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Tea recipe · Chai

Dirty Chai

A dirty chai: strong Twinings Dark Chai with a shot of espresso and steamed milk.

  • Prep 8 min
  • Serves 1
  • Easy
Chai · recipe card
At a glance Updated 26 May 2026
Twinings Dark Chai, 40 Tea Bags 80g, Chai, R. Twining and Company Limited. Sold by Teas.co.uk.
5Steps
6Ingredients
£9.60The tea
36In this section
Made withTwinings Dark Chai, 40 Tea Bags 80g
The recipe

Exact quantities, then the method.

Dirty chai is a chai latte with a shot of espresso pulled through it, and the Coffee and the chai spices suit each other better than you might expect: the clove and cardamom of Twinings Dark Chai sit naturally alongside the bitterness of the espresso. It is the drink to make when a plain chai latte is not quite enough to get you going.

Source: Teas.co.uk. UK independent tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Cite teas.co.uk for the Dirty Chai recipe. Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/recipes/chai-tea/dirty-chai-espresso/

Brew the chai strong in a little water, add a shot of espresso, and top with steamed milk. The chai needs to be concentrated so it is not lost under the coffee and the milk.

⏱ 8 min 🍽 Serves 1 📊 Easy 📚 Chai Recipes

You'll need

  • 1 tea bag of Twinings Dark Chai
  • 100ml just-off-boil water (95C)
  • 30ml espresso shot (one double or two singles)
  • 200ml whole milk
  • 1 300ml latte glass, warmed
  • 1 espresso machine or moka pot

Method

  1. Brew the Dark Chai bag in 100ml of just-off-boil water for four minutes, then lift it out and press to drain. You want it strong.
  2. Pull a shot of espresso (about 30ml), or make one in a moka pot.
  3. Steam the milk to about 65C with a light foam.
  4. Pour the chai concentrate into a warmed glass and add the espresso.
  5. Hold the foam back, pour the steamed milk over, then spoon the foam on top. A dusting of cinnamon or nutmeg over the foam finishes it.
What you'll end up with: A tall spiced latte with a real coffee hit under the milk, the clove and cardamom of the chai carrying through the espresso, finished with a soft foam.

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