Iced Chai Lattes Recipe
You know that I love my coffee, but sometimes I like to mix this up with chai. I love the warming and sweet flavors of all of those spices.
This iced chi latte is a great way to cool down and wake up, and its so easy to make at home. Skip that Starbucks line, and treat yourself to one of these in comfort!
Be sure to try my Spiked Chai and Chai Tea Milkshake too!
Use Chai Spices From Scratch
- In a saucepan, combine all ingredients, milk, water, honey, ginger, spices, and tea bags.
- Heat over medium heat until the milk is infused with the tea and the spices. Keep the heat on medium so you don’t evaporate too much of the milk.Pro tip – I prefer to do this on the stovetop, but you can also do this in a microwave-safe measuring cup and heat it until it is hot and bubbling.
- Strain into two chai cups. Top with milk foam or cream. Sprinkle with cinnamon.
Is There The Difference Between A Chai Latte And A Dirty Chai
Somebody might be wondering what the difference between a chai latte and dirty chai is. A chai latte is a type of tea drink containing cinnamon, cardamon, clove, and ginger. Dirty chai is like a chai latte with the addition of espresso. The addition of coffee to the drink gives it a stronger flavour than a regular chai latte. If you cannot choose which to have, a cup of chai latte or coffee, then dirty chai may be the best option. As a coffee lover myself, this drink is a great invention!
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The Choice Of Utensils
To make a perfect tea latte, you will need some basic utensils. They include a kettle and a teapot or a strainer to brew tea, and something to steam and froth the milk. The easiest way to brew tea is using a teapot with a strainer, cotton tea filter, or a tea infusing basket. If you have a coffee machine or a milk steamer where you can steam and froth the milk, you wont need any other utensils. Alternatively, you can use the microwave or boil the tea on the stove.
Pikes Place Coffee Is Perfect For Making Iced Coffee
- As a Starbucks Ambassador, I do receive products and other items to facilitate and share the latest coffee and tea news with you. As always I share my honest opinions, these are all my own words and images.
- This post has been updated to include more awesome drink recipes for you to try!
Be sure to visit Starbucks in their retail outlets or online to see all the latest offerings from the mini Frappuccinos to their iced to-go cups. My favorite new cup is their Pineapple 24 ounce iced cup! When we hit the retail stores Sammies drink favorites are their iced green tea and Vanilla Bean Frappuccino with raspberry added. I splurge on their Iced Salted Caramel Mocha or other Carmel drinks with soy.
What Starbucks drinks have you been trying lately??
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How To Make An Iced Chai Latte With Premade Chai Concentrate
This is the instant version because it really couldnt be any faster.
Simply pour three ingredients over ice, and youre ready to go!
Purchasing chai concentrate can get expensive, but it beats the price of stopping at coffee houses every day!
NOTE: Some links are affiliate. All opinions are my own. If you click on a link and make a purchase, Ill earn a small commission. This has zero impact on the price you pay, and it helps to support Buttered Side Up!
How Does Starbucks Make Tea Latte
One of our simple pleasures is a freshly made tea latte from Starbucks.
The creamy, sweet milk, along with the aromatic tea is a perfect way to start the day or take a mid-afternoon break.
Starbucks makes tea lattes using their Teavana range of teas. Launched in 2015 Starbucks Teavana options range from fruit teas perfect for iced cold brew drinks to black teas like English Breakfast and Chai that are popular Starbucks tea latte orders.
When making hot tea lattes, Starbucks uses your tea of choice, sugar syrup, and your dairy or non-dairy milk of choice.
For a Tall tea latte, Starbucks uses 1 tea bag with 3 pumps of syrup. A Grande tea latte uses 2 tea bags with 4 pumps of syrup, and a Venti tea latte uses2 tea bags with 5 pumps of syrup.
That may seem like a lot but the sugar syrups balance the tea and frothed milk!
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Chai Concentrate From Tea Bags
This is my favorite method because chai tea bags are easy to find and have a long shelf life. You can also use as much of any sweetener of choice or make a sugar free chai latte. You can easily whip up a small or large batch of the concentrate and you only need 2 ingredients, chai and water. I steep 2 tea bags in about ½ cup of boiling water for about 8 minutes. Sweeten with honey, sugar, brown sugar, stevia, monk fruit, Splenda, etc.
Chai concentrate to milk ratio: 1:1
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Whats The Best Way To Drink Chai
Chai is meant to be made into a lattein fact, saying chai tea latte is doubly redundant, because a traditional Indian masala chai always includes milk and sweetener. You could, in theory, drink this homemade chai tea straight, but the silkiness from milk and added sweetener really rounds out the true chai flavor youre looking for.
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Why To Avoid Saying Iced Chai Tea Latte
Starbucks might say the words iced chai tea latte for this drink, but this is a no no. Why? The word chai translates to tea in Hindi, so saying chai tea is like saying tea tea. The more correct term for the Indian tea blend is masala chai. The word masala refers to a blend of spices used in cooking. Just like the word curry, a Westernized reduction of a complex blend of Indian spices, the American concept of chai can appropriate a rich Indian cultural tradition.
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How Do You Use Chai Concentrate
Chai concentrate is the base for a chai latte.
You cant make a chai latte without a chai concentrate.
Because making a chai concentrate can be time consuming, it is of course better to have it ready in the fridge for whenever you feel like having a cup of latte at home.
In this post Im going to show you exactly how to make a chai concentrate from tea bags.
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Tips For The Best Latte
If you want your latte to be extra frothy and foamy, try using an immersion blender to blend the milk before adding it to the pan. This will create a smoother texture and help the drink hold its foam better.
If you dont have ground spices on hand, you can use whole spices and brew them along with the tea bag. Just add a bit more of each spice to compensate for the larger pieces.
If you want a stronger latte, steep the tea bag for longer or use two tea bags instead of one. For a weaker latte, steep for less time or use only half of a tea bag.
You can use any type of milk you like in this recipe. Dairy milk will create a richer drink, while non-dairy milk will be lighter. Soy milk tends to foam the best, but any milk will work.
If you want a sweeter latte, add more honey to taste. You can also top your latte with a sprinkle of cinnamon or a dollop of whipped cream for extra sweetness.
If you dont have honey on hand, you can use any other type of sweetener you like. Maple syrup, agave syrup, and brown sugar are all great options. You could also use flavoured syrups to give your latte a unique flavour.
This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled if youre making it for multiple people. Just multiply the ingredients accordingly.
Leftover latte can be stored in the fridge for 1-2 days. Reheat before serving. Whisking the latte before reheating will help to restore its original frothy texture.
Whats In This Easy Chai Latte Recipe
Similar to my chai spiced coconut milk, this creamy black tea is infused with the best warming spices. But the best part is that its quite customizable. Want it spicier? Add a bit more ginger. Looking for a more tea-like flavor? Add in an extra tea bag! However you tweak it, keep comfort and peacefulness in mind because thats what a chai latte is all about.
- Milk: For a milkier base , use whole milk or creamier non-dairy milks such as oat milk or cashew milk. But, any non-dairy milk will work as well.
- Black Tea: To keep this recipe easy, Im using black tea bags. But keep reading for more tips on what type of black tea, and even loose-leaf teas, you can use.
- Ground Spices: A blend of ground cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and cardamom does the trick for spiced chai. But you can certainly bump up the spices and add ground nutmeg, vanilla bean, fresh ginger, and star anises.
- Sweetener: I love to use maple syrup for a touch of sweetness. But you can go with any others such as honey, agave, or even coconut sugar.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
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Why Youll Love This Iced Chai Tea Recipe:
- QUICK AND EASY: It takes minutes to make up these lattes, much quicker than going down to your local coffee shop!
- SIMPLE INGREDIENTS: You only need three main ingredients to make this drink, so you have no excuses!
- SO DELICIOUS: The flavor of chai is so comforting and warming. This is a great drink all year round, but I especially love the flavors during fall!
Is Chai Latte Coffee Or Tea
Chai is tea. In fact the word chai literally means tea in many parts of the world. In China, where tea originated, the word for tea is pronounced like cha.
So when you order a chai tea latte, you are in fact saying tea tea latte. And that doesnt make much sense.
The real name of this drink, with its roots in India, is actually masala chai, which means mixed spiced tea. However, most menus in American coffee shops call it chai latte.
Be sure and take a look at my homemade masala chai recipe if you want to make this authentic hot chai latte at home.
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Other Tea Latte Recipes
Since youre practically a pro barista nowhere are some other tea latte recipes you may want to try.
Matcha Green Tea Latte
London Fog Tea Latte
Rooibos Vanilla Spice Latte
Chamomile Rose Latte
What Kind Of Milk Do You Use In A Chai Latte
Both dairy milk and plant based ones will work well in a chai latte.
When using cows milk, opt for whole milk if possible.
If you follow a vegan diet, or simply avoid dairy products, you have many options to choose from:
- hazelnut milk
Choosing the best plant based milk is obviously down to personal preference and diet requirements . However, I personally think that oat milk works best as a milk substitute. In fact, this milk has a creamy consistency and a neutral taste that will not overpower the flavour of the spices.
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*options For Sweetening Your Chai Tea Latte Concentrate
Youll want to add a sweetener of choice to your chai tea latte to get that traditional coffee shop taste. Here are your two options:
- Stir sugar into tea after you remove the tea bags, when the concentrate is still hot.
- Add sugar to your individual latte as you make it, which allows you to add it more or less to taste.
Can I Make My Own Chai Tea Concentrate
Yes you can make your own or purchase a premade one. I like making concentrated tea by using Tazo Chai Tea bags. They contain the same ingredients as the Starbucks chai concentrate. Tazo Chai Tea contains: Black Teas, Ginger, Cinnamon, Black Pepper, Cardomon, Cloves and Star Anise.
Some of you may prefer making your own spice mix. If so, check out this recipe that uses the same spices as the Starbucks chai concentrate. My method for creating a concentrated chai is is easy. All you need is a Tazo chai tea bag, honey or maple syrup and some hot water.
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Variation : Dirty Chai Latte
A dirty chai tea latte is made with a shot of espresso. Regular coffee just doesnt have the same rich flavor and creaminess as espresso, but in a pinch you could use about 2 tablespoons of regular coffee . Add 1 shot of espresso to a mug, then 1/2 cup chai concentrate, followed by the frothed milk.
How To Store Chai Latte To Enjoy All Week Long
The steeped tea and the honey syrup will keep separately for at least a week in the refrigerator. You can double or triple the recipe, depending on how much youll be drinking, to make a weeks worth. Add the milk just before serving.
If you find you have some extra prepared chai tea that you wont be using, you can freeze it in ice cube trays to add to future glasses of iced chai lattés or even regular iced tea.
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Looking For Some Other Edible Gift Ideas
We have tons of great holiday food gift ideas that are easy to make, affordable, and incredibly thoughtful! Here are three you might like:
Edible Cookie Dough
Homemade Soup Mixes
Golden Milk Mix
If you decide to make this chai tea blend for you or for your favorite tea lover, I know youll enjoy the flavors of chai in your life. Enjoy!
How To Make An Iced Chai Latte At Home
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How To Make A Chai Latte
A chai latte is a Western invention: it takes traditional masala chai, the milky spiced tea from India, and combines it with frothy steamed milk of a latte. The mashup was popularized by Starbucks in the 1990s.
How to make a Chai Tea Latte. To make a traditional masala chai, start by combining the water, cardamom, ginger, and other spices if being used. Bring to a simmer and let it become fragrant. Next, add the milk and tea leaves. Let it simmer for a minute or two. Strain this mixture into a cup, filtering out the spices and leaves.
Earl Grey Latte vs. London Fog. An Earl Grey Latte is like other tea lattes it consists of the tea, frothed/steamed milk and sweetener if desired. Thats all. A London Fog consists of earl grey tea, frothed/steamed milk, vanilla and sweetener if desired.. Therefore, the difference between the two comes down to the vanilla. It is a slight difference, yes.
Pour the Tazo Chai Tea Latte Base into a serving cup. Warm up the milk on a stovetop or in a microwave until very hot. Froth the milk . Pour the milk into the cup with Chai Tea Base. Garnish with ground cinnamon if desired. Serve.
Davidsons Classic Chai Tea Blend. For anyone who wants to skip the DIY chai, this blend of looseleaf tea and spices is great on its own, but it also makes a great tea base for a chai latte.