Can I use loose-leaf chai tea instead of tea bags?

Yes, you can! Use about 2 teaspoons of loose-leaf chai tea and steep it in a tea infuser or strain it out after steeping.

What’s the best type of milk to use for a creamy texture?

Whole milk will give you the creamiest texture, but you can use any milk you prefer, including plant-based options like oat or almond milk.

How can I make this recipe ahead of time?

You can prepare the chai concentrate (tea, sugar, and water mixture) ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, simply pour it over ice and milk.

Iced Chai Tea Latte Recipe: Starbucks Style

Name: Iced Chai Tea Latte Recipe: Starbucks Style
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Cuisine: American / Cafe
Ingredients: — The Chai Concentrate —; 4 Tazo Organic Chai Tea bags (or your favorite spiced chai blend); 1 cup (240ml) boiling water; 2–3 tablespoons granulated sugar, honey, or maple syrup (adjust to sweetness preference); 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; — The Latte Assembly —; 1 ½ cups (360ml) cold milk (2%, whole, oat, or almond milk); 2 cups ice cubes; Ground cinnamon or nutmeg, for dusting

Ingredients

— The Chai Concentrate —

4 Tazo Organic Chai Tea bags (or your favorite spiced chai blend)

1 cup (240ml) boiling water

2–3 tablespoons granulated sugar, honey, or maple syrup (adjust to sweetness preference)

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

— The Latte Assembly —

1 ½ cups (360ml) cold milk (2%, whole, oat, or almond milk)

2 cups ice cubes

Ground cinnamon or nutmeg, for dusting

Instructions

1. **Boil Water:** Bring the water to a rolling boil.

2. **Steep Tea:** Place the 4 tea bags in a heat-proof measuring cup or mug. Pour the boiling water over them. Let them steep for **5 to 8 minutes**. You want this to be double-strength and very dark.

3. **Sweeten:** Remove the tea bags, squeezing them gently to extract all the flavor. Immediately stir in the sugar (or honey) and vanilla extract while the tea is hot so it dissolves completely.

4. **Cool:** Let the concentrate cool to room temperature. (To speed this up, place it in the fridge for 15 minutes). Do not pour hot tea over ice, or it will water down instantly.

5. **Assemble:** Fill two tall glasses to the top with ice cubes.

6. **Pour:** Divide the cooled chai concentrate evenly between the two glasses (filling them about halfway).

7. **Add Milk:** Top off each glass with your milk of choice. Stir well to combine the layers.

8. **Serve:** Dust with a little cinnamon or nutmeg on top. Use a straw and enjoy!

Notes

The Starbucks Secret: Starbucks uses a pre-sweetened chai concentrate. To mimic this perfectly, don’t be shy with the sugar/honey in the concentrate step. Tazo tea bags are the closest flavor match to their supplier.

Cold Foam: To elevate this, froth 1/4 cup of cold milk with a dash of vanilla and pour it on top for a ‘Cold Foam’ version.

Dirty Chai: Add a shot of espresso to your glass for a caffeine kick.

Storage: You can make a large batch of the concentrate and store it in a jar in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Just mix 1 part concentrate with 1 part milk whenever you want a drink.

Author: Anna Lovae
Prep Time: 5
Cook Time: 5
Category: Drinks
Method: No-Cook / Steeping
Cuisine: American / Cafe
Diet: Vegetarian