Articles Reflecting a Vegan Lifestyle used with permission from All-Creatures.org

Victoria Moran shares three recipes for delicious, festive, vegan tea lattes to help keep warm and cozy during the fall season.

Lovely Autumn Lattes, collected by Victoria Moran
From Victoria Moran, Main Street Vegan Academy, MainStreetVegan.com
October 2024

Images from Canva

Originally printed in the Main Street Vegan blog, MainStreetVegan.com.

Twenty-five years ago I wrote in my book Creating a Charmed Life, “I don’t think I’ve ever been unhappy in October.” I’m not sure I’d be quite that positive now, but I do love fall, the cool air, the crisp leaves, the holidays coming. I love sweaters and boots, early evenings, and some comforting comestible in a bowl or mug. Here are some warmers to try to celebrate the season, all featuring a plethora of antioxidant-rich spices. I’m fine using powdered spices but the cinnamon stick, star anise, and whole cloves make these libations all the more festive.

My tea cupboard. It’s comforting just to look in here. Photo from MainStreetVegan.com

Classic Chai Latte

Ingredients:

• 2 cups unsweetened almond milk (or oat milk for creaminess)
• 2 black tea bags (or 1 Tbls. loose black tea)
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4-5 cardamom pods, crushed
• 3-4 whole cloves
• 1-inch piece of fresh ginger, sliced
• 1-2 Tbls. maple syrup or coconut sugar (adjust to taste)
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract (optional)
• Pinch of black pepper

Instructions:

1. In a saucepan, bring almond milk to a simmer over medium heat.
2. Add cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, cloves, and ginger.
3. Simmer gently for 5-7 minutes to allow the spices to infuse.
4. Add the black tea bags and simmer for another 3-5 minutes.
5. Remove from heat, strain the mixture into mugs, and sweeten with maple syrup or coconut sugar.
6. Stir in vanilla extract if desired. Top with a sprinkle of cinnamon, and serve hot.

Note: In a pinch, Blue Lotus Masala Chai, pictured, can fill in for the black tea and assorted spices.

Left: I don’t remember where I had this chai, but I’ll always remember the star. Right: Brazil Nut Chai, Peacefood Cafe, NYC. Photos from MainStreetVegan.com

Caffeine-Free Chai Latte

Ingredients:

• 2 cups unsweetened soy milk
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4-5 cardamom pods, crushed
• 3-4 whole cloves
• 1 star anise
• 1-inch piece of fresh ginger, sliced
• 1 rooibos tea bag
• 1 Tbls. maple syrup or date syrup
• 1/2 tsp. ground turmeric
• 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
• Pinch of black pepper

Instructions:

1. Heat the soy milk in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, star anise, ginger, turmeric, and nutmeg. Stir well.
3. Let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes to enhance the spice flavors.
4. Add the rooibos tea bag and let it steep for 5 minutes.
5. Strain the chai into a cup, sweeten with maple or date syrup, and sprinkle with a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg.

Note: I tested this using no tea bag at all, just the hot milk and a bit more of some of the spices: a quarter-teaspoon of powered cinnamon in addition to the stick and 1/3 tsp. of nutmeg.

Golden Milk

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsweetened almond or cashew milk
• 1/2 tsp. ground turmeric (or 1-inch piece fresh turmeric, grated)
• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. ground ginger (or 1/2 inch fresh ginger, grated)
• Pinch of black pepper (to enhance turmeric absorption)
• 1 tsp. maple syrup or date syrup
• 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a small saucepan, heat the almond milk over medium heat.
2. Add turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, and black pepper. Whisk well to combine.
3. Let the mixture simmer for 5-7 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
4. Remove from heat and sweeten with maple syrup or date syrup.
5. Pour into a mug, top with a sprinkle of cinnamon, and enjoy.

Note: Fresh turmeric can be hard to find but it’s some kinda orange magic, to be experienced at least once. If you’re using fresh turmeric, be careful: It can stain your fingers. Gaia Golden Milk is pictured; it’s good and contains ayurveda’s super-herb for stress, anxiety, and sleeplessness, ashwagandha. But if you have the time to indulge in fresh spices, it’s worth the effort.

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Posted on All-Creatures: October 29, 2025
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