I found it hard to create the perfect easy iced chai tea latte recipe that tasted similar to Starbucks. They use their own concentrate which makes it tricky to recreate with certain teas or concentrates.
After some failed attempts, I realized I wasn’t using the same type of tea that I use to make my hot Starbucks chai latte.
The secret, is using the Tazo Chai Tea bags or concentrate. They contain the same ingredients as the Starbucks chai tea concentrate! And have a strong flavour that isn’t easily overpowered by the milk.
I’m going to share all the information you need to create the perfect Iced Chai Tea Latte like Starbucks. Just get your Tazo chai tea, oat milk, ice and vanilla/maple syrup ready!
What is in an Iced Chai Tea Latte?
A traditional iced chai tea latte is made from a black tea with chai spices, simple syrup, ice and cold milk to form an iced chai latte. Chai spices are generally cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, star anise & cloves.
One of my favourite things about making iced lattes at home, is that I can control the sweetness level! I don’t like an overly sweet drink. And the Starbucks chai concentrate contains more sugar then I desire.
How Many Calories In A Starbucks Iced Chai?
The 16oz grande size iced chai tea latte from Starbucks contains 240 calories when you have it with 2% milk.
A 12oz tall contains 180. And a 24oz is 350 calories.
How to Make An Iced Chai Tea Latte Like Starbucks
This iced chai recipe, while not exact, is quite similar to the Starbucks drink *ahem*. Since the Starbucks chai tea concentrate is not for sale, we are forced to seek other options.
The cheapest and easiest way to make this drink is to use Tazo chai tea bags to create my own simple concentrate at home.
Option 2, is using the Tazo chai tea concentrate. Simple and perfect taste.
The third option is to create your own chai spice blend and then create a tea concentrate from that.
What Is in An Iced Chai Tea Latte From Starbucks?
In a grande an iced chai tea latte from Starbucks, which is 16oz, there are 4 pumps of chai tea concentrate, ice and 2% milk.
A tall (12 oz, about 1.5 cups) is made with 3 pumps of chai concentrate, ice and 2% milk.
Keep in mind that 1 pump of concentrate is about half a tablespoon or half an oz.
What is in the Starbucks Chai Concentrate?
According to their website, the Starbucks chai tea concentrate contains:
“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.”
I’m all for the cheapest and simplest option to make this iced chai tea latte recipe. Let’s walk through the three best options. The first two are the easiest.
How to Make Chai Tea Concentrate with Tazo Chai Tea Bags
The Tazo tea bags contain the same spices as the Starbucks chai concentrate! Tazo Chai Tea bags contain: Black Teas, Ginger, Cinnamon, Black Pepper, Cardomon, Cloves and Star Anise.
To create a simple concentrate we need two Tazo chai tea bags, sugar or vanilla/maple syrup, hot water and some milk of your choice.
All we need to with these, is steep 2 Tazo Chai Tea bags in 1/2 cup hot water for 5-7 minutes.
If you are using sugar instead of syrup then use 1-2 tablespoons. Add it to the hot tea and stir to combine. If you are using maple or vanilla syrup use 1-2 tablespoons. Pour it over your ice and then add in the steeped tea. Top with your milk and enjoy.
How to Make An Iced Chai Latte Using Pre-made Tazo Chai Tea Concentrate
Or you can use a premade one and use 1/4 cup for this recipe to replace the 1/2 cup tea bag concentrate. No syrup or sugar is needed since it’s already sweetened.
Simply pour it over your ice and fill it up with milk.
How make an iced chai tea latte using teas and spices
If you’d like to make your own chai spice, check out this recipe. It uses the same spices as Starbucks. Then creat
Please use Tazo chai tea bags for this recipe or one that you know is potent. I have tried it with some different brands of tea bags and it did not produce the same strong chai flavour I was going for.
How To Make an Iced Chai Tea Latte
Step 1: Steep Tea
Boil the water. Place two Tazo chai tea bags into a glass cup. Pour 1/2 cup of hot water over the tea bags and steep for 5-7 minutes.
Step 2: Add Ice
Fill your glass with ice. I use about 8-10 medium sized ice cubes.
Step 3: Add Syrup
Pour 1-2 TBSP maple or vanilla syrup over the ice.
Step 4: Add Steeped Tea
Pour the steeped chai tea into your glass.
Step 5: Pour in Milk
Then pour in the milk. Oat milk is best in my humble opinion.
Stir. And enjoy!
What type of milk should I use?
If you want it like Starbucks and can consume dairy, then use 2% milk. I’m lactose intolerant so I like to use creamy oat milk because it has a high fat content. I find almond and coconut aren’t quite as rich tasting as the oat.
I recommend using an oat milk or any barista blend.
Summer Drinks
Iced Chai Tea Latte
Ingredients
- 2 Tazo chai tea bags
- ½ cup of boiling water
- 1 ½ cups ice cubes about 6-8 ice cubes
- ¾ cup any kind of milk I use unsweetened oat milk
- 1-2 TBSP or maple or vanilla syrup*
Instructions
- Pour hot water into a glass cup and add tea bags. Steep 5-7 minutes (the longer the better).
- While the tea bag is steeping, pour about 1 ½ cups of ice cubes (6-8) into a large glass and set aside.
- Remove the tea bag from the tea. Then pour the vanilla or maple syrup over the ice.
- Pour the tea over the ice. Then add in the ¾ cup of milk. Stir to combine and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Iced drinks are where it’s at. Check out these other tasty dairy free drink recipes.