How does Starbucks make chai tea latte? (What brand of tea does Starbucks use to make chai latte? + More information)
It’s sweet, spicy, and a top favorite Starbucks tea drink. So, how does Starbucks make chai tea latte, whether it is hot or iced? You’ve come to the right place to find out.
Iced chai tea latte has to be my favorite Starbucks tea on a warm day. The rest do their part, but it’s the closest taste I can get from brewed chai masala when all the time I have time for is a Starbucks drive-thru and not a 30-minute process that includes freshly brewed chai. Appreciating the chai tea latte taste requires knowing how Starbucks makes the drink. The brand uses a chai tea latte concentrate instead of chai leaves and spices as they would when making regular chai.
There’s more to what goes into the latte, so let’s dive in.
Table of Contents
What is in a Starbucks chai tea latte?
There are two ingredients in the Starbucks chai tea latte: chai concentrate and milk. The tea used in the concentrate is made from premium micro-ground whole tea leaves sourced from India, Kenya, and Sri Lanka. The chai concentrate thus contains black tea, cinnamon, and cloves and other warming spices. The latter include ginger, cardamom, black pepper, and star anise. Ginger juice, honey, sugar, vanilla, and natural flavors get added to complete the syrup. Of the flavors mentioned, what stands out the most is the aroma of cinnamon and cloves that make a cool or chilly day all the cozier.
If you want a hot chai latte, the barista combines chai syrup, hot water, and steamed milk, then tops the beverage with foam. For the iced counterpart, you have cold milk and ice added instead. You will find that the iced chai tea latte has a slightly distinct taste due to the cold milk and ice shaken with the chai concentrate, which makes for a sweet and spicy treat on a hot day.
What brand of tea does Starbucks use to make chai latte?
Starbucks uses the Teavana Chai Tea Latte concentrate to make their chai latte drinks. You can get the same from Walmart or Starbucks stores, though you’ll have to call in advance at Starbucks to find out if the chai latte concentrate is available.
Is Starbucks chai latte real chai?
The Starbucks chai latte is not fully chai. What makes it not authentic chai is its concentrated form instead of being in the loose-leaf or tea bag version of authentic chai. That is not to say there is no chai in the chai syrup, only that it doesn’t make it 100 percent chai. If you want a more authentic chai, opt for the hot brewed chai tea that uses the Starbucks Teavana chai teabags.
Final thoughts
It would be unfair to pair the Starbucks chai tea latte with your homemade chai tea latte; the barista has seconds to get your drink to you while you have all the time you need to make your spin chai latte at home. I am, therefore, content with the creamy, sweet, and spicy chai tea latte at Starbucks, whether it’s hot or iced.
FAQ Section
How does Starbucks make skinny chai tea latte?
The barista brews Teavana chai tea bags and adds 2% steamed milk. Other milk alternatives include soy, almond, oat, and coconut milk.
Why does Starbucks chai latte taste different?
Chai latte at Starbucks tastes different because of how it’s made and the ingredients used. Authentic chai with spices, or masala chai, requires boiling water and then allowing the loose-leaf spice blend to seep for about 10-15 minutes for maximum infusion into the tea. The Starbuck chai latte uses chai concentrate, which is less spicy and has more sugar than your authentic spice chai latte.
How is chai latte different from chai tea?
A chai latte is made using chai syrup or a soluble powder that imitates the chai’s flavor. Chai tea is a loose-leaf type of tea brewed in hot water or milk. Both use sugar or honey to sweeten, though lattes tend to be sweeter.
Is Starbucks Chai Tea Healthy?
Yes, the Starbucks Chai Tea is healthy. It has 0 calories, fats, and carbs. That’s compared to a chai latte with 240 calories, 4.5 fats, and 45g of carbs. The sugar content for each is based on how many pumps you ask, like in your chai latte.
Is Starbucks chai latte stronger than coffee?
No, a Starbucks chai latte is not more potent than coffee caffeine-wise. The chai latte has 95mg of caffeine while the coffee counterpart, the caffe latte, has 150mg. The difference is not significant, meaning the caffeine in your chai latte is still significant.