Iced Chai Tea Latte (Starbucks Copycat Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

What does Starbucks put in their iced chai lattes? ›

What's included. Black tea infused with cinnamon, clove, and other warming spices are combined with milk and ice for the perfect balance of sweet and spicy.

"Tazo Chai latte is the brand served at Starbucks.

Sugar and Spice: Appealing to Sweet Palates

The drink is often made with a base of heavily sweetened chai concentrate, combined with steamed milk and topped with foam and a sprinkle of cinnamon. This sweet and spicy combination caters to those with a penchant for sugary beverages, appealing to a wide range of tastes.

The traditional Starbucks chai tea latte is made with chai concentrate syrup, hot water, and steamed milk. The chai concentrate is the source of the sugar. You can always request a chai tea latte made with chai tea bags, no syrup. The only sugar in this would be from the milk.

At Starbucks, 2% milk is used by default. That said it could be made with a variety of milks. If you are looking for a richer taste, you might want to go with whole milk, for dairy-free options consider almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk, or oat milk.

While the Starbucks version may capture some of the aromatic essence of chai, it does not provide the complexity and depth of flavor found in traditional chai. The use of a standardized concentrate overlooks the variations in spice blends and preparation methods that contribute to the richness of authentic chai.

Tazo is a very popular tea brand owned by Starbucks. You can find their products in most grocery stores. This is the tea that Starbucks uses for its tea lattes and other beverages. Starbucks uses a special (and more concentrated) version of the Tazo Chai Concentrate that is not sold commercially.

The company was purchased by Starbucks in 1999 for $8.1 million. Starbucks opened the first Tazo-branded tea shop in November 2012. It closed a year later and was converted into a Teavana store. In November 2017, Starbucks sold Tazo to Unilever for $384 million.

The critical difference between iced chai and iced chai latte is that the former is a tea-infused beverage without milk, while the latter combines tea with milk, usually steamed milk or foam. The type of chai used also varies, with some containing spices like cinnamon, cloves, and star anise.

What are the cons of chai tea latte? ›

Side Effects of Chai Tea

Packaged chai tea mixes or pre-made drinks and concentrates often include high amounts of added sugar and dairy. Some varieties of chai tea concentrates contain up to 24 grams of added sugar per serving. Adding certain types of milk also increases sugar intake.

Next time you pick up a Chai Latte, hot or cold, make it dirty! Ask to have a shot of espresso blended in for that extra kick. One not enough? Get a double dirty with 2 shots of espresso.

For example, oat milk can be added to your typical chai tea latte. I usually get more of the popular drinks with oat milk in them at starbucks but use oat milk coffee creamer at home. Both are great options, do whatever works for you! I had never heard of this drink and thought I should add it to the list.

Dirty chai is a popular espresso beverage made with tea or chai concentrate, one shot of espresso, and steamed milk. Unlike ordinary chai (masala chai) or sticky chai, the outcome is a blend of regular latte and chai. Spices frequently used in dirty chai are black pepper, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and cardamom.

Even those marketed as “healthier,” such as Starbucks' chai tea latte venti, contain a whopping 13 teaspoons of sugar. “The problem is the drinks are so big,” said Amy Rose Sager, dietitian for the Visiting Nurse Association of Cape Cod.

Black tea infused with cinnamon, clove and other warming spices, combined with steamed milk and topped with foam for the perfect balance of sweet and spicy.

Traditionally, a Chai Latte is a blend of spicy chai tea concentrate and steamed milk. When you add a shot (or two) of espresso, it becomes "dirty," representing the bold addition of coffee to the equation. While undeniably delicious, ordering a Dirty Chai Tea Latte can be pricier due to the combined costs.

Do Starbucks chai lattes have caffeine? Generally speaking, Starbucks chai lattes have a caffeine content ranging from 48 to 120 milligrams, depending on serving size.