Restaurant Recreation: Starbucks’ Iced Chai Tea Latte

Last winter I successfully recreated Starbucks’ Chocolate Chai Latte so I thought I’d try a summer beverage. Just so happens it’s also chai! This is my take on the iced chai tea latte and I’m pretty excited about the outcome. Oh, and also for not having to shell out $4.50 for Starbucks’ (mostly ice) version.

Domestocrat’s Starbucks’ Iced Chai Tea Latte (makes 2 servings but can easily be doubled, tripled, etc.)
2 cups water
2 chai tea bags of your choice (I like Bigelow’s Spiced Chai)
1-2 tsp. agave syrup (or any sweetener of your choice – sugar, honey, Splenda, etc.)
1/2 cup milk (I like unsweetened vanilla almond milk)
10 ice cubes
Optional: whipped cream and cinnamon

Start by brewing the chai – pour two cups of boiling water over two chai tea bags. I do this in my Pyrex measuring cup so I can stay precise. Add in the sweetener and stir to dissolve. I prefer to cool the tea to room temperature or chill in the fridge before using (a total make ahead). You can use it hot, but you’re going to melt all your ice really quick and possibility dilute the latte.

Now, let’s talk ice. Yup, frozen water requires a preamble. You can use plain old regular ice in this recipe, totally fine. Or you could make tea ice and not dilute your latte as the ice melts. One extra step, yes – but totally worth it in terms of quality and finished product. Just brew a cup of chai tea in advance, cool to room temperature, pour into an ice cube tray, and freeze until set (I give them 12 hours just to be sure). I recently bought this OXO No Spill Ice Cube Tray from Amazon and used it here. It worked great!

The silicone lid prevents spills in the freezer. Our freezer is small and always packed so I am happy to finally have an ice cube tray I can stash at an angle.

Chai ice!

On to the latte! To make one serving start by putting 5 chai ice cubes in a glass. Pour in one cup of brewed chai tea and then about 1/4 cup of milk. Feel free to use your own preferred ratios here – this is what I like for a slightly sweet, slightly light latte that is still strong on tea flavor.