• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Bites with Bri
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Monthly Recaps
  • Work With Me
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Memorial Day Recipes
  • Easy Air Fryer Recipes
  • Instant Pot Recipes
  • Mexican Inspired Recipes
  • About Bri
  • Work With Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Bites with Bri » Drink & Cocktails » Starbucks Chai (Tea) Latte

    Starbucks Chai (Tea) Latte

    Published: Jul 27, 2021 · Modified: May 18, 2022 by Brianna May · This post may contain affiliate links.

    • Facebook
    • Yummly
    • Email
    • Reddit
    jump to recipe print recipe

    This Starbucks Chai (Tea) Latte is my favorite afternoon pick-me-up. It only takes a few minutes to make and is the perfect combination of a sweet treat and a caffeine boost. Top it with whipped cream and extra cinnamon or enjoy it as is, either way it is delicious. Plus it is way better than Starbucks because you can customize it to your liking. 

    side view of iced chai tea latte

    If you love Starbucks copycat recipes, try my Iced White Chocolate Mocha or Sweet Cream Cold Foam.

    Jump to:
    • Highlights
    • Ingredient Notes
    • Chai Concentrate Options
    • Helpful Equipment & Tools
    • How to Make a Starbucks Chai Tea Latte
    • Make Ahead & Storage
    • Expert Tips
    • Recipe Notes
    • Variations
    • FAQs
    • Related Recipes
    • Starbucks Chai (Tea) Latte

    Highlights

    • Enjoy this Starbucks chai (tea) latte hot or iced
    • Only a few ingredients needed
    • Can be made with regular or dairy free milk 
    • Instructions for making your own chai or using store bought concentrate
    • Less caffeine than coffee

    Ingredient Notes

    overhead of ingredients needed for Starbucks chai tea latte
    • Chai Concentrate: If you are using a store bought concentrate other than the Tazo brand or the ones mentioned above, be sure to check the concentrate to milk ratio. Some do not call for a 1:1 ratio. Follow the ratio on the packaging.
    • Milk: Any unsweetened milk or non-dairy milk, like almond, coconut, or oat milk, will work. 
    • Honey: The Starbucks chai concentrate contains honey. So to make this a true copycat Starbucks chai tea latte, I like to sweeten my unsweetened concentrate with honey. If you are using a sweetened concentrate, you will probably not need any more sweetener. 

    Complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.

    Chai Concentrate Options

    1. 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 (or as little) 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

    tea bags steeping in pot with boiling water

    2. Tazo Chai Concentrate (Starbucks brand)

    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 their tea lattes and other beverages. 

    Starbucks uses a special (and more concentrated) version of the Tazo Chai Concentrate that is not sold commercially. The Tazo Classic Chai Concentrate is already sweetened and I find it to be a little too sweet. They also have a skinny version that I have not tried (perfect for making a skinny chai tea latte like Starbucks). It has less sugar so it might not taste as sweet. 

    Chai to milk ratio: 1:1

    3. Homemade Chai Concentrate

    I have never made chai concentrate from scratch. It is a combination of black tea bags and spices, like cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, black pepper, ginger, etc. These recipes are very highly rated and the ones I recommend if you want to make your own chai.

    Homemade Chai Concentrate Recipe by Sweet Steep (1:1 Ratio) Homemade Chai Tea Concentrate by Gimme Some Oven (1:1 Ratio)

    4. Best Store Bought Chai Concentrate

    I have tried the chai concentrate by Tazo and Trader Joe’s. Unfortunately they are both already sweetened and too sweet for me. This is why I typically make my own concentrate from chai tea bags. This article ranks and reviews some popular chai brands if you are looking to find the best store bought option. 

    Oregon Chai makes a sugar-free chai concentrate that has great reviews on Amazon. The Tazo Skinny and Tazo Classic concentrates are also very popular.

    Helpful Equipment & Tools

    • Milk Frother: Great for aerating milk or whisking matcha or other additions into the chai concentrate. 
    • Calphalon Classic Hard-Anodized Nonstick Pots and Pans: The small pot in this set is what I use to make my homemade chai concentrate from tea bags (method 1). 
    • LUXU Glass Coffee Mugs Set of 4: Great quality and sized mugs for coffee or tea lattes.

    How to Make a Starbucks Chai Tea Latte

    Overview

    • Combine chai concentrate and milk.
    • Serve over ice or hot.

    Step by Step

    Step 1: Combine hot or chilled chai concentrate with hot or cold milk.

    Step 2: Serve over ice or hot with whipped cream and cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice on top.

    steps 1 & 2
milking being poured into concentrate
chai poured over ice

    TIP - Use hot milk and concentrate for a hot latte and cold for a copycat Starbucks iced chai latte. 

    Make Ahead & Storage

    • Make Ahead: You can make homemade chai concentrate in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. 
    • Store bought chai concentrate should have storage instructions on the back of the container. Most are good for about one week after opening in the fridge.
    • Copycat Starbucks iced chai (or hot) lattes are best consumed right away. I do not recommend storing the chai concentrate and the milk mixed together.
    • I do not recommend freezing chai concentrate or chai tea lattes (copycat). 

    Expert Tips

    • For a Starbucks copycat iced chai latte, make the chai concentrate ahead of time. You want the concentrate to have time to chill. I recommend making it at least one day in advance. It will last for 4-5 days in the refrigerator.
    • For a hot chai latte, froth and warm the milk. The frothed milk makes the drink taste like a traditional latte. I also recommend warming up the concentrate for about 30 seconds in the microwave.

    Recipe Notes

    • This Starbucks copycat chai tea drink recipe is very customizable. This is one of the reasons I love making chai lattes at home. You can adjust the amount of milk or sweetener to your taste. 
    iced chai latte with whipped cream and cinnamon on top

    Variations

    • Chai concentrate: See the Chai Concentrate section above for different methods for making your own and store bought options for chai concentrate. 
    • Chai pumpkin spice latte: Add 1 Tablespoon of pumpkin puree and a pinch pumpkin pie spice to the milk to make a pumpkin chai latte. You can also add homemade pumpkin cream to your chai tea latte. 
    • Chai matcha latte: Whisk in ½ - 1 teaspoon of matcha powder into the chai concentrate. 
    • Keto chai tea latte: Use method 1 to make the concentrate or buy the sugar-free chai concentrate mentioned above. Use any low carb milk (like almond or coconut) and keto sweetener, like monk fruit. 
    • Dirty chai latte: Add 1 shot of espresso or strongly brewed coffee to the chai latte. 
    • Vanilla sweet cream chai latte: Add a splash of vanilla extract to the chai concentrate or a pump of vanilla syrup.
    • Cold foam: Top your Starbucks iced chai latte with homemade cold foam.

    FAQs

    What is in a chai latte?

    A chai latte is typically equal parts chai tea and milk. It is sometimes topped with whipped cream. This beverage can be frothed and served warm or cold (iced). Chai tea is made by either steeping bags of chai in water or you can steep black tea in water and add the chai spices cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper ginger, star anise, fennel, nutmeg.

    Is there coffee in a chai latte?

    No. If you want coffee, ask for a dirty chai or add espresso. Since the chai tea is made from black tea it contains caffeine. 

    What is the difference between chai tea and chai latte?

    Starbucks hot chai tea is made with tea bags. Iced and hot chai lattes are made from chai concentrate. The ingredients in the chai tea concentrate syrup are “An Infusion Of (Water, Black Tea, Cardamom, Black Pepper, Ginger, Cinnamon, Cloves, Natural Flavors, Star Anise), Sugar, Honey, Ginger Juice, Natural Flavors, Vanilla, Citric Acid”, according to the Starbucks website. 

    What is a dirty iced chai latte?

    A dirty iced chai latte is a chai latte with espresso.

    How can you make a skinny chai tea latte (Starbucks)?

    Use equal parts unsweetened chai concentrate, homemade chai concentrate (method 1 or 3 mentioned above), or Tazo Skinny Chai Concentrate and nonfat/dairy-free milk. Use a sugar free sweetener, like stevia or monk fruit or sweeten lightly with honey.

    How can you make this an iced dirty chai latte?

    Brew one shot of espresso and add it to the chai latte to make it “dirty”. This is delicious, especially if you are a coffee lover.

    What chai concentrate does Starbucks use?

    Starbucks uses an even more concentrated version of the Tazo Classic Chai Concentrate. It is more like a chai simple syrup. It is not something I believe is commercially sold.

    Does Starbucks chai concentrate have sugar?

    Yes. Starbucks' chai concentrate is already sweetened. This is why a lot of people prefer to make this drink at home.

    What chai drinks can you order from Starbucks?

    - Chai Tea Latte (hot)
    - Chai Tea (hot)
    - Chai Creme Frappuccino (blended beverage)
    - Iced Chai Tea Latte

    Are Starbucks chai lattes dairy free?

    A standard chai latte drink at Starbucks is made with 2% milk. However, you can easily request almond, soy, coconut, or oat milk, which are all dairy free. The chai concentrate is dairy free.

    Is chai tea latte good for you?

    Yes. The small amount of caffeine from the black tea will give you an energy boost. Warming spices like star anise, cinnamon, and black pepper are natural anti-inflammatories.

    Is there caffeine in a chai tea latte?

    Yes. The standard 16 ounce (grande) chai latte from Starbucks has 95 mg.

    Related Recipes

    • Rum Moscow Mule
    • Instant Pot Hot Chocolate
    • Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew Recipe
    • Sweet Cream Cold Foam
    PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE COMMENT
    5 from 38 votes

    Starbucks Chai (Tea) Latte

    This Starbucks Chai (Tea) Latte is my favorite afternoon pick-me-up. It only takes a few minutes to make and is the perfect combination of a sweet treat and a caffeine boost. Top it with whipped cream and extra cinnamon or enjoy it as is, either way it is delicious. Plus it is way better than Starbucks because you can customize it to your liking.
    Servings1 latte
    Prep10 minutes
    Cook2 minutes
    Total12 minutes
    Course: Drink & Cocktails
    Cuisine: American
    Author: Brianna May

    Equipment:

    • Frother
    • Nonstick pan/pot

    Ingredients:

    • ½ cup chai concentrate, see Chai Concentrate Options section above*
    • ½ cup milk*
    • honey, simple/maple/brown sugar syrup, or sugar, to taste*

    Optional Garnish

    • whipped cream
    • cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice

    Instructions:

    • Review all recipe notes and instructions before beginning.
    • Combine hot or chilled chai concentrate with hot or cold milk.
    • Serve over ice or hot with whipped cream and cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice on top.

    Notes:

    Chai Concentrate: See the Chai Concentrate section above for different methods for making your own and store bought options for chai concentrate.  If you are using a store bought concentrate other than the Tazo brand or the ones mentioned above, be sure to check the concentrate to milk ratio. Some do not call for a 1:1 ratio. Follow the ratio on the packaging.
    Milk: Any unsweetened milk or non-dairy milk, like almond, coconut, or oat milk, will work. 
    Honey: The Starbucks chai concentrate contains honey. So to make this a true copycat Starbucks chai tea latte, I like to sweeten my unsweetened concentrate with honey. If you are using a sweetened concentrate, you will probably not need any more sweetener.
    Make Ahead: You can make homemade chai concentrate in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.
    For a Starbucks copycat iced chai latte, make the chai concentrate ahead of time. You want the concentrate to have time to chill. I recommend making it at least one day in advance. It will last for 4-5 days in the refrigerator.
    For a hot chai latte, froth and warm the milk. The frothed milk makes the drink taste like a traditional latte. I also recommend warming up the concentrate for about 30 seconds in the microwave.

    NUTRITION:

    Calories: 74kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 52mg | Sugar: 6g
    Did you make this recipe? Tag me on Instagram!Mention or tag @bites.with.bri_ or use the hashtag #biteswithbri
    « Bruschetta with Mozzarella
    Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Shells »
    • Facebook
    • Yummly
    • Email
    • Reddit

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jill

      January 27, 2022 at 6:34 pm

      5 stars
      I love the Starbucks chai tea latte! so its so great to have copycat recipe to use!!

      Reply
    2. Michelle

      January 27, 2022 at 1:45 pm

      5 stars
      Oh, so good! Thanks for sharing this easy recipe!

      Reply
    3. Natalie

      January 27, 2022 at 9:03 am

      5 stars
      Oh, wow, looks amazing. Now I wish one 🙂 Love how you included all the recipe variations. I will try them ALL!

      Reply
    4. Maya

      January 26, 2022 at 6:04 pm

      5 stars
      I love this! I have tazo tea bags on hand already, and I love the idea of making concentrate from them! Thanks so much for sharing this!

      Reply
    5. nancy

      January 26, 2022 at 2:33 pm

      5 stars
      love this starbies copy cat! it's actually better!

      Reply
    6. Mama Maggie's Kitchen

      August 01, 2021 at 2:20 am

      5 stars
      Oh my word! I need this in my life.

      Reply
    7. Audrey

      July 30, 2021 at 4:42 pm

      5 stars
      This was so easy to throw together so I could get my chai fix!

      Reply
    8. Erin Gierhart

      July 30, 2021 at 2:27 pm

      5 stars
      I love the flavors of chai! Now I know it is so easy to make at home!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Bri!

    I am a recipe developer, food photographer, blogger. My goal is to teach you how to cook, not just follow my recipes. I love to cook with bold flavors that are still family friendly. My hubs is a picky eater and all of these recipes are approved by him, so I am sure you and your family will love them too. Learn more about Bri >>

    Join my email list!>>

    Memorial Day Recipes

    • Corn Tortilla Quesadilla
    • Mozzarella Queso
    • Mango Habanero Salsa
    • Egg Rolls vs Spring Rolls
    • Frozen Meatballs in Air Fryer
    • Frozen Spring Rolls in Air Fryer

    Top Recipes

    • Easy Lobster Ravioli Sauce Recipe
    • Baked Walking Taco Casserole Recipe with Enchilada Sauce
    • Green Chile Beef Enchiladas with Cilantro Cream Sauce
    • Easy Air Fryer Chicken Fried Steak Recipe
    • Roasted Green Beans and Carrots
    • Kale Crunch Salad Recipe

    Footer

    back to top

    About

    • About
    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    Sign up for my weekly newsletter!

    Contact

    • Monthly Recaps
    • Work with Me
    • Client Inquiry Form

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2021 Bites with Bri LLC