Learn how to make an easy homemade Chai Latte with just 2 ingredients and 5 minutes. This easy Starbucks copycat can be made hot or iced, with simple tips for Dirty Chai, Vanilla Chai, or Pumpkin Cream Chai Lattes - all for a fraction of the cost and coffee shop-quality right at home.
Let me start this post by saying yes!! I vehemently disagree with the fact that this drink is named "Chai Tea" and hate when people say it. I am fully aware that this is redundant, and we will talk about it in a later section regarding what a Chai Tea Latte really is.
If you looked at your monthly expenses and went "uff... I'm spending a lot of money at coffee shops" then yeah, I feel you on that one. Realizing I was spending $12-15/day, or close to $200/month, on buying coffee made me change my habits reaaal quick. That's a whole ticket to Disney!!
Truly nothing is more comforting than an Iced Chai Latte during the summer or a hot version in the fall and winter. This cozy drink has gained global popularity, loved for its aromatic blend of black tea, spices, milk, and a touch of sweetness. Here's a quick guide to a homemade Chai Latte Starbucks dupe, iced or hot! You can make a fresh batch of Chai Concentrate to last you the full week in about 20 minutes and froth the milk for a latte at a fraction of the cost!
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Why this Recipe?
A homemade Chai Latte has many benefits! Here are some of my favorites worth mentioning:
- It's cheaper. A Starbucks Grande Chai Tea Latte would cost me $6.15 in New York City. The cost adds up significantly if you're buying one a day. If you make the make the chai concentrate at home, you can make a Chai Latte at home for ~$1 depending on the price of ingredients in your area.
- If you have the chai concentrate prepped or purchased it pre-made, all you need to do is steam or froth the milk and you have your morning and afternoon pick-me-up ready within 5 minutes without needing to do a coffee shop run.
- You can control the sugar added and milk to meet dietary restrictions.
- Add a shot of espresso to make it a Dirty Chai Latte. Top an iced chai latte with Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam or Pumpkin Cream Cold Foam for a fall vibe.
What is a Chai Latte?
Let's start with the fact that chai means "tea" in Hindi, so chai tea translates to "tea tea". Redundant? Yikes.
The Chai Tea Latte was introduced at Starbucks in the United States by Teavana's Oprah Chai Tea at Starbucks in 2014 as a way of "elevating the tea experience," drawing inspiration from Masala Chai.
The outcome was a cinnamon heavy, watered down attempt at masala chai that was palatable to Americans but detested by desis. And thanks to Starbucks, people also began saying "chai tea".
To be fair, a Chai Tea Latte has spun itself into its own drink in the U.S. While it began as an attempt of introducing Masala Chai to Americans, I now think of it as a rendition of the original. Now, Chai Tea or a Chai Latte typically refers to a drink with frothy steamed milk and a black tea concentrate simmered with sharp spices like ginger and cinnamon.
Ingredients - Notes and Substitutions
Starbucks uses the following ingredients to make their Chai Tea Latte:
Milk, Water, Chai Tea Concentrate [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].
For our homemade Chai Latte, we only need two ingredients!
- Chai Concentrate - You can purchase a pre-made concentrate from Tazo, which is what Starbucks uses and take note of the ratio it requires of chai to milk. Pre-made is far more expensive over time. Or, easily make it at home with my homemade Chai Concentrate recipe which uses a 1:1 of concentrate to milk. Some benefits to making it at home are:
- control over flavor
- control the amount of sugar (easier for "skinny" or "sugar free" chai lattes)
- make large batches
- it's cheaper
- no preservatives
- use rooibos for a caffeine-free chai latte
- Milk - Starbucks uses 2% milk that is steamed hot to create milk foam. You can use any milk you want, including plant-based milks such as soy and almond milk. For plant-based milks, you'll want to consider purchasing the "barista edition" so that it foams as you'd expect it to.
- Sugar - Most chai concentrates come sweetened. However, you can purchase it unsweetened or make it at home and adjust the amount and type of sweetener. This is a great way to make a healthier chai latte.
How to make Chai Concentrate
If you're not buying a pre-bottled chai concentrate, here's a brief walkthrough on how to make your own chai concentrate from scratch. I have a much more detailed homemade Chai Concentrate recipe that helps you customize it and make a small or large batch!
- Crush the spices. Use a mortar and pestle to lightly crush the spices to release their oils. Use the flat edge of a knife to smash them instead of a mortar and pestle. For a spicy chai latte, adjust the spices with more ginger and black pepper.
- Dry roast the spices and extract flavor. To really bloom the spices, add them to the pot on low to medium heat and dry roast them for about a minute until they're fragrant.
- Continuously mix them around so they don't burn. Then, add the water and bring it a rolling boil to allow the spices to infuse with the water.
You can also use Chai Masala instead of whole spices or a Chai tea bag that already contains the spices and black tea. If you're using Chai Masala or a chai tea bag, skip the dry roast and add the spices or tea bags directly into the boiling water.
- Steep the tea. Add black tea leaves or black tea bags into the spice-infused water and boil it for about 5 minutes, giving it a stir every once in a while.
- Then, remove the pot from heat and let the tea and spices steep for a minimum of 15 minutes. Add the sugar and stir until it's dissolved.
Substitute the sugar for an artificial sweetener, honey, or maple syrup. Or, leave it unsweetened and add the sweetener when making the chai latte.
- Bottle the concentrate. Sanitize the bottle and its lid in boiling water before use. Once the chai concentrate has cooled, use a fine mesh sieve to transfer it to the bottle. Refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze them in ice cube trays.
How to make a Hot Chai Latte or Iced Chai Latte at Home
With the chai concentrate either prepared or purchased, the only thing to do here is to steam or froth the milk.
For an Iced Chai Latte -
- Fill a tall glass with ice cubes.
- Pour in 1 cup of chilled chai concentrate.
- Use the cold foam setting on the Aeroccino or an electric frother until 1 cup of chilled milk is frothy and foamy. Pour over the iced chai concentrate.
- Sprinkle with cinnamon or pumpkin spice for garnish.
For a Hot Chai Latte -
- Warm up the milk (dairy or plant-based) in a saucepan on the stove or in the microwave to 170°F, just before simmering. Use an electric frother or immersion blender until the milk is frothy and foamy. Alternatively, use the hot setting on the Aeroccino.
- Pour 1 cup of homemade chai concentrate (or store-bought) into your favorite mug.
- Top with the hot frothed milk, spooning the foam on last.
- Sprinkle with ground cinnamon or nutmeg for garnish and enjoy warm.
Pair with biscuits, cookies, or a warm pastry for a perfect snack.
Easy Chai Latte Variations
There are so many ways to customize your chai latte at home! Try these easy twists:
- Dirty Chai Latte - Add 1-2 shots of espresso to your chai latte for extra caffeine.
- Vanilla Chai Latte - Stir in 1 teaspoons of vanilla syrup or vanilla extract for a sweet, floral note.
- Pumpkin Cream Chai Latte - Top your iced chai latte with homemade pumpkin cream cold foam and a dusting of pumpkin spice.
- Dairy-Free Chai Latte - Use oat milk, almond milk, or soy milk. Barista blends froth the best.
- Sugar-Free Chai Latte - Sweeten the chai concentrate with monk fruit, stevia, or skip sweetener altogether for a lighter version.
- Decaf Chai Latte - Swap black tea for rooibos or decaf black tea bags when making your concentrate.
Masala Chai vs. a Chai Latte
Masala Chai is an authentic India tea that requires a bit of technique when simmering the spices, evaporating the milk, and aerating the chai. This results in a complex, well balanced, rich, and creamy flavor and velvety texture. It's typically made fresh and enjoyed with friends or family.
When a coffee shop has Chai or a Chai Latte on their menu, it's usually referring to a drink made with a pre-made chai concentrate with steamed milk. The flavor is a bit sharper with cinnamon and ginger being the main flavors that come through.
More Starbucks Dupes to try
Recipe
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Homemade Chai Latte
Ingredients
- 8 oz chai concentrate
- 8 oz milk, of choice*
- ground cinnamon, for sprinkling
Instructions
- For an Iced Chai Latte -Add the chai concentrate into the glass with ice. Add the milk into a separate glass and use an electric frother or Aeroccino on the cold foam setting until frothy. Pour the foamy milk over the chai concentrate and enjoy.
- For a warm Chai Latte -Add the chai concentrate into the glass. Add hot milk into a separate glass and use an electric frother or Aeroccino on the hot foam setting until frothy. Pour the foamy milk over the chai concentrate and enjoy.
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