things that seem effortless for some. Things like regular haircuts and manicures went out the window when I became a mom.
Those lazy afternoons reading? Gone.
Netflix binge-watching? Nope, there is always too much to do.
And don’t even get me started on how long I neglected to take a few minutes for myself every day.
Why didn’t I realize sooner what twenty minutes with a magazine and a great drink – like this Dirty Chai Latte – could do for me?
When the boys were little, I assumed that I would eventually find my footing and a new normal that would involve some level of self-care would reemerge.
About a year and a half ago, I was near my breaking point, and a friend told me something that though I’d heard before had never sunk in.
“If you don’t take time for yourself, you can’t take care of everyone else.”
Of course, all moms have heard this.
But that day, I finally GOT it.
Maybe because I felt so fragile and broken. Or maybe because the person it came from was someone I would have expected to offer advice more along the lines of, “Toughen up buttercup!”
These days, I make time for myself.
Every.
Single.
Day.
Whereas in the past I would have been quick to stop and give the kids my attention when they demanded it, time to myself is now non-negotiable.
What I have found is that it isn’t necessarily about a massage once a month, or a weekend away without the kids that fuels my soul. While those things are indeed lovely, what keeps my batteries charged is the consistency.
It is simple acts that I engage in daily.
Thirty minutes of quiet with a magazine, and my favorite Dirty Chai Latte made with Oregon Chai® Tea Latte Concentrate. (Best of all, it is so easy to make. All it takes is a quick run to Target and five minutes!)
Not because it is my birthday. But because it is Tuesday. And I deserve it.
Or a bubble bath with….gasp…the door locked.
And mommy guilt for this time? You won’t find it here.
The boys are old enough that unless they caught something on fire, there is little that can’t wait.
And while Skye likes to THINK her every need should be a crisis for me, there is little that she needs that the boys can’t handle. (And, lucky me, they are fantastic with her.)
What I’ve come to realize is that it is good for her to learn to wait for me. It is good for her to see me take care of myself.
And it is good for me.
I love to make my “me time” special with a drink I love, and this Dirty Chai Latte fits the bill. A few minutes of escape from everyday chaos is just what I need to recharge. A little indulgence is worth it to feed my soul.
I make it with Oregon Chai Tea Latte Concentrate, which is organic and non-GMO Project Verified. I love how easy it makes whipping up a delicious drink.
You know what else I like? Oregon Chai is a company I can feel good about supporting.
They are dedicated to being good to the earth. Oregon Chai is green, sustainable, and strives to create a small carbon footprint.
They are also good to the community. Oregon Chai’s project, Operation Gratitude, has shipped over one million care packages to active duty military and veterans. It is nice to know that my “me time” is supporting something bigger.
Want to start your own ritual of self-care? Through 11/10/18 you can save on Oregon Chai with Cartwheel in the Target app! —->>> HERE
Frequently Asked Questions for Dirty Chai Latte:
What is a Dirty Chai Latte?
A Dirty Chai Latte is a Chai Latte with a shot of espresso added. If you want to make a Dirty Chai Latte recipe at home and don’t have an espresso maker, you can substitute extra-strong coffee.
What You Will Need to Make this Dirty Chai Latte Recipe:
- Oregon Chai Tea Latte Concentrate
- Milk of choice
- Espresso or strong coffee
- Saucepan
- Blender or immersion blender
Dirty Chai Latte
Dirty Chai Latte
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups Oregon Chai Tea Latte Concentrate
- 1 1/2 cups milk I used cashew milk
- 2 ounces espresso or 5 ounces extra-strong brewed coffee
Instructions
- Place the Oregon Chai Tea Latte Concentrate and milk in a saucepan and heat over medium heat until the mixture comes to a simmer.
- Add espresso or coffee and use an immersion blender to blend until foamy and frothy.
- Alternatively, transfer mixture to a blender and blend for 5 to 10 seconds.
- Divide among mugs and serve immediately.
Notes
Variations for Dirty Chai Latte
- Make it a Pumpkin Chai Latte Recipe! Omit the coffee and add a 1/2 cup of pumpkin puree and 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin spice.
Stacie
That looks so perfect for fall and winter! The drink and the ingredients are both so warming. I have to make this.
Samantha
That sounds great! I love chai. I love that more people are drinking it now, so much more variety.
Ann F. Snook-Moreau
Yum yum yum! Chai lattes are my jam . . . I love the spicy sweet flavor! Dirty chai used to be my go-to drink when I drank coffee.
Sarah Bailey
Now this I can imagine becoming the drink of winter! What an absolutely delicious sounding latte! I may have to whip this up for friends and family.
Brianne Manz
I could drink this every.single.day. It not only looks delicious it sounds so calming and yummy. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Shannan P
Chai with espresso? Count me in! Also, I don’t have to leave the house to have it? BONUS!
Ruth I
I love to drink latte but never had chai latte before. It looks so good! Love that I can easily make one and enjoy this every day.
sara lafountain
I made this dirty chai latte for my Mom and she loved it! It was warm and full of flavor and spice.
Melanie Walsh
30 minutes with a Dirty Chai Latte and a magazine sound like heaven! I’m a fan of all things pumpkin, so I’ll definitely need to try the pumpkin version this fall also.