Starbucks Chai Tea Latte (Ingredients, Taste, Variations, Sizes, Copycat Recipe, Caffeine, Calories, Dairy Content & More information)
Go out of your way with the ordinary beverage and try Starbucks Chai Tea Latte. Read on to see what makes this Starbucks beverage unique.
Usually, most people combine two to three ingredients to make their morning beverages, and that is it. Starbucks always ensures that its customers get a fulfilling taste of their lives by combining possible elements to come up with one final drink or beverage. Starbucks Chai Tea Latte isn’t any different. I first came across this latte one day at Starbucks after an older adult next to me ordered it.
I was interested in why he had ordered this particular beverage, as older people value what is in their drinks. He was kind enough to mention all the ingredients used to make this incredible tea, and I immediately ordered mine to see how it tasted. Later that evening, I went home and made my grandfather a cup, as I figured out he would appreciate one.
I was so excited when he loved the chai tea latte I made him, and since then, we have often bonded over this beverage. In this article, I will explain what Starbucks Chai Tea Latte tastes like and how you can customize this beverage at Starbucks.
Table of Contents
Brief History of the drink
Starbucks introduced its first cup of chai tea latte in the late 1990s, making it popular among Americans and other coffee stores. However, Starbucks did not introduce this beverage on the menu from scratch; they only modified it and gave it a different name. The origin of chai goes back to the 19’s, after the British pushed tea plantations in India.
After some years of trying out this drink, Indians loved it, and to date, it remains among the most popular beverages in India. The original chai from India is usually prepared using tea, milk, sugar, and several spices to make it more spicy than sweet. However, I wish Starbucks Chai Latte; I can describe this latte beverage as more sweet than spicy, as more sugar is used.
Although there was no detailed history of the exact year and date when Starbucks introduced the chai tea latte on its menu, it is sure that it was the first coffee chain to sell and popularize this drink across the United States.
Is Starbucks Chai Tea Latte still available at Starbucks?
Yes, Chai Tea Latte is still available at Starbucks. The good thing about this beverage is that it is easy to order, as it is already on Starbucks’ regular menu. Additionally, the Starbucks Chai Tea Latte is among the most popular Starbucks beverages, so no barista will miss it when you mention its name to them. To order Starbucks Chai Tea Latte, you will be required to select this beverage from the regular menu and the size you want to order it from, and you will be served.
Starbucks Chai Tea Latte (Ingredients, Taste, Variations, Sizes, Caffeine, Calories, Dairy Content)
What’s in a Starbucks Chai Tea Latte- (Ingredients)
According to Starbucks’ official menu website, its Chai Tea Latte ingredients are water, milk, and chai concentrate. Let us now look at each of these ingredients separately.
- Chai tea concentrate: Starbucks uses its chai tea concentrate as a base ingredient of this latte. The chai tea concentrate also gives Starbucks Chai Tea Latte its signature taste and flavor. Starbucks prepares its chai tea concentrate by infusing black tea, water, cardamon, black pepper, ginger, natural flavors, cloves, star anise, ginger juice, sugar, honey, vanilla, and citric acid.
- Milk: Starbucks adds milk to its chai tea concentrate while preparing the chai tea latte to give the beverage a rich and creamy taste. Starbucks uses its 2% milk to prepare this beverage.
- Water: Starbucks adds water to the chai tea concentrate during its preparation to allow all the other solid ingredients to boil and dissolve in the water.
Starbucks Chai Tea Latte: Sizes, nutrition, Caffeine, Diary Content & Calories
What sizes are available
Concerning the Chai Tea Latte from Starbucks, Starbucks currently offers this beverage in four different sizes. These sizes are the short size which holds a capacity of 8 fluid ounces, the Tall size, which has 12 fluid ounces, the Grande size, which fits a total of 16 fluid ounces and finally, the Venti size, which contains 20 fluid ounces.
With these different cup sizes that this drink is offered, Starbucks customers can order this beverage from any cup they can afford. One interesting thing you may need to learn is that although Starbucks offers its chai tea latte in four different sizes, most Starbucks customers love ordering this beverage in a Grande size.
Nutritional facts
The nutritional facts of the Starbucks chai tea latte are the exact nutritious quantity that this Starbucks beverage contains when it is served in a specific cup size. These facts may slightly change depending on the cup from which you will order this drink. When Starbucks Chai tea latte is served in a short size, it contains 120 calories, 2 grams of total fat, 10 milligrams of cholesterol, 55 milligrams of sodium, 22 grams of total carbohydrates, and 4 grams of protein.
When Starbucks Chai Tea latte is served in a tall size, it contains 6 grams of protein, 34 grams of total carbohydrates, 90 milligrams of sodium, 15 milligrams of cholesterol, 3.5 grams of fat, and 190 calories. Also, when you order a Starbucks Chai tea latte, it will contain 240 calories, 4.5 grams of fat, 20 milligrams of cholesterol, 115 milligrams of sodium, 45 grams of total carbohydrates, and 8 grams of protein.
Finally, when Starbucks chai tea latte is served in the Venti size, it has 10 grams of protein, 56 grams of total carbohydrates, 150 milligrams of sodium, 25 milligrams of cholesterol, 6 grams of total fat, and 310 calories.
With the nutritional facts mentioned above, we can see that although the Starbucks chai tea latte is not one of the healthiest beverages on its menu, it still makes the list of healthy beverages at Starbucks, as it has fewer calories than are under the right number of calories a person should consume per day. Additionally, this beverage has other beneficial nutrients.
Below is a summary table showing the Starbucks chai tea latte’s nutritional value when served in a Venti size.
Calories (per 2,000 calories daily intake) | 310 |
Nutritional value (per 1 cookie 2.9 oz. serving) | % Daily Value |
Total fat 6g
Saturated fat 3g Trans fat 0mg | 8%
15% |
Total carbohydrates 56g
Dietary fiber 0g Sugars 53g | 20% |
Cholesterol 25mg | 8% |
Protein 10g | |
Sodium 150mg | 7% |
Caffeine content
Just like its nutritional facts, the caffeine content of the Starbucks Chai Tea Latte will slightly differ depending on the size you order this beverage. The short size contains 50 milligrams of sodium, while the tall size contains 70 milligrams of sodium.
When served in the Grande size, Starbuck Chai Tea Latte contains 90 milligrams of caffeine, while it contains a total of 120 milligrams of caffeine when served in a Venti size. Due to this beverage’s caffeine content, small children cannot consume this latte, as no amount of caffeine is appropriate and safe for them.
Dairy Content
Starbucks uses its 2% milk to prepare the chai tea latte. The milk used in this beverage has less fat, as its fat content has been reduced. Starbucks gets its 2% milk supply from Dean foods, a dairy company that supplies Starbucks with most of its dairy products.
So, what does Starbucks Chai Tea Latte tastes like?
Starbucks Chai Tea Latte has a sweet, rich, creamy, and slightly spicy taste. This beverage gets its sweet, rich, and creamy taste from the milk and sugar used as ingredients. Additionally, this beverage gets a spicy flavor from different spices used in the chai tea concentrate.
Ways to customize a Starbucks Chai Tea Latte at Starbucks- Starbucks Chai Tea Latte Variations
Like any other Starbucks beverage, you can customize Starbucks Chai Tea Latte to fit your taste and flavor. You can customize this beverage by swapping the 2% milk used with Starbucks whole milk or heavy cream.
If you are a vegan, you can also use any non-dairy milk of your choice in this drink; Since this beverage is sweet, you can customize it by adding more sweetener if you have a sweet tooth or using less sugar than the normal one. You can customize Starbucks Chai Tea Latte by topping it up with your favorite topping. Some of the toppings you can use on this beverage are either whipped cream, powder topping, cold foam, or even a drizzle.
How to make Starbucks Chai Tea Latte at home-Starbucks Chai Tea Latte Copycat Recipe
Starbucks Chai Tea Latte Copycat Recipe
Equipment
- Stove
- Pot
- Cup
- Saucepan
Ingredients
- Water
- Milk
- Chai tea concentrate (black tea, water, cardamon, black pepper, ginger, natural flavors, cloves, star anise and ginger juice, sugar, honey, vanilla, and citric acid)
Instructions
- Pour your preferred amount of water into your pot, and put in all the ingredients needed to concentrate your chai tea.
- Let it boil for a few minutes over medium heat on your stove.
- Sieve your chai concentrate and transfer it to your cup
- Boil your milk in your saucepan, and add it to your tea
- Add any sweeteners and toppings of your choice, and enjoy.
Notes
- Use any non-dairy milk of your choice if you are a vegan
- Add a few sweet syrups to this tea to give it a different taste and flavor.
- Use more water if you prefer something other than a spicy chai latte.
Informative Section
How to order a Starbucks Chai Tea Latte
Order Starbucks Chai Tea Latte from the menu by mentioning its name to the barista, and you will be served. Remember to request any customization you may prefer with your beverage.
Is the Starbucks Chai Tea Latte good?
Yes, Starbucks Chai Tea Latte is good. Apart from giving you the morning feeling you need in a beverage, this latte beverage gives you the energy boost you require throughout your day, making you more active.
How much is the Starbucks Chai Tea Latte
Starbucks Chai Tea Latte costs around $3.25 to $4.25, depending on the size from which a customer orders it.
Is the Starbucks Chai Tea Latte vegan
No, Starbucks Chai Tea Latte is not vegan since its milk is dairy. However, as a vegan, you can customize this beverage to a vegan one by swapping the 2% milk used with any non-dairy milk of your choice. Among the vegan milk options at Starbucks are coconut milk, almond milk, soy, and oat milk.
Is Starbucks Chai Tea Latte healthy?
Starbucks Chai Tea Latte can be termed healthy, as it contains fewer calories.