Starbucks Iced Chai Eggnog Latte (Ingredients, Taste, Variations, Sizes, Copycat Recipe, Caffeine, Calories, Dairy content & more information)
One of the most beloved holiday drinks is the Starbucks Iced Chai Eggnog Latte. This article elaborates more about this beloved holiday drink.
The festive season is upon us once again, otherwise known as the most wonderful time of the year. What makes it even more remarkable for me is the iced chai eggnog latte that makes its debut on the Starbucks seasonal menu every year. This drink features one of the most popular holiday drinks, eggnog. Its creamy texture and sweet taste combine amazingly with the spicy chai to create a wholesome holiday drink. I decided to write this article all about it to elaborate more. If you’re still interested, keep reading.
Table of Contents
Brief History Of The Drink
The Starbucks iced chai eggnog latte made its debut in 1986, simultaneously with the hot version of itself, the Starbucks chai eggnog latte. Since then, it became a holiday favorite, as Starbucks customers enjoyed their favorite holiday drink with a spicy twist. What made it even better was that it was iced, making it even more refreshing. You may think the cold weather would deter customers from ordering iced drinks, but not this one. Its delicious flavor was enough for customers to choose it, despite what the weather was like.
Is Starbucks Iced Chai Eggnog Latte still available at Starbucks?
No, it is not. The Starbucks iced chai eggnog latte, as of now, has been discontinued. It was a seasonal drink, only available during the Christmas festive season. The reason behind its discontinuation was that Starbucks wanted to streamline its menu. It was a shock to many since the drink had been on the Christmas seasonal menu since 1986, plus it was one of the most popular holiday drinks. Some customers even petitioned online to bring the drink back, but the drink has still been discontinued.
Starbucks Iced Chai Eggnog Latte (Ingredients, Taste, Variations, Sizes, Caffeine, Calories, Dairy Content)
What’s in a Starbucks Iced Chai Eggnog Latte – (ingredients)
According to the Starbucks website, the ingredients in this drink are eggnog, chai tea concentrate, milk, and ice. Let’s elaborate more on each ingredient;
- Eggnog: Starbucks usually purchases its eggnog from local stores. Eggnog is known to be made of egg whites, egg yolks, milk, heavy cream, and sugar, and at times it has brandy or rum. Other people also sprinkle nutmeg and add cinnamon sticks for more spice. The Starbucks eggnog has all the ingredients apart from alcohol. Eggnog makes the drink creamy and sweet.
- Chai tea concentrate: This next ingredient is an infusion of water, black tea, and several spices and herbs. Among the spices are black pepper, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, star anise, cloves, and natural flavors. Aside from these, it also has sugar, honey, vanilla, citric acid, natural flavors, and ginger juice. This ingredient is the main caffeine contributor to the drink. It also makes the drink spicy.
- Milk: In this drink, you can choose the milk option that you’d like among the ones that Starbucks offers. You can choose among whole milk, half and half, 2% milk, non-fat milk, or even non-dairy alternatives such as almond milk, coconut milk, and soy milk. The choice of milk may alter your drink’s taste or texture, so it’s best to choose wisely.
- Ice: the final ingredient is plain old ice. It is what makes this drink be called ‘iced.’ This is also what makes the drink refreshing. If you want a very refreshing drink, be sure to ask for extra ice as you order.
Starbucks Iced Chai Eggnog Latte: Sizes, nutrition, Caffeine, Dairy Content & Calories
What sizes are available?
The sizes available for this drink are tall, Grande and Venti. They measure 12 fluid ounces, 16 fluid ounces, and 24 fluid ounces, respectively. The larger the cup size, the more pumps of chai you can add, thus making your drink spicier.
Nutritional facts
The following table summarizes the nutritional information of this drink. The amounts are based on a Grande cup size.
| Calorie Count | 400 |
| Nutrient content (per Grande serving) | % Of Daily Value |
| Total fat (12g)
Saturated fat (7g) Trans Fat (0.000g) | 15
35 |
| Total Carbohydrates (66 g)
Sugar (62g) Dietary Fiber (1g) | 24
4 |
| Protein (10g) | – |
| Cholesterol (85mg) | – |
| Sodium (160mg) | – |
This drink may not be the healthiest and would be better taken as an occasional drink. The calorie count is relatively high, as well as the sugar content. This could explain why it’s a seasonal drink, only to be taken once a year.
Caffeine information
A Grande size cup of this drink has 95 mg of caffeine which is contributed by the chai. Chai has significantly less caffeine than usual coffee but enough to get you through most parts of the day.
Dairy content
The dairy content in this drink is determined by the milk option you choose. The milk option you choose depends on your tastes and any dietary restrictions you may have.
Milk options such as whole milk, half and half, and heavy cream are high in dairy and fat. If you want to limit the amount of dairy and fat, it is best to choose 2% milk or non-fat milk.
If you want to eliminate dairy, choose non-dairy milk alternatives such as almond, soy, or coconut milk.
So, what does Starbucks Iced Chai Eggnog Latte taste like?
It mostly tastes like eggnog but with a spicy twist. The eggnog is creamy and sweet, while the chai is spicy despite the difference in flavors. Both combine beautifully to create a wholesome drink. It is perfect for the festive season because most people associate it with spicy and creamy flavors. Plus, eggnog is well known to be consumed in plenty during the festive season.
Ways to Customize a Starbucks Iced Chai Eggnog Latte at Starbucks – Starbucks Iced Chai Eggnog Latte Variations
You can choose the milk option that you like among the several Starbucks offers. To bring out more of a nutty flavor, almond milk would be an excellent option for this drink.
You can also choose the number of pumps of chai that you’d like. For a spicier drink, choose more pumps of chai.
How to make Starbucks Iced Chai Eggnog Latte at home- Starbucks Iced Chai Eggnog Latte Copycat Recipe
Starbucks Iced Chai Eggnog Latte Copycat Recipe
Equipment
- Blender
- Saucepan
- Tall glasses
Ingredients
- 2 chai tea bags
- ½ a cup of water
- ½ a cup of milk of your choice
- 1 ½ cups of eggnog
- ½ a cup of ice
- 2 tablespoons of honey
Instructions
- Bring water to a boil in a saucepan, and place the chai tea bags to steep. Put aside to chill.
- Put chilled chai tea, milk, eggnog, honey, and ice in a blender.
- Blend thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Pour the mixture into glasses and serve immediately.
Notes
- To ensure that the ice breaks apart completely, add the ice cubes one by one.
- To save time, place the brewed chai tea in the fridge to chill faster. Alternatively, you could make the tea a few hours before making the drink to give sufficient time for chilling.
- You can make your eggnog at home or purchase one from the grocery store. Just ensure that it meets your dietary requirements. For example, you can buy eggless eggnog if you do not take eggs.
Informative Section
How to order a Starbucks Iced Chai Eggnog Latte?
The Starbucks iced chai latte was discontinued, but there is a way you can order a drink closely similar to it. Start by asking for a Grande-size latte; add 2 pumps of vanilla, 1 pump of caramel, and 2 pumps of chai. Top off with whipped cream and sugar cookie sprinkles.
How much is the Starbucks Iced Chai Eggnog Latte?
This drink goes for $3.75 for a Tall cup size, $4.25 for a Grande, and $4.75 for a Venti.
Is Starbucks Iced Chai Eggnog Latte good?
Yes, it is. The spiciness of the chai and the creaminess of the eggnog combine delightfully to create a drink perfect for ushering in the festive season.
Is Starbucks Iced Chai Eggnog Latte vegan friendly?
No, it is not. Eggnog has eggs and milk, which vegans do not consume. You can switch the milk option to a non-dairy alternative, but the eggnog already disqualifies it as vegan-friendly.
Does the Starbucks Iced Chai Eggnog Latte have alcohol?
No, it does not. The eggnog Starbucks uses to make this drink does not have any alcohol.
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