Iced Chai Latte
This iced chai latte is made with black tea, fresh ginger, green cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, milk, and sugar. It’s lightly sweetened with plenty of warm spice flavor, and you don’t need bottled chai concentrate to make it.
Living in Florida, I don’t wait for cooler weather to enjoy spiced drinks. Let’s be real, cooler days are rare south of Orlando. The spices in chai are some of my favorites, but most days I’d rather pour it over ice than drink it hot.
I’m usually a coffee drinker, so this is a nice change of pace whenever we have it.
My Best Tips Before You Get Started
Place the ginger, cardamom, and cloves in a metal tea ball or tea filter bag so the small spices are easy to remove.
Steep the tea for only 5 minutes. Using two tea bags makes the chai stronger without extending the steeping time. Steeping tea bags too long can make black tea bitter.
After removing the tea bags and spices, stir the milk and sugar directly into the hot tea. Froth the combined chai latte with an immersion blender or electric frother before letting it cool slightly and pouring it over ice.
How to Make an Iced Chai Latte
Prepare the spices: Place the fresh ginger, green cardamom pods, and whole cloves in a metal tea ball or tea filter bag.
Steep the chai: Bring the water to a boil, then remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the spice bundle, cinnamon stick, and 1 to 2 black tea bags. Stir and steep for 5 minutes.
Sweeten and chill: Remove the tea bags, cinnamon stick, and spice bundle. Stir in the sugar while the tea is hot.
Froth the latte: While the chai latte is still hot, use an immersion blender to blend it until the top is light and foamy.
Serve over ice: Let the latte cool slightly, then divide it between two ice-filled glasses. Sprinkle with ground cinnamon, if desired.
More Iced Drink Recipes
Ingredients
- 1 slice fresh ginger
- 2 green cardamom pods
- 2 whole cloves
- 2 cups water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 to 2 single-serving black tea bags
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, or more to taste
- 1 cup cold milk
- Ice, for serving
- Ground cinnamon, for garnish, optional
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Instructions
- Place the ginger, cardamom pods, and cloves in a metal tea ball or tea filter bag. Set aside.1 slice fresh ginger2 green cardamom pods2 whole cloves
- Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat, then remove the saucepan from the heat.2 cups water
- Add the spice bundle, cinnamon stick, and 1 to 2 black tea bags. Stir and steep for 5 minutes.1 cinnamon stick1 to 2 single-serving black tea bags
- Remove the spice bundle, cinnamon stick, and tea bags.
- Stir in the milk and sugar, then use an immersion blender to froth the chai latte while it’s still hot.2 tablespoons granulated sugar1 cup cold milk
- Let the latte cool slightly, then divide it between two ice-filled glasses. Garnish with ground cinnamon, if desired.IceGround cinnamon
Notes
- Use 1 black tea bag for a milder chai or 2 tea bags for a stronger tea flavor. Don’t steep the black tea longer than 5 minutes. Oversteeping can make it bitter.
- The tea can be prepared and chilled ahead of time. Wait to froth and add the milk until you’re ready to serve it. If the milk is super cold, it won’t froth as well. You’ll need to reheat any milk that you want to froth.
- Adjust the sugar to suit your taste.
- The calories listed are an approximation based on the ingredients and a serving size of one 12-ounce drink. Actual calories will vary.