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 How to Make an Iced Chai Latte At Home

The Best Starbucks-Inspired Recipe for a Fraction of the In-Store Cost

I’m not afraid to admit I have a caffeine addiction, but I am embarrassed to share how much of my monthly budget is dedicated to costly cafe excursions. Matcha lattes have always been a top pick of mine when cafe-hopping around SoCal from LA to Fullerton to San Diego. Recently, chai lattes have been my go-to fall drink–yes, I prefer them iced–for their comforting cinnamon flavor. Although I love a good iced chai when I’m out and about, those $6 lattes add up quickly, especially since I go to Dulce and other cafes multiple times a week. I’m doing my best to budget leading up to the holiday shopping season so I wanted to share my simple two-ingredient chai latte recipe for anyone who’s also looking to save money while satisfying their caffeine cravings. 

For my at-home chai latte recipe, all you need is the Tazo Classic Chai Tea Concentrate and a milk of your choice–I typically opt for the Silk Oak Milk, but Oatly is best. I purchase both of these ingredients from the Food4Less off of Jefferson and Western Ave. since they’re the cheapest there, unlike the Village Target which upcharges everything by at least a dollar. Ideally, you would use some sort of dairy beverage with a thicker consistency so that your latte isn’t watery ie. whole milk or oat milk. I’ve found that milk alternatives like almond milk have a much thinner consistency and almost water down the drink, but if that’s your preference then go for it! 

My technique for mixing these two ingredients is rooted in my 4 years of experience as a barista at my hometown Ding Tea. First, pour out about 4 ounces of your Tazo Classic Chai Tea Concentrate into a standard-size tumbler. Then, fill your tumbler with your preferred ice about halfway or three-quarters of a way full. After adding in the ice, fill the remaining space in the tumbler with your choice of milk, close your tumbler, and shake well to combine. You can always add additional chai concentrate to taste but remember, you can always add more but you can never take away–it’s better to start with a few ounces of chai then slowly add more. 

Since it’s fall, you can sprinkle in some pumpkin spice and cinnamon or even add white mocha syrup for flavor. Even if you only mix together the two main ingredients, it should taste exactly like a Starbucks chai latte. Moreover, these two ingredients cost about $10 combined. For the price of almost two lattes, you can make six–maybe even eight–iced chai lattes! If you ever have the chance, I highly recommend trying out this super simple recipe. Enjoy!