Associate web editor Rochelle Bilow really loves breakfast. Sure, she’s a morning person by nature, but what she really digs about breakfast is that it’s an opportunity to start the day on the right foot. It’s a chance to eat something healthy, fast, and homemade. This week, she's ditching her morning coffee for a hot tea latte.
A recent trip out West brought me to The Little Owl in Denver, Colorado. As far as coffee shops go, this one was pretty much my dream joint: sleek wood bars, cream poured out of twee crystal saucers, and tiny bowls of caramel-y raw sugar (sweetener and decor). I had planned on ordering a pour-over coffee as I posted up to do some work, but something else caught my eye.
The "specials" menu described a hot drink made with chamomile tea, steamed milk, and a drizzle of simple syrup. I ordered one immediately. It was the perfect antidote to what was shaping up to be a wet, gray day: The drink was herbaceous, creamy, and just slightly sweet. I felt like I wanted to sip it all day and, thanks to the no-caffeine content of chamomile, I could.
Although I love the way an espresso machine whips milk into a frenzy, you can hack this drink at home with a little elbow grease. To begin, steep the tea of your choice—caffeinated or not. I err on the side of over-steeping, so the tea doesn't taste weak when diluted with milk. As the tea brews, heat milk along with a drizzle of honey in a sauce pot set over medium; I like the floral notes that honey brings. You could also use sugar (the heat will melt the crystals so you don't need to make a simple syrup, although you certainly could use one if you have it on hand). As the milk warms, beat it vigorously with a whisk. Don't let it come to a boil, but continue whisking until it just begins to simmer. While it's still frothy, pour it over your prepared tea.
This can also be prepared with alt-milks, like almond or rice milk, but know that most alt-milks don't froth as aggressively as dairy milk.