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Are you a die-hard latte lover but are starting to feel the effects of all the dairy and sugar? Well, worry no more! We've got you covered with some simple tips and tricks to make a healthy latte at home, without sacrificing taste. These simple swaps will turn your guilty-pleasure into a health boosting superfood, and you'll like it just as much! Don't forget to read until the end, where you'll find one of our favorite healthy latte recipes.

 

 

How Can I Make My Latte Healthier?

1. Use Dates To Sweeten

If you want a sweet latte, without any refined sugar, medjool dates are your best friend! Healthier than honey, maple syrup, or agave, dates are whole fruits and come packaged with all the fiber and phytonutrients that make fruit healthy and prevent blood sugar spikes. Not to mention, I think they taste even better once you know how to use them properly!

 

 

How To Use Dates In Your Latte:

1. Soak your date/dates. You MUST soak them in hot water if you want them to blend properly. Do this by adding your pitted medjool date to a small bowl and covering with hot water that is just below a boil. Let it sit for at least 5 minutes. After 5-10 minutes, you'll notice that the date will start to fall apart.
2. Add your soaked and pitted date to a high speed blender, along with your milk that you're using for your latte. Blend on a high speed until completely smooth.
3. Optional: Use a handheld strainer and strain out any date pieces that may have not been blended. I personally skip this step, because I don't mind a little bite of gooey date in my latte. I think it tastes like caramel!

 

2. Use Tea Instead Of Coffee

If you're a coffee lover, I totally get it - it's delicious! But what most people who haven't tried *real* tea don't realize is that tea can be just as delicious, if not more. Although non-herbal teas still have caffeine, the tea plant contains a compound that prevents spikes, which means it's less likely to disrupt your sleep or cause jitters. Plus, there are such a wide variety of tea blends that can help with a variety of health issues from gut health, to brain health. And if you're worried about missing out on that rich coffee flavor, fear not - there are plenty of delicious and flavorful teas out there to explore.

If you're looking for coffee alternatives with caffeine, try Coffee Quitter or Bulletproof Breakfast. If you want a caffeine-free coffee alternative, Smooth Jazz is delicious, with notes of chocolate and vanilla.

In today's latte, we're using Detox Chai, a cleansing tea made with ingredients that help your body's natural detoxification process. It's rich in warming chai spices that make it so yummy as a latte! Check out the recipe at the bottom of this blog.

 

3. Use A Plant-Based Milk

There has been a huge culture switch in recent years from dairy milk to dairy-free milk alternatives, which is awesome! Not only is it great for people with intolerances, but it is also generally lower in calories, lower in saturated fats, and higher in fortified nutrients like Vitamin D. 

Also, there is some evidence to suggest that you may be able to absorb more of the nutrients in tea and coffee when you drink it with non-dairy milk compared to dairy milk. This is because some of the proteins in dairy milk can bind to the antioxidants in tea and coffee. In other words, adding dairy milk to your tea can make it harder for your body to absorb the good stuff from the tea.

So if you're looking for a healthier and lower calorie latte, a plant based milk is a great alternative!

 

4. Add Spices

Spices are little sprinkles of magic: they not only transform your latte in terms of flavor, but also in terms of health benefits! Spices are packed with antioxidants, aid in digestion, can help boost your mood and have been shown to reduce inflammation.

 

 

Spices like ginger and coriander can help improve digestion by stimulating the production of digestive enzymes in the body. Other spices, like turmeric and nutmeg, contain compounds that can help stimulate the production of feel-good hormones in the brain, like serotonin and dopamine.

 

Try This Healthy, Delicious Detox Chai Latte Recipe

This delicious latte checks all the boxes! Using a plant based milk, tea instead of coffee, spices, and dates to sweeten, this latte is still creamy, sweet and delicious. Let's get to it:

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon Detox Chai
• 1 tsp black tea (such as Earl Grey)
• 2.5 cups of water
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 cup soy milk (or another dairy-free milk of choice)
• 1 pitted medjool date, soaked

*You also need a high-powered and heat safe blender, a small saucepan and a handheld strainer. Although an investment, I highly recommend a Vitamix blender. It's leaps and bounds better than any other blender I've ever tried and lasts a lifetime. I use this saucepan and this strainer, but use whatever you have!

 

 

Directions:

1. Add your Detox Chai and cinnamon stick to your saucepan. Cover with the water and turn the heat to medium-high. Once it reaches a light boil, turn the heat down to low and let it simmer for 10 minutes.
2. After 10 minutes, add your Earl Grey tea leaves to the saucepan and let it simmer for another 3 minutes.
3. Strain your tea by slowly pouring it through the handheld strainer, separating the teas from the leaves.
4. Add your strained tea, the soaked medjool date (see directions above), and the soy milk to your blender. Blend until completely smooth. Not only does blending allow you to use dates to sweeten, but it also makes it so deliciously frothy!
5. Pour into your favorite mug, top with a shake of extra cinnamon, and enjoy :)

 

So, there you have it, folks! Making your latte healthier doesn't have to be a daunting task. With a little creativity and some simple swaps, you can enjoy your lattes without the consequences! Remember to experiment with different ingredients to find what works best for you, and don't forget to savor every sip. I hope you found this blog helpful and this recipe delicious! If you did, you might also like this Lavender Chai Tea Latte Recipe.