Homemade Chai Latte Recipe & Spiced Chai Latte From Scratch

There’s nothing better than enjoying a chai latte on your day off in the comfort of your own home while sitting on the couch watching your favorite movie. This chai tea latte recipe we’ve created is a super easy recipe and it’s very cost-effective as compared to buying a chai latte every day. A chai latte can be made hot or iced using chai syrup, chai tea bags, or a homemade chai tea spice mixture along with your favorite milk.

This post is all about creating the perfect creamy and spiced chai latte! We go over 3 different methods for creating the perfect homemade chai latte!

Commonly Asked Questions For Chai Latte

What is in a chai tea latte?

A chai tea latte is made out of chai flavoring and milk. The chai flavoring can be done in several ways such as using store-bought chai tea bags, homemade or store-bought chai syrup, or a chai tea spice mixture.

Do chai tea lattes have caffeine?

Yes, because chai tea is made using black tea it will have a decent amount of caffeine in it.

Is chai latte stronger than coffee?

No, chai latte is not going to be stronger than coffee. While chai tea is made from a black tea base, black tea doesn’t have a very high caffeine content as compared to a good coffee brew or espresso.

What is a dirty chai latte?

A dirty chai latte is essentially a chai tea latte with some added coffee or espresso. It basically turns your subtly caffeinated chai tea into a more caffeinated chai and espresso-flavored drink. Sweet and spicy chai along with a strong espresso creates the perfect combination of flavors.

What is a Chai Latte?

A latte is a combination of espresso or a very strongly brewed coffee, hot steamed milk, and a light layer of milk foam over the top. A chai latte is all of that combined with a warm spicy or vanilla chai flavor. This chai flavor can be added in several ways such as using a store-bought chai syrup like Torani for example or you can try your hand at making your own homemade chai syrup. You can also use chai tea bags or a chai spice mixture to flavor your latte as well.

What’s in Starbucks Chai Latte?

Starbucks chai lattes consist of chai tea concentrate, milk, and water. The chai tea concentrate consists of typical chai spices such as cinnamon, clove, ginger, cardamom, pepper, star anise, and black tea. For added sweetness, the chai tea concentrate has sugar and honey and for some added flavor, vanilla syrup. So, for a warm Starbucks chai tea latte, you get the chai tea flavoring added to the drink in pumps, along with steamed milk and a light layer of milk foam over the top. An iced Starbucks chai tea latte consists of chai tea concentrate pumps, cold milk, and ice. You can also make it a dirty chai latte by adding espresso or you can adjust the sweetener type to a variety of other sweeteners. You can also add in a variety of other flavors and toppings.

How many calories are in a Starbucks chai latte?

A grande hot or iced chai tea latte from Starbucks with the standard ingredients added comes in at 240 calories. Though you can adjust the sweetness by adding less or more pumps of chai syrup. You can change the milk type to nonfat milk for example or for a more creamy drink you can switch it out for whole milk.

What sizes are available in a chai latte at Starbucks?

The hot chai tea latte sizes at Starbucks are available in

• Short- 8 oz
• Tall- 12 oz
• Grande- 16 oz
• Venti- 20 oz

The iced chai tea latte sizes at Starbucks are available in

• Tall- 12 oz
• Grande- 16 oz
• Venti- 20 oz

Note: The reason they don’t offer a short is that they typically offer roughly 4oz of ice in an iced drink so for a short drink this would allow for 4oz drink and 4oz ice which after the ice melts would probably taste like water besides 4oz is like a sip.

Is a Chai Latte Best Hot or Iced?

Chai tea lattes due to their warming spices and sweet creamy taste are most certainly best enjoyed hot, personally. This is just one of those drinks you want to enjoy on a cold fall day or freezing winter night. But an iced one is definitely the way to go on a scorching hot summer day so it’s really up to your mood, the weather, and personal preference.

What Toppings Can I Pair With A Chai Latte?

• Matcha Cold Foam
• Chocolate Cold Foam
• Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam
• Cinnamon, nutmeg, or chocolate Powder

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Multiple methods to make this delicious chai latte, so you have plenty of options to recreate this delicious spiced chai drink without having to go buy a million things at the store
• Customizable depending on flavor desired
• Perfectly spiced and flavored for most palates whether you’re a western chai drinker or an eastern chai drinker.

Rich and Creamy Chai Latte Recipe

Equipment

Stovetop or microwave- While these recipes call for cooking over the stove you can certainly make a chai latte using the microwave and pre-made chai syrup or chai tea bags. Only the chai spice mixture requires cooking over the stove.

Chai flavoring- Tea bags, chai syrup (homemade or store-bought), chai spice mixture.

Milk- Any choice of milk will work.

Milk frother, mason jar, whisk, french press, etc.

Ingredients

Chai Tea Bags

We love this brand of Chai Tea, It has vanilla in its mix so it’s a delicious blend that isn’t too spiced and the vanilla brings out the flavor even more!

Chai Spice Mixture

This is the perfect combination of spices to create a chai latte completely from scratch.

• 1-star anise
• 4 whole cloves
• 4 cardamom pods crushed
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 3 black tea bags
• 1/2 tsp black peppercorns
• .5 inch piece of ginger
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Chai Syrup Homemade Recipe

Click To Get The Recipe  For Our Homemade Chai Syrup!

Chai Syrup- store-bought recommendations

If you like using flavor syrups these are the best chai syrups to use to spice up your cold brew! Torani is a normal syrup used for flavoring drinks and Jordan’s chai skinny syrup is a sugar-free version to use!

How To Make A Chai Latte At Home – Overview

Try Our Chai Cold Brew For a Coffee Twist! Or Try Our Matcha Chai Latte For A Refreshing Taste

Recipe Calls For

• Chai flavoring method of choice:
  • Chai spice mixture (listed above)
  • 2 chai tea bags
  • 1-2 tbsp chai syrup (store bought or homemade)
• 1 cup Milk for latte base
• 1/2 cup milk for milk foam

Optional:

• Ice
• Sugar
• Espresso

Optional flavoring:

• Almond
• Vanilla
• Pumpkin spice

Optional Toppings:

• Chai Cold Foam – Click To Get Recipe
• Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam – Click To Get Recipe
• Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam – Click To Get Recipe

Chai Spice Mixture Method

Hot chai tea latte

1. Gather your whole or powdered chai spice ingredients.
2. In a pan toast spices over medium heat or until fragrant (roughly 5 minutes): crushed cardamom pods, cloves, cinnamon sticks, peppercorns and star anise.
3. In a pan heat 1 cup milk on the stove over low-medium heat.
4. Add in toasted spices and ginger.
5. Bring mixture to a simmer and let simmer for about 5 minutes.
6. After simmering for 5 minutes remove from heat and add in 3 black tea bags.
7. Let steep for roughly 5 minutes.
8. After steeping remove tea bags and strain out spices.
9. Add in any sweeteners and desired flavorings (sugar, vanilla extract, etc.) and stir well.
10. Transfer milk mixture into your serving cup.
11. Using a whisk, or milk frother, froth about 1/2 cup of warm milk.
12. Pour frothed milk foam over chai latte.
13. Enjoy!

How To Make It

1. Gather your whole or powdered chai spice ingredients.
2. In a pan toast spices over medium heat or until fragrant (roughly 5 minutes): crushed cardamom pods, cloves, cinnamon sticks, peppercorns and star anise.
3. In a pan heat 1 cup milk on the stove over low-medium heat.
4. Add in toasted spices and ginger.
5. Bring mixture to a simmer and let simmer for about 5 minutes.
6. After simmering for 5 minutes remove from heat and add in 3 black tea bags.
7. Let steep for roughly 5 minutes.
8. After steeping remove tea bags and strain out spices.
9. Add in any sweeteners and desired flavorings (sugar, vanilla extract, etc.) and stir well.
10. Transfer milk mixture into your serving cup.
11. Add ice
12. Using a whisk, or milk frother, froth about 1/2 cup of cold milk.
13. Pour frothed milk foam over chai latte.
14. Enjoy!

Chai Tea Bags Method

Iced chai tea latte

1. Gather your chai tea bags of choice.
2. In a pan heat 1 cup milk over the stove over low-medium heat. OR in a microwave safe cup heat milk in the microwave.
3. Once milk is hot add in 2 chai tea bags and steep for about 5 minutes.
4. After steeping for 5 minutes remove tea bags.
5. Add in any desired sweeteners (sugar, honey, etc.)or flavors (such as vanilla extract if desired) and stir well.
6. Transfer milk mixture into your serving cup.
7. Using a whisk, or milk frother, froth about 1/2 cup of warm milk.
8. Pour frothed milk foam over chai latte.
9. Enjoy!

How To Make It

1. Gather your chai tea bags of choice.
2. In a pan heat 1 cup milk over the stove over low-medium heat. OR in a microwave safe cup heat milk in the microwave.
3. Once milk is hot add in 2 chai tea bags and steep for about 5 minutes.
4. After steeping for 5 minutes remove tea bags and remove pan from heat.
5. Add in any desired sweeteners (sugar, honey, etc.)or flavors (such as vanilla extract if desired) and stir well.
6. Transfer milk mixture into your serving cup.
7. Add ice
8. Using a whisk, or milk frother, froth about 1/2 cup of cold milk.
9. Pour frothed milk foam over chai latte.
10. Enjoy!

Spiced Chai Syrup Method

Hot chai tea latte

1. Gather homemade chai syrup or your store bought chai syrup.
2. In a pan heat milk over the stove over low-medium heat. OR in a microwave safe cup heat milk in the microwave.
3. Once milk is hot pour into your serving cup.
4. Add in 1-2 tbsp of chai syrup and stir well. (more or less if desired).
5. Add in any desired sugar, honey or other sweetener and stir well.
6. Using a whisk, or milk frother, froth about 1/2 cup of warm milk.
7. Pour frothed milk foam over chai latte.
8. Enjoy!

How To Make It

1. Gather homemade chai syrup or your store bought chai syrup.
2. Measure out cold milk and pour into your serving cup.
3. Add in 1-2 tbsp of chai syrup and stir well. (more or less if desired).
4. Add in any desired sugar, honey or other sweetener and stir well. (liquid sweeteners work best)
5. Add ice
6. Using a whisk, or milk frother, froth about 1/2 cup of cold milk.
7. Pour frothed milk foam over chai latte.
8. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes:

• For iced drinks, you’ll want to use liquid sweeteners unless you heat your milk first. Sugar will not dissolve very well in a cold temperature so for this reason use simple syrups or honey to sweeten your iced drinks.
• 1-2 tbsp of chai syrup is what we like, but if you like it more or less flavorful or sweet you can adjust the amount of chai syrup you use.
• Add in extra flavors like vanilla or almond and see how you like it! Sometimes flavors we never expected to pair well with a drink will actually make it taste even better.