The Best Iced Chai Tea Latte You'll Ever Make
How to make an iced chai tea latte at home, plus tips on sweetness, milk choices and caffeine content compared to popular coffee shop versions.
In this guide · 7 sections
An iced chai tea latte is a cold, spiced, milky drink made by combining strongly brewed chai tea with milk and ice. It's an easy homemade alternative to the coffee shop version, and you control exactly how sweet and strong it is.
What Is an Iced Chai Tea Latte?
Chai is a spiced black tea traditionally made with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger and black pepper. An iced chai latte takes that brewed, spiced tea and combines it with milk (dairy or plant-based) and ice for a refreshing cold drink.
How to Make an Iced Chai Tea Latte
- Brew a strong batch of chai tea (double the usual amount of tea to water) and let it cool.
- Fill a glass with ice.
- Pour the cooled chai over the ice, filling the glass about halfway.
- Top with milk of your choice to taste.
- Sweeten with honey, sugar or a sugar-free sweetener like stevia, if desired.
- Stir well and enjoy.
Make-Ahead Tip
Brew a larger batch of concentrated chai and store it in the fridge for up to 3–4 days, so you can pour a fresh iced chai latte anytime without waiting for it to steep and cool.
Choosing Your Milk
- Whole or 2% milk for the classic creamy version.
- Oat milk for a naturally sweet, dairy-free option that froths well.
- Almond or coconut milk for a lighter, dairy-free alternative.
Sweetening Your Chai Latte
Most coffee shop iced chai lattes are made with a pre-sweetened chai concentrate, which is where a lot of their sugar comes from. Making it at home lets you control sweetness directly — start with a small amount of honey or sugar and adjust to taste, or skip it entirely if your chai blend already includes warming spices you enjoy on their own.
Caffeine Content
Chai tea lattes typically contain less caffeine than a similarly sized coffee. A homemade cup made with black tea has roughly 40–70 mg of caffeine, while some coffee shop versions can run higher depending on the concentrate used — worth checking if you're sensitive to caffeine. For a full breakdown, see our guide on chai tea caffeine content.
FAQ
Can I make an iced chai latte without dairy?
Yes — oat, almond, soy or coconut milk all work well and are common substitutes in both homemade and coffee shop versions.
How do I make it less sweet?
Brew your own chai from loose tea and spices instead of a pre-made concentrate, then add sweetener yourself in small amounts, tasting as you go.
Can I use chai tea bags instead of loose tea?
Yes — just use two or three tea bags for a stronger, more concentrated brew, since the ice will dilute it.
The Bottom Line
A homemade iced chai tea latte is easy to make, easy to customize, and typically lower in added sugar than the coffee shop version. Brew it strong, pick your favorite milk, and sweeten to taste — pair it with our milk tea guide if you want to explore more milk-based tea drinks.
