Wirsh Coffee Journal · At-home recipes
An iced chai tea latte is spiced black tea, cold milk, and ice. No espresso machine is needed, and you don't need six teabags or a special appliance to make it taste like a café drink.
What is an iced chai tea latte?
Chai means tea in several South Asian languages. The drink commonly called a “chai tea latte” in US coffee shops is inspired by masala chai, a blend of black tea, milk, and warming spices such as cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. An iced version is typically brewed stronger so the flavor holds up after adding milk and ice.
Ingredients · 2 servings
- 2–3 black tea bags or about 6–9 g loose black tea (or a spiced chai blend)
- 250 ml / 1 cup hot water
- 180–240 ml / ¾–1 cup chilled milk or oat milk
- 2–4 teaspoons maple syrup or another sweetener, to taste
- Ice for two glasses
- If using plain black tea: add a small cinnamon stick, 2 lightly crushed cardamom pods, and a few slices of ginger while steeping
How to make it
- Brew the tea. Steep the tea and spices in hot water for about 4–5 minutes, or according to the tea package. Remove the tea bags or strain the leaves.
- Sweeten while warm. Stir in a little maple syrup or honey. Taste before adding more.
- Cool the concentrate. Let it stop steaming, then refrigerate until chilled. Don't leave brewed tea at room temperature for extended periods.
- Build the drink. Fill two glasses with ice, divide the chai between them, and add cold milk. Stir, then adjust the sweetness or milk ratio.
Make the flavor stronger—not just sweeter
Watery? Use less brewing water or a bit more tea rather than adding extra sugar. Too bitter? Shorten the steep or use slightly cooler water; leaving black tea in the pot indefinitely can add harshness. Too spicy? Reduce cloves or ginger next time. Milk will mellow the spices, so check the final drink before adjusting.
Black tea naturally contains caffeine, but the amount varies by leaf, dose, and brewing time. Decaf black tea or a caffeine-free herbal chai blend can work if you want a lower-caffeine version.
