This Starbucks Chai Tea Latte Copycat Recipe is smooth, creamy, and packed with warm chai spice flavor - without the coffee shop price tag. It comes together in minutes using my Homemade Chai Concentrate and tastes even better than the original.
Pro tip
Use Chai Ice Cubes
Freeze leftover chai concentrate in an ice cube tray and use it instead of regular ice. It keeps your iced chai latte cold without watering down that bold, spiced flavor.
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Love a good copycat? Try my Starbucks Iced White Chocolate Mocha, Starbucks Peppermint Mocha, and Starbucks Caramel Brulée Latte, too.
The Best Homemade Starbucks Chai Latte Copycat
I've really been leaning into coffee shop favorites you can make at home lately, and this one might be the easiest of them all. Since chai is actually the Hindi word for tea, this latte is all about balancing bold black tea with warming spices.
For years, a Starbucks chai latte was my habit every time I went to the city, usually paired with a slice of banana nut bread or a pumpkin cream cheese muffin. But at $6 a drink, it adds up fast. Plus, the store version is usually far too sweet. By making your own latte at home, you control the spice level, the milk, and the amount of sugar.
So, I created this copycat chai tea latte recipe after testing different spice blends and ratios until it matched that classic coffee shop flavor.
Recipe at a Glance
- Flavor Profile: Warm with chai spices, bold black tea concentrate, and creamy milk.
- Total Time: 5 minutes.
- Standard Ratio: 1 part concentrate to 1 part milk for a stronger, coffee shop-style flavor. For a lighter drink, use 1 part concentrate to 2 parts milk.
- Simple Ingredients: Just chai concentrate and milk.
- Versatile: Serve the beverage hot or iced, and experiment with different mix-ins to make it your own.
- Difficulty: Easy.
Jump to:
Ingredients You'll Need
- Chai Tea Concentrate: I highly recommend using my Homemade Chai Tea Concentrate. It uses warm spices like real ginger, cardamom, star anise, cloves, and black pepper to mimic the exact spice profile Starbucks uses, but store-bought also works.
- Milk: For the creamiest chai latte, I recommend 2% milk for the richest flavor and creamiest consistency. You can also use non-dairy milk like almond milk, coconut milk, oat milk, or soy milk to make it vegan.
- Ice: For the iced chai latte version.
- Garnish: A pinch of ground cinnamon or nutmeg for that professional finish.
- Optional Sweeteners: Add extra brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup to taste, depending on the sweetness of the concentrate.
See the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities and a full list of ingredients.
How to Make Starbucks Chai Tea Latte (2 Ways)
Once you've got your concentrate ready, making a chai latte takes just a couple of minutes, hot or iced.
Hot Chai Tea Latte
Combine and Heat: Add ½ cup chai concentrate and ½ cup milk to a small saucepan.
Warm: Heat over medium until steaming (about 150°F). Do not let it boil, as scorched milk will make the latte taste bitter.
Froth and Serve: Remove from heat. Use a handheld milk frother or whisk vigorously for 30 seconds until foamy. Pour into a warmed mug and top with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Microwave Option: If you're in a hurry, combine the milk and concentrate in a microwave-safe mug. Heat in the microwave for 60-90 seconds, then froth as directed. It's the fastest way to get your morning sips!
Note: If you don't have a frother, you can pour the hot mixture into a blender and pulse for 15 seconds, or simply shake it vigorously in a sealed mason jar (using a towel to protect your hands from the heat) to get that foam.
Iced Chai Tea Latte
Prep the Glass: Fill a tall glass to the top with ice.
Layer: Pour ½ cup chai concentrate over the ice, then top with ½ cup cold milk.
Stir: Give the iced latte a quick stir to combine. Adjust with an extra splash of concentrate if you want it stronger.
Jeri's Top Tips
- Warm Your Mug: For hot lattes, pour hot water into your mug for 1 minute, then discard before adding your latte. This keeps your drink hot much longer!
- Barista Tip: Heat milk to about 150°F for the best texture - hot enough to steam, but not so hot it loses its natural sweetness.
- Use Plenty of Ice: For iced versions, more ice actually keeps the drink from melting as fast. Fill that glass to the brim!
Substitutions
- If you don't want to make the chai tea concentrate, you can make an iced chai tea latte by using chai tea bags. Use two tea bags per half cup of water.
- You can also use Tazo chai tea concentrate instead of making your own. Combine equal parts of the concentrate and milk in a glass with ice.
Note: If using Tazo, keep in mind it is much sweeter than my homemade version, so you may want to skip any extra sweeteners!
Flavor Variations
- Dirty Chai: Add 1 shot of espresso (or ¼ cup strong coffee) for an extra caffeine kick.
- Vanilla Chai: Stir in ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract or use vanilla-flavored syrup.
- Skinny Version: Use unsweetened almond milk or skim milk and omit any extra sweeteners.
- Pumpkin Chai: Stir 1 tablespoon of pumpkin purée into the concentrate before adding milk.
- Blended Chai Frappé: Blend the chai concentrate, milk, ice, and sweetener together for a smooth frozen drink.
- Protein: Mix in a scoop of vanilla or unflavored protein powder for a filling option that's great after a workout.
- Decaf Latte: Use decaffeinated chai tea concentrate for a caffeine-free drink that's just as tasty.
FAQs
It's best to store the chai concentrate separately and mix it fresh.
A handheld battery-operated milk frother is the best budget tool for this. Froth the milk while it's hot, then pour it into the mug for those perfect coffee-shop bubbles.
Absolutely. Just multiply the ingredients and keep the mixture warm in a slow cooker or insulated carafe, or chill it in the fridge. Let guests add their own milk and sweeteners for a customizable drink station.
The standard ratio is 1 part chai concentrate to 1 part milk. Adjust to taste depending on how strong you like your drink.
More Copycat Starbucks Recipes
- Chocolate Cream Cold Brew - A famous coffeehouse favorite at a fraction of the price.
- Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew - Creamy, smooth, sweet, spiced, and ready in 5 minutes at home.
- Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew - Silky cold brew topped with a cloud of sweet vanilla cream for a beverage that's truly a dream.
- Toasted White Chocolate Mocha - Rich espresso, sweet caramelized chocolate, and steamed milk.
- Iced Coffee in 5 Minutes - Learn how to make the best iced coffee at home in 5 minutes.
Printable Recipe
Copycat Starbucks Chai Tea Latte
Ingredients
- ½ cup chai tea concentrate (homemade or store-bought)
- ½ cup milk (2%, oat, or almond milk works best)
- 1 cup ice cubes (for iced version)
- Garnish: A pinch of ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
- Optional: 1-2 teaspoons sugar, honey, or maple syrup, to taste
Instructions
For a Hot Chai Latte
- Combine: Pour the chai concentrate and milk into a small saucepan. Barista Tip: For a more professional, layered look, heat the concentrate and milk in separate pans so you can froth the milk independently.
- Heat: Warm over medium heat until steaming (approximately 150°F). Do not let it reach a boil, as scorched milk loses its natural sweetness and can taste bitter.
- Froth: Remove from heat. Use a handheld milk frother or whisk vigorously for 30 seconds until a thick, creamy foam forms.
- Serve: Pour into a mug (pouring the frothed milk over the concentrate if they were heated separately) and garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
For an Iced Chai Latte
- Prep: Fill a tall glass to the top with ice cubes.
- Layer: Pour the chai concentrate over the ice, then top with the cold milk.
- Stir: Stir gently to combine. Top with a sprinkle of cinnamon if desired.
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Notes
- Standard Ratio: This recipe uses a 1:1 ratio (1 part concentrate to 1 part milk).
- Frother Hack: If you don't have a frother, shake the hot milk and concentrate in a sealed mason jar (use a towel to protect your hands) or pulse in a blender for 15 seconds to create foam.
- Dirty Chai: Add a single shot of espresso or ¼ cup of strong brewed coffee for extra caffeine.
- Chai Ice Cubes: To prevent your iced latte from getting watered down, freeze extra chai concentrate in an ice cube tray and use those instead of regular ice.
Nutrition
The provided nutrition information is automatically calculated. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
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