This Homemade Chai Tea Latte is made with a homemade chai spice blend (from scratch), is dairy-free and is lightly sweetened with maple syrup. It’s not only healthier than a store-bought chai latte but way tastier!

two mugs of chai lattes topped with dried rose petals

Like Starbucks Chai Latte, but better

With the colder weather here, there’s nothing I love more than enjoying a warm drink in the afternoon. (And morning…and evening…)

But really, 3 o’clock in the afternoon has become sort of a ritual in my home where I take some time to prepare a warm drink to get me through that 3 pm slump. Sometimes it’s a turmeric latte, a matcha latte or if I’m feeling really burnt out even a coffee.

But lately, I’ve been enjoying taking the time to prepare something a little more special, This Homemade Chai Latte.

Generally, chai lattes you buy at a coffee shop are made with processed syrup (that’s loaded with sugar) and some milk.

This Starbucks Copycat Chai Tea Latte is dairy-free, vegan and made completely from scratch herbs, spices and tea. You can use either loose-leaf tea and strain the tea mixture, or use bagged tea. Both will work perfectly fine and create delicious latte!

Why you’ll love this chai tea latte recipe

  • Easy to make. Once you learn how easy it is to make your own chai latte at home you’ll never need to go back to buying $6 chai lattes!
  • Tastes better than Starbucks. Seriously. Plus it’s also cheaper and much healthier than buying your chai lattes.
  • Cozy for Fall and Winter. When you need a warming cozy drink but don’t want a coffee, this chai latte is perfect. It also has a little caffeine boost to keep you energized.

What type of tea should I use in a Chai Latte?

Chai Lattes are generally made with black tea. Black Tea leaves are fully oxidized which gives them their deep “black” colour and rich flavour. Black tea also has more caffeine than green tea or white tea, making it a great option for a little pick-me-up.

Some common types of tea to use for a Chai Latte include Assam or Darjeeling black teas.

For this recipe, I like to use oolong tea, which technically isn’t a black tea since it’s only partially oxidized. It falls somewhere between green and black tea. I find oolong tea has a soft and creamy taste and texture which pairs really well with the spices added to this Homemade Chai Latte.

What’s the difference between a Chai Latte and Dirty Chai Latte?

The difference between these two drinks is that a dirty chai latte has a shot of espresso in it. If you’d like to make this recipe into a dirty chai latte, all you need to do is add a shot of espresso.

The chai mix will stay well in the fridge for up to two weeks if you’d like to prepare some extra, however, the cashew milk will only last about a week. I always recommend storing the cashew milk in the back of the fridge where it’s colder, rather than on the door to ensure that it will last longer.

Ingredients you’ll need

Ingredients for a chai latte
  • Tea: you can use any type of black tea you like, or you can use oolong tea which has a smooth and creamy taste. You can also use tea bags or loose-leaf tea.
  • Oat milk: I like oat milk because it has a creamy texture. You can use any type of milk you like.
  • Spices: the blend of spices used for the chai latte are cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, allspice, cloves and nutmeg.
  • Vanilla: this adds a delicious hint of vanilla flavour to the latte.

How to make a Homemade Chai Latte

Step 1

Heat the oat milk in a small pot on medium heat until it begins to bubble slightly.

oat milk in a white pot

Step 2

Add the spices and vanilla extract and gently whisk together to combine. Bring the mixture to a light boil, then remove it from the heat.

oat milk and spices in a white pot

Step 3

Add the tea bags to the pot and let them steep for 2-3 minutes.

tea bags being dipped in a pot of spices and oat milk

Step 4

Pour the chai lattes into mugs and top with some cinnamon. I also topped these ones with some dried rose petals.

two mugs of chai latte with oolong tea on the side

Tips for making a perfect Chai Latte

  • Use black tea. This is an important ingredient for a chai latte. Using green, white or herbal tea won’t make a proper chai latte.
  • Homemade plant-based milk is best. Store-bought oat milk, almond milk etc tend to have very little nuts (or oats) in them and are mostly water. For a richer and creamier chai latte try making homemade plant milk. You can use this oat milk recipe. You can also make this recipe with canned coconut milk for an extra-rich latte.
  • Like froth? Use your frother. If you’re a fan of a frothy latte, add some extra milk to a frother to pour on top of the chai latte!

Chai Tea Latte FAQ

Are chai lattes healthy?

Store-bought chai lattes tend to be loaded with sugar, but this homemade chai latte is healthy and refined sugar-free.

Is a chai latte stronger than coffee?

No, coffee is generally stronger than a chai latte. The average cup of coffee has about 100mg of caffeine, while the average cup of chai latte has about 50mg of caffeine.

More Chai spice recipes to try

A chai latte in a white mug

If you tried this Homemade Chai Tea Latte or any other recipe on the blog let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment/rating below! Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook for even more deliciousness!

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A chai latte in a white mug

Homemade Chai Latte

★★★★★ 5 from 4 reviews
  • Author: Jessica Hoffman
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 2 servings 1x
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Cook
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

This Homemade Chai Latte is made completely from scratch and makes for a cozy dairy-free drink!

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 cups oat milk
  • 2 black tea bags (I use oolong tea)
  • 3/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/8th tsp ground allspice
  • 1/8th tsp clove
  • 1/8th tsp nutmeg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • maple syrup to taste

Instructions

  1. Heat the oat milk on medium heat in a small pot, then add the spices and vanilla and mix together, bringing it to a slight boil.
  2. Remove from heat and add the teabags, letting steep for 2-3 minutes. 
  3. Add maple syrup if you like for sweetness. 
  4. Pour the chai latte into 2 cups and top with more cinnamon. 

Notes

If you like a frothy latte froth some additional milk to add on top. 

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 latte
  • Calories: 130
  • Sugar: 6g
  • Fat: 4g
  • Saturated Fat: 2g
  • Carbohydrates: 12g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Protein: 2g

Keywords: chai latte recipe, chai tea latte, vegan chai latte, dairy-free chai latte, Starbucks chai latte