Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte (Ingredients, Taste, Variations, Sizes, Copycat Recipe, Caffeine, Calories, Dairy Content, and More Information)
The review below covers Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte. Read on to find out all about your favorite beverage.
Last weekend, we stopped at one of Starbucks stores, and my friend ordered for Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte. I had not heard of a version of a chai latte before, so I had a sip which got me to order one for myself. Everything about the drink was right; there was a blend of flavors in one drink, the sweetness of chai mixed with the rich dark notes of espresso. This write-up will inform you if this is the first time you have had this drink and wonder what it looks and tastes like. Also, in the review, you will learn how to prepare a copycat of the Starbucks chai latte at home, its ingredients, and its nutritional facts.
Table of Contents
Brief History of Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte
The dirty chai latte dates back to the 90s in England when a barista accidentally added espresso shots to a chai latte that a customer had ordered. Instead of the customer finding fault in the beverage, he loved it. It was from this point that coffee shops added it to the menu.
Starbucks’ version of Dirty Chai Latte swept the market to what it is now, one of the favorite drinks of the company. Different celebrities such as Oprah and The Kardashians are naming the chai latte as one of the best beverages by the coffee chain.
Different parts of the beverage got into the market at other times. However, the dirty chai latte combination entered the market in the 1990s. It resulted from customers’ invention, which means it is missing from the official menu; you can get it through customizing.
Is Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte still available at Starbucks?
Yes, you can order a Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte at any of their stores or on the app. It is essential to know that it is not on the menu; you can only get the beverage by customizing a chai latte.
Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte (Ingredients, Taste, Variations, Sizes, Caffeine, Calories, Dairy Content)
What’s in a Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte – (Ingredients)
So what goes into preparing Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte? Few ingredients go into preparing the drink. If you have had an experience of having a taste of the drink, you can relate to the dirty chai latte being a blend of different flavors.
Starbucks’ dirty chai latte combines chai tea latte and espresso. Baristas at the coffee chain make chai tea lattes with chai tea concentrate, milk, and water.
- Chai tea concentrate contains different spices that are common in masala tea. Starbucks uses ginger, black tea, cloves, cardamom, honey, cinnamon, sugar, vanilla, black pepper, ginger juice, natural flavors, water, citric acid, and star anise.
- Espresso – Starbucks makes its signature espresso by forcefully passing hot water through finely-ground coffee.
Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte: Sizes, Nutrition, Caffeine, Dairy Content & Calories
What sizes are available
You are ready to order your first cup of Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte; what size can you get it in? If you are unfamiliar with Starbucks cup sizes, they come in either five; short, tall, grande, venti, or trenta. In most cases, they serve lattes in three sizes; tall, grande, and venti.
Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte is available in four sizes; short, tall, grande, and venti. A short, tall grande and venti hold 8fl oz., 12fl oz., 16fl oz., and 20fl oz. Respectively. If you order while at the store, it will be served in a glass mug, while through driveways, you can get it in tumblers unless you have your packing with you.
If you love tea, don’t hold back on the cup size you get to order it in; go for a grande or venti. The same applies if you love lattes and have an eye for exotic beverages. However, if you are skeptical over the combination of chai tea latte and espresso, start small with a short or tall, then if you find the drink sweet, increase your sizing.
Nutritional facts
Chai tea lattes have a rich history of enriching the body with nutrients, fighting against heart issues, help in regulating cholesterol levels, improving digestion, and helps to relieve stress. If you have a hangover, this can ease body aches and get you back to your usual self in no time.
How about a Starbucks Dirty Chai latte? How good is it for your body? There are many controversies surrounding the coffee chain’s drink and food items, whether they are healthy or not. If you are still determining whether it is suitable for your body, here is a highlight of its nutritional content.
In a grande of Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte, there are 4.5g of fat, 20mg of cholesterol, 115mg of sodium, 47g of carbohydrates, 9g of protein, and 42g of sugar. The beverage has barely any protein and fat compared to other lattes containing high amounts.
In the same size, you get 250 calories, which is a small bargain compared to other beverages, which average 500 calories in the same quantity. Unless you bring in more sweeteners and creamers, the drink has one of the lowest calorie counts.
It has such low fat and calorie count that it can be a good drink-down for weight watchers. Also, if you have high cholesterol levels, it may be a good option as it has a low amount of it. Unfortunately, if you are on a keto diet, the drink has a low amount of fat which does not favor the lifestyle. It is best to seek medical advice if you have any underlying conditions before consumption of the drink.
Caffeine Information
Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte contains espresso and black tea, which have caffeine. Few Starbucks drinks lack caffeine. Unfortunately, this is not one of them. Caffeine is good for the body. It provides you with energy that can get you going throughout the day. Therefore, apart from its delicious taste, consider taking the drink for its nutritional benefits.
A grande of Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte has 170mg of caffeine, 95mg in chai tea latte, and 75mg in espresso. It is an average amount compared to other beverages that contain caffeine. Despite having a low amount, it is not favorable for children to consume and those with underlying health conditions that can be affected by cholesterol.
Dairy Content
Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte has milk frequently in most coffee chains’ drinks. The company describes it as 2% of the milk that is dairy. Therefore, if you do not take dairy milk, reconsider requesting plant-based milk such as almond, oat, coconut, and soy milk.
You can opt for creamers such as heavy cream or half and a half if you want your chai latte to be thicker and creamier. The drink has foam topping, which contributes to the drink’s creaminess; you may opt to go for a different topping, such as whipped cream, or add in another creamer, such as heavy cream.
So, what does Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte taste like?
Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte has different ingredients contributing to a mash-up of flavors. The chai tea latte brings a spicy and sweet touch from the spices that prepare the drink: cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and black pepper.
While brewed, espresso is dark and bitter, toning down the flavors in the chai tea latte. The resulting taste is warm, spicy, sweet, and robust, perfect for a cold evening, especially before bed at the fireplace or in the morning before you head out.
Ways to customize a Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte at Starbucks – Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte Variations
There are different ways to customize Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte, starting with how you order the drink. You may opt to order a latte of your choice and then request chai tea or order for chai tea latte and add espresso.
If you do not love dark espresso, opt for blonde espresso, which will blend perfectly with a chai tea latte. Add a Frappuccino that will reinvent your beverage from a basic latte to a frappe. You can add different sweeteners, such as vanilla, caramel, or hazelnut syrups to boost your drink’s flavor.
The drink comes with foam topping; how about you go for whipped cream or vanilla sweet cream? You can adjust the type of milk you want and go for another variety, such as oat or soy. Go in with fewer or more numbers of espresso shots that meet your desires.
How to make Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte at home – Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte Copycat Recipe
Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte Copycat Recipe
Equipment
- Saucepan
- Espresso machine
- strainer
- Milk frother
- Mugs
Ingredients
- 1 cup of milk Sugar
- ½ tablespoon of cinnamon
- ½ tablespoon of cardamom
- ½ tablespoon of black paper
- 2 Black tea bags
- 2 cups of water
- Two pieces of cloves
- ½ tablespoon of ginger
- Coffee
- Water
Instructions
- The first step is to make the chai tea concentrate. Bring all your ingredients to your cooking area.
- Pour 2 cups of water into a saucepan, and add spices and two tablespoons of sugar.
- Let it heat over low temperature for 5 minutes, then remove it from the heat.
- Pour in a jug through a strainer and place two black tea bags; remove after they have served their purpose.
- Next, prepare your milk; pour milk into a bowl, then take your hand frother to make foam.
- Pour the chai tea concentrate into mugs and add half a cup of milk to each cup.
- Next, go to the espresso machine and get one shot of espresso in each mug.
- You can serve it when hot, put it in the refrigerator, and serve it when chilled.
Notes
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- You can make your dirty chai tea latte by using ready-to-go ingredients. Get tea bags of chai tea and instant espresso, saving you time and avoiding making wrong guesses on the measurements.
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- Apart from regular dairy milk, you can try other milk varieties, such as oat and coconut milk.
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- You can add sweeteners such as vanilla and caramel syrup to your beverage.
Informative Section
How to order Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte
Unfortunately, Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte is not on the coffee chain’s menu. Therefore you have to customize to get yourself one. Start by selecting the Chai tea latte on the menu, then customize the tea. Select to add espresso shots and pick the amount that you can handle.
How much is the Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte?
Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte costs approximately $3.65, $4.25, and $4.65 for a tall, grande, and venti, respectively.
Is Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte good?
Yes. The beverage is sweet and spicy, perfect for any cold morning and evening. Also, you reap the benefits of the chai tea concentrate that boosts your body’s health.