Tea Time Three House-Made Blends You’ll Chai for
A killer chai tea latte, made in-house and not from a box, is surprisingly tough to find. Step into a coffee or tea shop and you’ll likely see the warm, spicy drink on the menu, but this hot concoction is too often crafted from premade mixes. Not so at our favorite haunts. After sipping through chai lattes of all kinds, here we present some of the most delicious from-scratch options.
The Random Tea Room & Curiosity Shop
At this Northern Liberties tea destination, a cup of chai masala includes hints of fresh ginger, brown sugar, vanilla, whole milk from Maplehofe Dairy in Lancaster County, Harmutty Assam tea and rose water for a sip that lingers on the tongue and tingles the throat. $5.25 small; $5.75 large; $9.75 per pot.
713 N. 4th St., 267.639.2442; Tuesday through Sunday, 10am to 8pm.
Chhaya Café
This South Philly spot serves a masala chai latte that’s perfectly light with a pleasant amount of froth. The spice is subtle. With a sip comes a touch of clove, cinnamon, cardamom and sugar: $3 small; $3.50 large.
1819 E. Passyunk Ave., 215.465.1000; Monday through Friday, 7am to 3pm, Saturday and Sunday, 8am to 3pm.
Greenstreet Coffee Co. Café
This shop played with many recipes, finally landing on a harmonious blend of sweet and spice (think heavy cinnamon and nutmeg) for its chai latte. The addition of citric acid to the invigorating Assam tea is the trick, they say, creating a wonderfully light, smooth drink. $4.
1101 Spruce St., 610.504.3934; Monday through Friday, 6am to 8pm, Saturday, 7am to 8pm, and Sunday, 8am to 8pm.
