Whether you want to cool down on a hot summer day or are just in the mood for a unique spicy-sweet beverage, an iced chai tea latte from Starbucks really hits the spot. But at over $4 a pop, this drink isn’t exactly cheap. So, why not make your own iced chai tea latte at home?
To make an iced chai tea latte, start by brewing black tea leaves, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, star anise, and ginger. Steep for 5 minutes, then strain the solids and add sweetener. Mix this concentrate with the milk of your choice in a 1:2 ratio, then pour over a cup of ice.
Starbucks has been serving chai lattes for years, and the iced version of this popular drink has become a summertime staple. It’s refreshing, flavorful, and doesn’t contain heaps of caffeine like some of Starbucks’ other drinks. So, let’s find out what goes into the delicious iced chai latte and how you can whip up a batch at home.
What’s in a Starbucks Iced Chai Latte?
A Starbucks iced chai latte contains milk mixed with black tea concentrate that’s been infused with spices like cardamom, ginger, cloves, black pepper, and star anise. It’s then sweetened with sugar or vanilla syrup, and the whole mixture is poured over ice.
Starbucks officially calls this drink an ‘Iced Chai Tea Latte,’ which is actually a little misleading. Latte, by definition, is a coffee drink made with espresso and steamed milk. Since this drink contains no espresso, it’s technically not a latte.
And the word “chai” actually just means “tea” in south Asian culture, so the “chai tea” is a bit redundant as well. What we have here is basically a sweetened, cold, spiced tea. But no matter what you call it, this drink is delicious!
Do Chai Tea Lattes Contain Caffeine?

Yes, since this drink is made with black tea concentrate, it does contain caffeine. However, the amount of caffeine in an iced chai latte is significantly less than what you’ll find in a cup of coffee.
For reference, a grande iced chai latte from Starbucks contains 95 mg of caffeine, while a grande iced coffee has 150 mg.
The quantity of caffeine can vary slightly depending on the brand of tea used and how long the leaves are steeped. But in general, an iced chai latte is a fairly low-key caffeinated beverage. And it’s a perfect drink to get a little boost without the coffee jitters.
If you’re looking for a completely caffeine-free version of this drink, you can make it with decaf black tea (on Amazon) or swap out the black tea for herbal tea.
Starbucks currently doesn’t offer any decaf chai tea concentrates, but you can find decaf black tea bags at most grocery stores or online.
Rooibos, or red bush, tea is a great caffeine-free alternative, as it has a similar flavor profile to black tea. Just make sure to brew it for a little longer — about 7-8 minutes — to extract the maximum flavor.
What Will You Need to Make an Iced Chai Latte at Home?
The great thing about making an iced chai latte at home is that you can customize it to your taste. You can control the sweetness, the calorie content, use your preferred milk, remove the spices, or even make a decaf version.
To make a basic iced chai latte, you’ll need the following:
- Tea concentrate
- Milk of choice (dairy or non-dairy)
- Water
- Granulated sugar/Honey
- Vanilla extract
- Ice
The concentrate is the heart of an iced chai latte. You can either buy a pre-made concentrate (on Amazon) or make your own. With the pre-made option, you’ll just need to mix it with milk and water in the correct ratio.
But it’s usually cheaper and more delicious to make your own concentrate. Plus, you’ll have more control over the spices and sweetness.
To make your own tea concentrate, you’ll need the following:
- Tea bags or loose-leaf tea (black tea) – 2 packs/1 tablespoon
- Cinnamon stick – 1/2 inch
- Cardamom pods – 1
- Fresh ginger (peeled & crushed) – Just a tiny piece
- Star anise – 1
- Cloves – 1
- Black peppercorns – 1-2 (optional)
You’ll also need a saucepan, measuring spoons and cups, a strainer, and a pitcher or jar to store your concentrate in.
These quantities will make around 3 cups of concentrate, which is more than you’ll need for one iced chai latte. But you can store it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks and use it as needed to make more iced chai lattes.
You can skip the spices if you prefer plain black tea concentrate and milk. But we highly recommend using at least some spices to get that authentic chai flavor. If you don’t have all the spices on hand, just use what you have.
Making the Concentrate
Starbucks uses an exclusive tea concentrate that’s not available to consumers. Many fans believe the tea concentrate from Tazo, previously owned by Starbucks, has the same flavor profile. Tea Vana, the brand currently owned by Starbucks, also makes a chai tea latte concentrate (on Amazon) available for purchase.
But both of these products call for at least a 1:1 milk-to-concentrate ratio to produce a reasonable tea flavor, which is way more diluted than we’d like for our iced chai latte recipe. In addition, these products are often loaded with sugar and other additives.
You can try them or other brands available in stores, but we recommend making your own concentrate at home for a more authentic flavor.
Making your own tea concentrate is actually pretty simple. There are two methods to do it depending on the intensity of spice and flavor you want in your final drink.
For a Strong, Flavorful Concentrate
Add water and all the spices along with the tea bags or loose-leaf tea in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil on high heat, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
After five minutes, turn off the heat and let the mixture steep for another 5 minutes. Strain it into a pitcher or jar, add the sweetener of your choice, and give it a good stir.
For a More Mild-Flavored Tea
Simmer the water and spices together for 5 minutes on medium heat. Then, turn off the heat and add tea bags or loose-leaf tea. Let the mixture steep for 5 minutes, then strain the tea and spices, and add sweetener if desired.
Let the concentrate cool down completely before using it in your iced chai latte.
Choosing Your Milk

You can use any type of milk you want for your iced chai latte. Dairy milk, almond milk, oat milk, cashew milk, soy milk, coconut milk, and the list goes on.
If you want a lighter chai latte, choose skim milk or any non-dairy milk with a similar consistency. For a richer drink, go for full-fat dairy milk or creamy non-dairy milk like coconut or cashew milk (on Amazon).
With pre-made tea concentrates, we suggest using a 1:1 ratio of milk to concentrate.
If you’re using our strong homemade tea concentrate recipe, we recommend using a 2:1 ratio of milk to concentrate. It will be more intense and flavorful this way. You can add less milk if you want a stronger tea flavor.
Pour Over Ice and Serve
Once you’ve decided on your milk, it’s time to put it all together. Fill a glass with ice cubes, then pour half the tea concentrate over the ice. Top it off with your milk of choice.
If you like your drink sweet, add a little honey or vanilla extract, then give it a good stir. Hopefully, you’ll enjoy your homemade iced chai latte as much as we do!
We highly recommend chilling the glass in the fridge for a few minutes before adding the ice and tea concentrate. This way, your drink will stay cold and refreshing for longer.