How to Make Creamy Pumpkin Spice Rooibos Tea Latte
It’s that time of year again when the leaves are turning beautiful shades of red, orange, purple, and yellow, and gardens are giving their last fruits of the season. As the days begin to get cooler, and I find myself swapping my iced drinks for warm ones, my interest in all things pumpkin begins to grow. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin soup, and of course, pumpkin spice lattes, start to cross my mind. While I don’t drink coffee, my children and I do enjoy red rooibos tea. And that’s when the idea to make a creamy pumpkin spice rooibos tea latte hit me!
Why You’ll Love It
This pumpkin spice rooibos tea latte is rich, creamy, and dairy-free! I use Oatly oat milk which really elevates the flavour and texture. If you haven’t tried Oatly, I highly recommend you do! In my opinion, it gives the best taste and a creamy texture that’s superior to any other plant-based milk I’ve tried.
What I really love about this drink is that it tastes decadent, but it’s healthy! It’s cholesterol-free, contains no refined sugars, and tastes rich like your favourite latte from Starbucks! To make a diabetic-friendly version, simply replace the maple syrup with monk fruit sweetener or stevia.
Health Benefits of Red Rooibos Tea
As for the red rooibos tea, it has a slightly sweet, nutty taste with many health benefits. It’s rich in antioxidants which protect against oxidative stress and free radical damage. Oxidative stress and free radical damage have been linked to several health conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular diseases, and even cancer. The antioxidants in red rooibos tea can also help reduce inflammation in the body which is a precursor for chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and type 2 diabetes.
Because of its high antioxidant content, red rooibos tea is an ideal drink during flu season. Antioxidants boost the immune system by protecting immune cells from oxidative damage. They also reduce inflammation which can weaken the immune system over time. And any damaged cells and tissues involved in immune defence are repaired, in part, by antioxidants.
Another great reason to drink red rooibos tea is that it contains compounds that relieve digestive discomfort. Because of this, it is used to ease indigestion, stomach cramps and diarrhea.
And if you’re concerned about premature aging, then you might want to make red rooibos a regular part of your diet. The antioxidants found in this tea neutralize free radicals that can damage the skin and accelerate signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles.
On top of it all, red rooibos is an excellent substitute for coffee and black, green, and white tea because it’s caffeine-free and low in tannins. This means it can be enjoyed any time of day, and without the headaches if you’re sensitive to caffeine like I am. And because it’s low in tannins, it does not interfere with the body’s ability to absorb plant sources of iron the way coffee and some other teas can. I regularly make red rooibos tea for my kids as they love the taste and I don’t need to worry about negative impacts to their health.
Tools You May Need
- Medium Pot
- Whisk
- Liquid measuring cup
- Measuring spoons
Ingredients
- Oatly oat milk – other plant-based milks can be used, but the flavour and texture will be different
- Red rooibos tea bags
- Pumpkin pie spice – if you don’t have pumpkin pie spice, you can make your own using cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves (see notes)
- Maple syrup – honey and agave are also good options
How to Make Creamy Pumpkin Spice Rooibos Tea Latte
Warm milk in a pot over medium heat. Add pumpkin pie spice and maple syrup to the pot while stirring.
Heat the milk until it just begins to boil. Watch the pot as once the milk reaches the boiling point, it will quickly expand and can overflow.
Remove from heat, and add the tea bag to the pot. Allow it to steep for up to 5 minutes and then remove.
Enjoy!
Notes
- I prefer Oatly oat milk for this recipe, but any milk can be used.
- If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice on hand, you can make your own using 1 tbsp of cinnamon, 2/3 tsp ground ginger, 2/3 tsp ground nutmeg, 1/2 tsp ground allspice, and 1/2 tsp ground cloves. Yields just under 2 tbsps.
- Loose rooibos tea can also be used. Use 1 tbsp in a tea strainer.
- If you would like to make this drink a little decadent, top with coconut whipped cream and a light sprinkle of cinnamon.
- Maple syrup pairs well with pumpkin pie spice, but any sweetener can be used. Try honey, agave nectar, monk fruit, or stevia.
How to Make Creamy Pumpkin Spice Rooibos Tea Latte
Ingredients
- 2.5 cups Oatly oat milk or other plant-based milk
- 1.5 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
- 2 tbsp Maple syrup more or less to taste
- 1 Red Rooibos tea bag
Instructions
- Bring milk to just boiling in a pot over medium heat
- While the milk is heating, whisk in pumpkin pie spice and maple syrup
- As the milk begins to boil, remove from heat, and add the red rooibos tea bag to the pot. Let steep for up to 5 minutes.
- Transfer to mugs and sprinkle with a little cinnamon. Enjoy!
Notes
- Oatly oat milk gives a rich, creamy texture, but any plant-based milk can be used.
- Maple syrup can be substituted with another sweetener or omitted altogether.
- If pumpkin pie spice is not available, make your own using 1 tbsp cinnamon, 2/3 tsp ground ginger, 2/3 tsp ground nutmeg, 1/2 tsp ground allspice, and 1/2 tsp ground cloves.
- Watch the milk when it’s about to boil as it expands quickly and can overflow.