The best milk for chai, from whole milk to oat

The milk matters almost as much as the tea. Chai is made with a lot of it, often equal parts milk and water, so the milk decides how rich the cup is and how far the spice carries. So which is the best milk for chai? Here is how the common choices compare, and what we use.

Whole milk: the classic, and our first choice

Whole milk is what chai is traditionally made with, and it is what we use. The fat carries the spice, so cardamom, ginger and pepper come through rounded rather than sharp. It also handles the boil well, so it is the one to use for stovetop chai with its three rises.

Oat milk: the best plant-based milk for chai

Oat milk is creamy enough to stand in for whole milk, and barista-style oat milk froths well for a latte. Heat it until it steams rather than boiling it hard, because many oat milks thicken or separate at a rolling boil. Some are sweetened, so taste before you add sugar.

Soy milk

Soy milk is creamy, and most brands taste mild enough for chai, though some taste of beans. Heat it gently: it catches on the bottom of the pan and boils over easily, and some brands curdle with hot tea.

Almond milk

Almond milk is lighter and thinner. The spice still comes through, but the cup is less rich. It suits iced chai better than a hot pot, and some brands separate when boiled with tea.

Coconut milk

Coconut milk (the carton kind made for drinking) is rich, but it brings its own flavor. Some people like it with chai, and some find it takes over. Try it in a single cup before making a pot.

Skim milk

Skim milk is the one we would avoid. Without the fat, it cannot carry the spice, and the chai tastes thin and sharper than it should. If you only have skim, use a little less water so the cup is not watery.

How much milk to use

For stovetop chai we use equal parts water and milk: a scant cup (200 ml) of each for two cups, with two level tablespoons of chai. For an iced latte, it is one part chai concentrate to two parts cold milk. Our water-to-milk ratio guide covers how to adjust it to your taste, and the brew guide has every method step by step.

Our pick for the best milk for chai

Whole milk on the stove, and barista oat milk for a latte or for anyone who skips dairy. Both work with our whole-leaf masala chai.