Starbucks Chai Tea Latte (Copycat Recipe)

This copycat recipe for the Starbucks chai tea latte is so good, you may never go through the drive-thru again!

It’s so comforting, and it’s the perfect drink if you need a little pick-me-up. 

With tea lattes, Starbucks is arguably king.

Frothy milk and black tea are infused with a blend of cloves, cardamom, and cinnamon, giving you such cozy and well-balanced flavors. It smells amazing, to boot!

The only problem is, these drinks aren’t the cheapest.

Good thing there’s this copycat recipe that will give you the same delicious tea latte in the comfort of your home, at the fraction of the cost. 

Starbucks Chai Tea Latte

Starbucks’ chai tea latte is an aromatic blend of chai tea, frothy milk, and spices.

Chai is an Indian blend of black tea, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, peppercorn, and star anise.

Its flavor alone is too strong, so it’s mixed with milk to dial it down.

That way, it’s not too spicy or bitter. It has just the perfect blend of ingredients, giving you a mildly flavored, enjoyable drink.

It’s so tasty, you’ll sip all of it in no time!

For this copycat recipe, you’ll use a chai tea latte concentrate that already has black tea, honey, spices, and vanilla.

You need not mix, blend, and steep. The concentrate has all that taken care of.

Whether you drink it hot or iced, or in the morning, noon, or night, it doesn’t matter. It will taste sensational!

What is Chai Tea Latte?

Chai latte is a concoction made of black tea, spices, and milk. Chai originated in India, where it is called “masala chai.”

It’s a common spiced tea drink that’s widely consumed in the country. 

The addition of frothy milk creates a balance of flavors that makes the drink soothingly delicious.

It’s a popular drink during cold months since it’s very cozy, but I also enjoy drinking it iced during summer!

Fun fact: the word chai means tea. So whenever you say “chai tea latte,” you’re actually saying “tea tea latte!”

The Five Spices Used in Chai Tea Latte

You’ll use a black tea concentrate in this recipe, but just in case you want to make it from scratch, here are the five spices that make-up chai.

1. Green Cardamom. This floral-scented spice gives a smoky and earthy flavor to the tea. Green cardamom is a must-have for making chai. Do not skip this one out! Get whole pods instead of seeds for better flavor. Crack them before steeping the tea.

2. Cloves. Unlike green cardamom, this one is optional. It’s highly recommended, though! Its flavor blends really well with sweet cinnamon and spicy black pepper. It’s also super fragrant.

3. Cinnamon Stick. This one’s another non-negotiable. Its sweetness counteracts the earthiness of the cardamom and the spiciness of the pepper. 

4. Fresh Ginger. Its mild spice is responsible for that soothing sensation you feel on the back of your throat as you drink the tea.

5. Black Peppercorns. It may sound strange adding this to a drink, but it’s another must-have! It gives the drink that subtle kick of spice that makes it cozy and warm.

Ingredients

• Tazo Chai Tea Latte Concentrate – The base of the drink that contains black tea and spices. You can buy this at large supermarkets such as Target and Walmart. 
• Milk – Pick your favorite! You can even use dairy-free. I love using almond milk for this recipe.
• Cinnamon – For garnish. it’s optional but highly recommended.

Tips for the Best Latte

• If you want to stick to the Starbucks recipe, use 2% cow’s milk. But if having a slightly different flavor is fine, you can use whatever type of milk you want! 
• If you have a milk frother, use that to make your milk nice and foamy. Without one, you can always rely on the immersion blender. The handy-dandy whisk works just fine, too. 
• You can sweeten chai tea latte to your liking by adding honey or maple syrup.

Variations

If you’re curious about Cappuccino vs. Latte, just know that the latter contains more milk, whereas the former has more foam.

So if you want this drink more like a cappuccino, just reduce the amount of milk and add extra foam. How easy is that?

Want some more variations? Check out my ideas below:

• This recipe makes a hot chai tea latte. For a cool, refreshing beverage, shake the drink with ice.
• A cup of Starbucks chai tea latte contains 240 calories. Want a lighter version? Instead of using concentrate, just opt for the Teavana chai tea bag and add milk. Sweeten it with 1 to 2 tablespoons of honey, and voila.
• Apart from Teavana, you can also use a wide variety of tea to make this drink, such as Assam, Ceylon, or English Breakfast. Opt for loose-leaf black tea over tea bags for best quality. 
• Need more caffeine? Add a shot of espresso to your drink!
• Want more autumn flavor in your latte? Add a bit of pumpkin spice!
• For a vanilla-flavored tea latte, drizzle the drink with vanilla syrup.
• Turn your tea latte into a frappuccino by adding whipped cream on top. It’s easy – just beat together whipping cream and sugar until stiff peaks form.  

Is There Caffeine in This?

Chai contains black tea, so yes, it does contain caffeine.