What is Chai?
The word chai simply means tea. But thanks to Starbucks and other popular tea and coffee shops, chai is now thought of as a flavor and not just a type of drink.
Chai tea (yes, that’s like saying, tea tea) is black tea infused with a mixture of warming spices like cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, star anise and ginger. This blend of flavors and tea originated in India and is known as Masala Chai or spiced tea. But we call it chai.
Basic Ingredients Needed for Homemade Chai Drinks
This aromatic spiced tea is usually combined with a sweetener and milk to make a chai tea latte.
Chai Tea Concentrate – For those that like quick & easy, you can begin with a pre-made chai concentrate like Tazo. However, if you’ve got a few minutes you can make chai tea concentrate from scratch using whole spices and black tea.
Sweetener – Whether you add a sweetener or not to your chai drinks is up to you. You can use regular white sugar, brown sugar or a sugar alternative. Honey and pure maple syrup are popular options.
Milk – Dairy or plant-based milk (for a vegan chai latte) both work. For hot chai lattes you’ll want to steam or froth the milk. For iced chai drinks, simply pour cold milk over the concentrated chai tea and ice.
17+ Easy Chai Recipes to Make at Home
Here are my favorite chai tea recipes (in no particular order). As you can imagine, the ways you can customize chai drinks are numerous. Number 7 is one of my favorites!
Banana Chai Smoothie
This Banana Chai Smoothie is a great way to start the day with a quick breakfast drink that’s packed with protein and naturally sweetened with ripe banana. The chai gives this easy banana smoothie recipe a warm spiced flavor, as well as a small boost of caffeine.
Iced Chai Tea Latte with Tea Bags
See how easy it is to make an iced chai tea latte at home using chai flavored tea bags. This iced chai only takes 5 minutes to steep and assemble, tastes really delicious, and is super budget-friendly.
Iced Chai Tea Latte with Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam
Make a copycat Starbucks iced chai tea latte with vanilla sweet cream cold foam at home with this easy 5-ingredient recipe that brings together loads of vanilla cream and spiced chai. This homemade recipe makes the equivalent of a grande Starbucks iced chai latte, but is easily multiplied for even more drinks. If you love vanilla chai, then this recipe is for you!
Iced Chai Tea Latte with Matcha Cold Foam (Starbucks Copycat)
Recreate a Starbucks iced chai latte with matcha cold foam at home with this simple, yet absolutely delicious recipe. I include lots of tips for making perfectly creamy matcha cold foam that layers on top of the iced chai.
Iced Chai Tea Latte with Pumpkin Cold Foam
Delicious recipe for a Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Iced Chai Latte. This seasonal fall drink is easy to make at home and features a creamy layer of pumpkin spice cold foam that cascades into an iced chai tea latte.
Iced Apple Crisp Cream Chai (Starbucks Copycat)
Make a copycat Starbucks Iced Apple Crisp Chai at home with this tasty fall drink recipe that tops an iced chai tea latte with a creamy layer of apple crisp cream cold foam. This version is made with dairy, but you can easily substitute in barista-edition oat milk for both the latte and cold foam topping.
Apple Cider Chai (Chaider)
Looking for a way to spice up hot apple cider this fall? Apple Cider Chai (chaider) is an absolutely delicious way to combine all the spicy notes chai is known for with tangy apple cider. And the recipe could not be easier!
Masala Chai from Scratch
I love homemade masala chai and this easy and delicious recipe captures all the spiced flavor from whole, toasted spices like cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and star anise. The spices are steeped with black tea and combined with milk for a warm and cozy chai latte that's second-to-none!
Easy Chai Tea Latte (with tea bags)
Make a quick chai tea latte with tea bags in minutes with this easy homemade chai latte recipe. Simply brew a mug of strong tea using your favorite chai infused black tea bags and combine with frothy milk. Here's everything you need to know to make a perfectly sweet and spicy chai latte.
Pumpkin Spice Chai Tea Latte like Starbucks
This Pumpkin Spice Chai Tea Latte recipe features homemade Pumpkin Spice Sauce like Starbucks and brings together fall's favorite flavors: pumpkin and chai.
Starbucks Dirty Chai Latte
See how to make a Starbucks Dirty Chai Tea Latte at home just like a barista with this quick and easy recipe. The only ingredients needed are chai concentrate (store-bought or homemade chai), milk of your choice and espresso.
Chai Frappuccino Starbucks Copycat
Smooth and creamy Starbucks Chai Frappuccino recipe to make at home with just a few ingredients and a few minutes. You'll need to grab out your blender for this one.
Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai Latte (Starbucks Copycat)
Make a copycat Starbucks Iced Gingerbread Oat Milk Chai tea latte with homemade gingerbread syrup, chai tea concentrate and oat milk. This seasonal latte at Starbucks is simple to make at home in about 3 minutes!
Chai Eggnog Latte: Starbucks Copycat
This creamy and spicy Starbucks Chai Eggnog Latte copycat recipe is quick and easy to make and absolutely delicious. You'll love that this DIY version of one of Starbucks holiday lattes (that's no longer on the menu) only takes a few ingredients to make at home and tastes just as yummy.
Homemade Chai Concentrate
Homemade chai tea concentrate is easy to make with this recipe using black tea and chai spices like cardamom, cinnamon and cloves. This chai concentrate is perfect for making at-home chai lattes.
Chai Tea Latte Powder Mix
This powdered chai latte mix recipe is simple to put together and when you put some in a jar, it makes a great gift. Just combine a few spoonfuls with hot water or hot milk for an instant chai tea latte.
Chai Simple Syrup
Easy and delicious chai simple syrup recipe made with a blend of whole chai spices, that's perfect for sweetening and adding chai flavor to tea, coffee and fall drinks like hot apple cider.
Chai Tea Latte Popsicles
Here's a fun way to enjoy all the yummy flavors of chai in a cool and refreshing treat that you just grab out of the freezer. This easy homemade popsicle recipe makes ten chai popsicles that have a layer of cream and chai, just like a delicious chai tea latte.