Iced Chai Tea Latte Recipe (Starbucks Copycat)
Today we are making a Starbucks Copycat Iced Chai Tea Latte Recipe! If you’re a fan of the rich, spicy flavors of chai but prefer the convenience and customization of making it at home, you’re in for a treat. This recipe captures the essence of Starbucks’ popular iced chai latte, delivering that perfect blend of warming spices and creamy goodness—all without the need to leave your kitchen.
Chai tea, with its origins rooted in India, has become a worldwide sensation, and for good reason. The combination of black tea infused with spices like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and cloves creates a flavor profile that’s both invigorating and comforting. When paired with ice and your choice of milk, it transforms into a refreshing beverage that’s perfect for any time of day. Whether you’re looking to kickstart your morning or unwind in the afternoon, this iced chai latte offers a delightful mix of spice and sweetness that’s hard to resist.
What makes this recipe even better is its simplicity. With just a handful of ingredients and a few easy steps, you can recreate that iconic Starbucks experience at home. Plus, you have the flexibility to tweak the recipe to suit your personal taste—whether you like it extra spicy, a bit sweeter, or with a particular type of milk. So, grab your favorite mug, get ready to cool down, and let’s make the ultimate iced chai tea latte!
Why You’ll Love Iced Chai Tea Latte Recipe (Starbucks Copycat)
Spicy & Sweet: This Iced Chai Tea Latte strikes the perfect balance between warm, aromatic spices and smooth, creamy milk. The bold flavors of cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves meld beautifully with the sweetness of the milk, creating a drink that’s both comforting and invigorating. Each sip is like a warm hug in a glass, with just the right amount of spice to keep things interesting.
Cost-Effective: Who doesn’t love saving money while still indulging in their favorite drinks? This homemade Iced Chai Tea Latte gives you all the flavor and satisfaction of the Starbucks version, but without the hefty price tag. By making it at home, you can enjoy your daily chai fix without breaking the bank.
Substitutions: Milk & Sugar
Milk: Oat milk works great in this tea because of its slightly sweet and nutty flavor. However, another kind of milk like cashew milk, almond milk or another plant-based milk may be a substitute. To keep it refined sugar-free, choose your favorite milk of choice that does not contain any added sugar. I don’t recommend coconut milk in this recipe, as it does not have as neutral a flavor.
Maple Syrup: You can control the amount of sweetener as desired in this drink. We use pure maple syrup versus a more granulated sweetener like monkfruit, so it easily can mix into the drink. Substitute with agave nectar or brown sugar, but it will not be refined sugar-free.
Substitutions: Tea Bag
Tea Bag: Starbucks uses a similar version of the Tazo classic chai concentrate in their drink, but since we’re making it fresh without the use of any pre-made mixture, we will be using looseleaf masala tea. You can even buy pre-made masala chai bags and cut them open to use the tea inside it.
There are many different versions of tea bags, or loose leaf tea, used in India. Assam and Darjeeling black teas are the most popular chai base to use. Tea leaves themselves are made using different methods, but the CTC – Crush, Tear, Curl – processing method produces the best quality black teas to use here. Other options can be to use regular black tea bags such as those sold from Tim Hortons, which are not specifically the quality used for Indian-style tea, but can make a delicious latte nonetheless.
Substitutions: Spices
Star Anise: Also known as star aniseed, this is actually a sweet, dried fruit from the Asian evergreen tree. It’s flavor is similar to black licorice candy!
Cinnamon Stick: Using a fresh stick of cinnamon adds extra warm spices into the chai. Ground cinnamon may be used, but it may leave some grainy powder in the syrup.
Black Cardamom: The Hindi word for this is also badi elaichi or kali elaichi. It is an Indian spice that is a member of the ginger family and adds a pungent flavor.
Green Cardamom: This is another spice from the ginger family, which has a fruity and spicy flavor. In this recipe we use both green and black cardamom.
Ginger: Use fresh ginger, not dried ginger powder.
Cloves: Cloves are a sweet and aromatic spice, which add an extra depth of flavor into the drink. You can omit these if you don’t have them.
Iced Chai Tea Latte Recipe (Starbucks Copycat) Notes
- Garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon or vegan whipped cream for an extra indulgent touch.
More Recipes You’ll Love
If you make this Iced Chai Tea Latte Recipe (Starbucks Copycat), then leave a comment and star rating! Don’t forget to tag your photos @peanut_palate on Instagram. Enjoy!
Iced Chai Tea Latte Recipe (Starbucks Copycat)
Equipment
- Stovetop Pot
- Strainer
Ingredients
- ½ cup ice
- ½ cup unsweetened oat milk chilled
For the Chai Syrup
- ¼ cup lukewarm water
- 2 tsp looseleaf masala chai
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1 medium star anise
- ½ tsp fresh ginger grated
- 2 medium green cardamom pods crushed
- 1 large black cardamom pod crushed
- 1 medium clove crushed
- 1 medium cinnamon stick
Instructions
- In a stovetop pot over medium-high heat, add in all the ingredients for the syrup.
- Bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it thicken for 2-3 minutes.
- After this time, remove from the heat. Allow the syrup to cool down for 20 minutes at room temperature.
- Pour the milk into a glass, followed by the syrup. Stir to combine.
- Add the ice into another glass.
- Strain the milk mixture over the ice. Serve cold!
Notes
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Storage
- Store the syrup in an airtight glass bottle or container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
