Description
A homemade version of the popular Starbucks iced chai latte featuring a spiced tea base and vanilla sweet cream. This kid-friendly recipe is easy to make, customizable, and perfect for family bonding.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 to 6 black tea bags
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup whole milk (for tea base)
- 3 to 4 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 2–3 black peppercorns, crushed
- ½ cup heavy cream (for sweet cream)
- ½ cup whole milk (for sweet cream)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup
- Ice cubes
- Extra milk (optional, for diluting)
Instructions
- Combine water, 1 cup milk, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, and crushed peppercorns in a saucepan.
- Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and add tea bags. Steep for 3-5 minutes, then remove tea bags.
- Strain the tea through a fine-mesh strainer into a pitcher to remove spice bits. Cool the tea completely (refrigerate or use ice bath).
- In a small bowl, whisk together heavy cream, ½ cup milk, and vanilla syrup until smooth and slightly frothy.
- Fill a glass with ice cubes.
- Pour the cold chai tea over the ice until the glass is ¾ full.
- Slowly pour the vanilla sweet cream over the top and stir gently.
- Garnish with a cinnamon stick or mint sprig if desired.
Notes
Do not steep tea bags too long to avoid bitterness. Use fresh spices for best flavor. The sweet cream should be made fresh as it separates if stored. For a decaf version, use decaf tea bags. For dairy-free, substitute with oat or coconut milk.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 large glass
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 24
- Sodium: 50
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Protein: 4
Keywords: iced chai latte, copycat starbucks, chai tea, vanilla sweet cream, kid-friendly recipes, homemade latte, spiced tea, family drinks