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Starbucks chai tea latte in a cup.

Starbucks Chai Tea Latte Copycat

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Enjoy making your own Copycat Starbucks Chai Tea Latte, combining spicy chai masala, black tea, milk, and a touch of brown sugar. This frothy, warm drink takes its inspiration from traditional Indian Masala Chai and is perfect for cozying up on chilly days or whenever you want a special treat at home.
Course Latte
Cuisine Indian, American
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 2 cup
Calories 62
Author Sangeetha Vel

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
US Customary - Metric

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.
    Adding tea, chai masala powder to water.
  • 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.
    Chai tea concentrate boiling.
  • 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.
    Milk is puffing up.
  • 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.
    Shaking milk to froth.
  • Using a fine-mesh strainer, pour the chai tea concentrate into a serving glass, filling about one-third of the glass.
    Filtering chai tea concentrate.
  • 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.
    Pouring frothed milk.

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.
    Chai tea latte with whipped cream topped.

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.
    Chai Tea Latte Served in a mug with few spices placed around.

Notes

Here are some helpful tips to perfect your Chai Tea Latte:
  • 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

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 62kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 45mg | Sugar: 8g

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