Enjoy the warm, inviting taste of a Starbucks Chai Tea Latte right in your kitchen with this simple recipe. This comforting drink combines aromatic Chai Masala Powder with the deep flavors of black tea and milk. It's frothy and lightly sweetened with brown sugar, perfect for cold days or whenever you need a special treat at home.
What You’ll Find On This Page
This recipe takes inspiration from the popular Starbucks version, simplifying the process so you can enjoy it in less than 15 minutes, no special equipment needed. It perfectly captures the essence of traditional Masala Chai with a modern twist. Whether you prefer the classic latte or a Dirty Chai Latte with a hint of espresso, this homemade version is sure to satisfy your cravings.
Ingredients and Substitutions Overview
Making this Chai Tea Latte is simple, using ingredients you can easily find in your kitchen or at a nearby grocery store. Here's what you'll need:
- Black Tea Powder: Orange pekoe black tea is ideal for its rich flavor, but you can use any black tea powder or tea bags you like.
- Chai Masala: This is a mix of ground aromatic Indian spices that gives the tea its distinctive warm and spicy flavor.
- Milk: Whole milk is best for a creamy, frothy latte similar to Starbucks. For a vegan option, try oat milk, almond milk, or any other non-dairy milk.
- Brown Sugar: Just a bit to sweeten the latte. You can adjust the amount based on how sweet you want it.
- Whipping Cream (Optional): For an extra luxurious touch, especially in the iced version of the latte. This is optional and can be left out if you prefer.
How to Make Chai Tea Latte at Home?
Let's make a delicious Chai Tea Latte right at home. Just follow my simple, step-by-step guide, complete with photos and videos, and you'll be enjoying this warm, spiced beverage just like the ones at Starbucks in no time. Ready to start?
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Starbucks Chai Tea Latte Copycat
Ingredients
- 2 tsp Black Tea Powder
- 1 cup Milk
- 1½ cup Water
- ¼ tsp Chai Masala
- 2 tsp Brown Sugar
- Whipped Cream, optional
- Cinnamon Powder, to garnish
Instructions
Making Chai Tea Latte
- In a saucepan, mix water, black tea powder, and Chai Masala Powder. Alternatively, for a traditional touch, use a mix of individual spices as detailed in the Masala Chai recipe.
- Stir the mixture well and bring it to a boil. Allow it to simmer for 2-3 minutes to fully extract the flavors, then remove from heat.
- In a separate saucepan, heat the milk with brown sugar. Warm it until it just starts to puff up, but avoid boiling to preserve a smooth texture. Once it reaches this stage, remove it from heat.
- Allow the milk to cool slightly before transferring it to a heatproof glass jar. Secure the lid and shake vigorously until the milk becomes frothy. Setting the milk aside to cool a bit helps prevent any pressure build-up in the jar while shaking. Keep this frothed milk aside for later use.
- Using a fine-mesh strainer, pour the chai tea concentrate into a serving glass, filling about one-third of the glass.
- Gently pour the frothed milk over the chai tea concentrate in the glass. Sprinkle a bit of cinnamon powder on top for added flavor. Your Starbucks Copycat Chai Tea Latte is now ready to enjoy.
Preparing Iced Chai Latte
- To prepare an Iced Chai Tea Latte, start by allowing the Chai Tea Concentrate to cool down completely. Once cooled, pour it into a glass filled with plenty of ice cubes. Then, pour cold milk over the concentrate. Finish by topping it with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon powder, creating a refreshing and flavorful drink.
Serving
- Enjoy this delicious Starbucks Chai Tea Latte copycat anytime you crave a café-style drink or need a comforting boost on cold days. Its frothy texture and warming spices make it perfect for chilly evenings or a cozy tea time treat.
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Recipe Video
Chef's Notes and Tips
- Taste and Flavor: Use Chai Masala Powder for authentic chai flavor. If you prefer a customized taste, mix your own spices such as ginger, cinnamon, pepper, star anise, and cardamom. This approach allows you to control the flavor intensity and balance to suit your preference, similar to in my Masala Chai recipe.
- Temperature Control: When heating your milk, be sure not to let it boil. Overheating can cause the milk to form a skin on the surface and alter the smooth texture of your latte. Aim for a gentle warmth that's perfect for drinking immediately.
- Frothing: Opt for whole milk to achieve the classic frothy texture found in a Starbucks latte. For an iced version, adding heavy whipping cream will enrich the texture, making it luxuriously creamy.
- Frothing Technique: A glass jar is great for manual frothing, but for smoother and finer froth, consider using a milk frother. This tool can help you achieve barista-level quality at home.
- Sweetener Variations: While brown sugar is commonly used, experimenting with other sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar can introduce new flavors and nuances to your latte. Each sweetener brings its own unique taste, so you can find the one that best complements the spicy chai.
- Vanilla Twist: Enhance the latte by adding a dash of vanilla essence. This adds a subtle, sweet depth that beautifully complements the spicy notes of the chai.
- Custom Spice Blend: Consider creating a custom chai spice blend that you can make in bulk and store. This not only saves time on each preparation but also ensures you have a perfectly balanced flavor ready at your fingertips.
Nutrition Info
Disclaimer
We're not nutrition experts, and the nutritional information provided is an estimate. Please use it as a guide. For precise details, it's best to consult a professional. To learn more, please view our Detailed Disclaimers.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore our collection of coffee and tea recipes, perfect for any season. Whether you need a comforting drink for cold winters or a refreshing pick-me-up for summer, we have just the right recipe for any occasion.
Storage Suggestions
For the best taste, enjoy your Chai Tea Latte fresh. However, if you need to prepare in advance or have leftovers, here are my recommendations for proper storage:
- Leftover Latte: If you've already prepared the latte, it's best to drink it within 24 hours. Store it in a sealed container in the fridge. When you're ready, simply reheat or serve it chilled, stirring well before enjoying.
- Chai Concentrate: Store the filtered chai concentrate in a sealed container in the refrigerator. It remains fresh for up to a week. When you're ready to make a latte, simply heat the desired amount of concentrate, froth your choice of milk, then combine both for a delicious homemade Chai Tea Latte.
Dee says
Hello! Chai means tea. So by calling it chai tea - you're saying tea tea. Just thought you'd want to know 😉
Sangeetha Vel says
Hi Dee,
Thanks for your feedback. Yeah, I know of it and in fact I mentioned it in our Masala Chai recipe post. But unfortunately, in the western part of the world, the recipe was popularized as Chai Tea. So, I have used it for them also to identify the recipe. Hope this helps 🙂