Copycat Starbucks Chai Tea Latte Recipe (2024)

Follow my step-by-step instructions and make a classic Starbucks Chai Tea Latte at home! This drink is easy to make and tasty, and it will keep you warm during the cold season.

Rich, creamy, and slightly spicy, Chai Tea Latte is one of the most popular hot beverages at Starbucks. Now, it is possible to buy the Chai Tea Concentrate online, or in large grocery stores, which makes it super easy to make this oh-so-loved drink at home.

Video Recipe

What is a Chai Tea Latte?

Originating in India, a chai tea latte (some call it masala chai) is a drink prepared in a lot of coffee shops across the US, similar to a latte (espresso+steamed milk), but with a Chai Tea Concentrate used instead of espresso. There are a few instances when people like to add a shot of espresso to it as well (called dirty chai latte), but it is rare. The Chai Tea Concentrate is made with a very strong black tea, infused with spices such as cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, vanilla, star anise, black peppercorns, and cloves and it usually contains added sugar.

Starbucks Chai Tea Latte Recipe

The Starbucks Chai Tea Latte recipe I am sharing with you today is made with only two ingredients:

1. Tazo Chai Tea Latte Base. This base (or Chai concentrate) is sold at some large supermarkets, such as Walmart, Target, and Earth Fare or you can buy it on Amazon.com (the most expensive option).
2. Milk.By default, Starbucks uses 2% milk for almost all hot beverages. However, you can use whole or skim milk, or try using dairy-free alternatives (almond, coconut, soy, or cashew milk).

Chai Tea Latte Base vs. Chai Tea Bags

Chai Tea concentrateis already prepared chai tea that is sold in cartons and ready to be mixed with milk. It's easier to use since it's already made and it tastes more familiar to Chai Tea Latte found in Starbucks. The drawback is that once you open the concentrate you usually have about 7 days to use it, before it goes bad, so if you are planning to make just a few cups you will end up with wasted concentrate and wasted money.

Chai Tea bagscould be a better option for you if you are looking for an occasional Chai Tea Latte. You can use the tea bag to prepare your own "concentrate" by brewing it in 4 oz. of hot water for about 4-5 minutes, adding about 1 tsp. of sugar (or to taste) and then using it instead of the 3oz. of store-bought concentrate in the recipe. This won't taste like Starbucks, but you might like it even more and it might be your new favorite Homemade Chai Latte recipe. I like that using tea bags, allows you to control which sweetener you can use (brown sugar, Stevia, maple syrup, honey) and how much of it you add, so you can use less sugar if desired.

Another variation of chai latte made with matcha powder: Chai Matcha Latte

What Kind of milk to use

At Starbucks, 2% milk is used by default. That said it could be made with a variety of milks. If you are looking for a richer taste, you might want to go with whole milk, for dairy-free options consider almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk, or oat milk. I find that soy and oat milk make better foam than other non-dairy milk options.

Is Chai Tea Latte good for you?

I know a lot of people are wondering if Chai Tea Latte is a healthy drink. For the most part, the answer to this question will depend on the specific Chai Tea Latte variety you are consuming and how much sugar you use. But because today I am sharing Starbucks Chai Tea Latte,my answer will be connected to this specific drink. So I would say that this Chai Tea Latte is somewhat healthy. The healthy part is the spice-infused tea. The benefits of these spices include their anti-inflammatory effects that can help ease arthritis, prevent and treat nausea, aid digestion, and reduce the risk of heart disease. The unhealthy part is sugar. One 12 oz. cup of the Chai Tea I am sharing with you, contains about 18g. of sugar (12g. from concentrate, and 8g. from milk). I recommend treating this drink as a dessert and consuming it in moderation.

Is there caffeine in Chai Tea Latte?

Yes. There is about 30mg. of caffeine in one 12 oz. cup of this Chai Tea Latte. In comparison, a 12 oz. cup of coffee contains about 130mg. of caffeine.

How to froth the milk

You'll need to froth the milk, to make that beautiful foam you see in the photo above. It is Chai Tea LATTE, and the latte requires foam on top. There are several ways to froth the milk:

1. Milk Frother. Whether using Electric Milk Frother or Press Frother (I use Ninja Coffee Bar Easy Milk Frother), you'll always have great results.
2. French Press. You may froth the milk using your coffee press. Just add the hot milk to the press and pump 10-15 times.
3. Whisk. You can just use a regular whisk to froth the milk. Just add the hot milk into a large cup and whisk until foam forms.
4. Esprerro Machine Steamer. Of course, if you own an espresso machine, you can use the steamer to warm up and froth the milk for your homemade chai tea latte.

How to make Starbucks Chai Tea Latte

1. Pour the Tazo Chai Tea Latte Base into a serving cup.*

2. Warm up the milk on a stovetop or in a microwave until very hot. Froth the milk (check the How to Froth Milk" section above).

3. Pour the milk into the cup with Chai Tea Base. Garnish with ground cinnamon or cinnamon sticks if desired. Serve.

RECIPE NOTES:

*If you prefer a very hot Chai Tea, add the Tazo Chai Tea Base to the milk, and heat it up together, until it reaches the desired temperature. Then froth.

Some of the dairy-free milk alternatives, don't froth well, so your cup won't be full, since the foam is missing. Use 4 oz. of Chai Tea Base and 8 oz. of milk in this case.

I hope you enjoy this Homemade version of the Starbucks Chai Tea Latte. If may need to experiment a little bit, try different concentrates, or tea bags to be able to find what fits your tastebuds best, once once you find it, you'll be able to save money and time, by not having to go to coffee shops to get a cup of this goodness.

YOU’LL LOVE THESE STARBUCKS COPYCAT RECIPES TOO:

• Starbucks Caramel Macchiato
• Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte
• Starbucks Peppermint White Chocolate
• Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino

Why do I share Starbucks recipes?Read myStarbucks Journey. 🙂