Iced Chai Latte Recipe

Prepare spices

Lightly crush the cardamom pods with the side of a knife to expose the seeds. Slice the fresh ginger about 1/8-inch thick. Gather the cinnamon stick, cloves, peppercorns, and star anise if using.

Simmer spices

In a small saucepan, combine 2 cups water with the crushed cardamom, sliced ginger, cinnamon stick, cloves, peppercorns, and star anise. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 6–8 minutes to extract the spice flavors.

Steep tea

After simmering the spices, add the 2 black tea bags (or 2 tablespoons loose-leaf tea in an infuser). Remove the saucepan from heat and let the tea and spices steep for 5 minutes. Steep longer (up to 7 minutes) for a stronger chai, but avoid over-steeping to prevent bitterness.

Sweeten and finish concentrate

Remove the tea bags (or strain out loose tea and whole spices) into a heatproof container. Stir in 3 tablespoons brown sugar and 1 tablespoon honey while the liquid is hot so they dissolve fully. Add 1 cup whole milk to the hot tea and stir to combine. Taste and adjust sweetness if desired. Let the concentrate cool to room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator until cold (at least 30 minutes).

Storage

Store any leftover chai concentrate in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Shake or stir before using because some settling may occur.

Prepare glass

Fill a tall glass with about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of ice cubes (adjust to preference). For a single serving use approximately 1 to 1 1/2 cups ice; recipe proportions given are for one generous serving.

Combine liquids

Pour 1 cup chilled chai concentrate over the ice. Add 1 cup cold milk on top of the concentrate. If you like it creamier, increase the milk slightly and reduce ice. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla syrup or extract if using.

Sweeten to taste

Taste the assembled drink and add additional sweetener if desired (simple syrup, honey, or sweetener to taste). Stir gently to combine the layers into a uniform latte.

Garnish and serve

Sprinkle about 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon over the top for aroma and appearance. Serve immediately with a straw. If you prefer a frothier iced chai latte, pour the milk into a milk frother before adding and spoon the foam on top.