The Starbucks Chai Tea Latte is a warm, comforting blend of black tea and aromatic spices topped with creamy steamed milk. It is one of the most ordered drinks on the Starbucks menu, and this homemade version lets you skip the $6 price tag while actually tasting better — because you are using real spices instead of a pre-made syrup.
Why This Recipe Works
Starbucks uses a chai concentrate that is then mixed with steamed milk. This recipe takes the same approach but builds the concentrate from scratch using whole spices, which gives you a much more vibrant, aromatic result. The combination of cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and ginger is the classic chai spice blend, and simmering them whole extracts deeper flavor than ground spices.
Pro Tips
- Make a large batch of the chai concentrate and store it in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Just reheat and add steamed milk whenever you want a latte.
- For an iced chai latte, let the concentrate cool completely, pour it over ice, and top with cold milk.
- Use 2% milk for a lighter version or oat milk for a dairy-free alternative that froths beautifully.
- Adjust the honey to taste — Starbucks’ version is quite sweet, so start with less if you prefer it less sweet.
More Starbucks Drinks to Make at Home
The chai latte’s spice-and-milk build pairs naturally with the rest of the Starbucks tea and cold-drink lineup:
- Starbucks Medicine Ball (Honey Citrus Mint Tea) — lemon tea, peach juice, mint, and honey; the “sick day” order that became a permanent menu item.
- Copycat Starbucks Iced Matcha Latte — ceremonial-grade matcha over ice with milk; two minutes and under $1 per cup.
- Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte — the seasonal favorite made year-round at home with real pumpkin puree and espresso.
See all Starbucks copycat recipes →
