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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Featured Review
“I almost never leave comments, but this iced chai latte deserves all 5 stars! Wow! I won’t need to go to Starbucks for the rest of the summer. Thank you for taking the time to make this so delicious.”
– Margot
I started making chai lattes nearly 20 years ago when I worked as a barista in college. Back then, we used a chai concentrate that could sit on our counter for a month without spoiling.
(Probably thanks to all of the sugar as a preservative.)
It took me weeks to make a copycat version of that chai concentrate, because I wanted it to taste like the coffee shop version without using refined sugar. I also didn’t want to spend time boiling whole spices on the stove to create a simple syrup.
Luckily, I figured out a simple solution that can be assembled in minutes. All you have to do is wait for a strong cup of tea to brew while you add some ingredients to a jar. It tastes remarkably similar to the store-bought version and will have you sipping iced chai lattes for the rest of the week!
Iced Chai Tea Latte Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Black tea. You don’t need chai tea bags to make a chai latte. Any simple black tea will do! We’re using several servings at once to make a concentrated tea flavor.
- Spices. We’re using ground spices for convenience, and just three of them will provide a lot of flavor. Boost the ginger and cloves if you prefer a spicy chai, or add a pinch of cardamom or nutmeg for even more depth.
- Maple syrup. This natural sweetener pairs perfectly with these spices, and since it’s liquid, you won’t need to boil it on the stovetop like you would regular sugar. Honey could likely be swapped, but it might affect the taste.
How to Make Iced Chai Tea Latte
Step 1:
Arrange 4 black tea bags in a large mug or measuring cup, and pour 1 cup of boiling water over them. Let the tea steep for 3 to 5 minutes.
Step 2:
In a 16-ounce mason jar, add the maple syrup, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. When the tea is done brewing, remove the tea bags and pour the strongly brewed tea into the mason jar with the syrup and spices.
Use a whisk to mix everything together, or secure a lid on the jar and shake well. This is your chai tea concentrate!
Step 3:
Add roughly 1 1/2 cups of ice cubes to a glass, then pour 3/4 cup of your favorite milk over the ice.
Shake the concentrate well in the jar each time you’re ready to use it, then pour a 1/4 cup of the concentrate into the iced milk. (It makes beautiful swirls this way!)
Stir well and enjoy! If you need a sweeter or spicier flavor, add more chai concentrate as you see fit.
Iced Chai Latte Variation
Make a “dirty chai latte” by adding a shot of espresso or a serving of cold brew into your glass. You can make it fancier by adding a dollop of foam or whipped cream on top, too.
Chai Concentrate Storage Tips
Store the leftover concentrate in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. This recipe yields approximately five servings as written, but it can be easily doubled or tripled if needed.
Ingredients
Chai Tea Concentrate
- 4 black tea bags
- 1 cup boiled water
- 6 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
For Serving
- ¾ cup milk of choice (per serving)
- 1 ½ cups ice
Instructions
- Place the 4 tea bags in a large mug or measuring cup, then pour the boiled water over them. Let the tea steep for 3 to 5 minutes, then remove the bags.
- While the tea is steeping, add the maple syrup, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves to a 16-ounce mason jar with a lid. Use a whisk to stir them together, or secure the lid on the jar and shake well. Add the tea and shake again to complete the chai tea concentrate.
- When you're ready to make a serving, add ice and 3/4 cup of milk to a glass. Pour a 1/4 cup of the chai concentrate (shake well before measuring each time!) over the milk, then stir. You can add a little more concentrate for a sweeter and spicier flavor, or add more milk to dilute the flavor. The choice is up to you!
- Store the concentrate in the airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Notes
Nutrition
More Recipes to Try
If you try this iced chai latte recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below, letting me know how you like it.
Perfect recipe! Better than Starbucks and so much better for you. Thank you for another amazing recipe!
OH MY WORD ….THIS IS CRAZY GOOD !!! I will not have to buy my usual Iced Chai ……think of the money I will save and this is WAY HEALTHIER TOO !!!! I’ve been following you for years and bought all your cook books, will get better about leaving review too !!!! I really appreciate all that you do Megan !!!!
I used 1 tablespoon honey per serving and have instead used 4 teaspoons loose leaf black tea and 2 tablespoons loose chai seasonings. It turned out really good and not too sweet. Thank you for the recipe. 🙂
Simple, easy prep, and oh so delicious. I like it as an iced chai latte, but it’s really good with just plain old hot water.
SUPER excited to have found this recipe!! Cannot wait to try it! My only question is, why does the concentrate have to be refrigerated? Maple syrup doesn’t need to be so I’m wondering if I could leave it put but sealed? Thank you! 🙂
It’s because of the tea added to the concentrate. I’ve seen a brewed cup of tea start to mold in just 24 hours, so I wouldn’t leave it out for too long. But I hope you enjoy the flavor! You can also just make a batch of chai latte by the cup using this recipe: https://detoxinista.com/chai-latte/
I love Chai tea!! This recipe is so simple, uses ingredients that most will have already, and yields a delicious and refreshing drink. I recommend making the recipe as written then tinkering with it to your taste. I like a spicy Chai, so I will try Megan’s recommendation to add other spices to change up the taste and use a little less maple syrup in my next batch. Thank you for an easy and inexpensive way to answer our cravings!!
I love this recipe but would like to ask if there was something i could add to it that would give it more bite (meaning is there a way to make it more like the Tazo concentrate liquid). Can i add something to it to make it spicer?
Ginger and cloves tend to add a spicy flavor, so you can increase those in this recipe for more spice.
I really enjoyed the tea. My only negative was that my cinnamon seemed to remain grainy. Any suggestions?
I almost never leave comments, but this iced chai latte deserves all 5 stars! Wow! I won’t need to go to Starbucks for the rest of the summer. Thank you for taking the time to make this so delicious.
I’ve been buying the Tazo chai tea concentrate for a while but I was out. I don’t drink coffee so chai is my part of my daily routine. I was super skeptical, but figured I’d give it a try. I also didn’t have powdered ginger, so I subbed for fresh pinched ginger. THIS RECIPE IS FREAKING AMAZING! The last time I had chai tea this hood was at an Indian restaurant where they made it themselves. THANK YOU for sharing this recipe, I’m hooked!
Love it! I didn’t have black tea so substituted an Adirondack tea that I got in New York. I have yet to find any of your recipes that I don’t like. My last two months of dinners have all come from No Excuses Detox ❤️