Homemade Chocolate Chai Tea Latte

The Chocolate Chai Tea Latte is one of Starbucks’ newest seasonal offerings – and it is pretty delicious if you are a chai tea fan. The drink is essentially half hot chocolate and half chai tea, and the end result is pretty similar to a spicy Mexican Mocha, without the coffee in it. They serve it both hot and iced, but I’m partial to the hot version – and since I happen to have some chai tea latte mix at home, I decided to work on a homemade version.

The chai tea latte mix – I used Tazo, but there are different brands – is a strong, spicy tea that comes sweetened. It’s definitely a nice thing to have on hand if you like chai lattes! If you don’t have the mix, you can brew up some strong chai tea and sweeten it to taste, then use that as the base of the drink. I would opt for a double strength tea with that option, just to ensure that you get enough spice in your drink.

The rest of the drink is easy to put together: chai latte mix combines with cocoa powder, sugar and vanilla, and the whole thing is topped of with steamed milk. I used Rodelle vanilla extract and cocoa powder, since that is my go-to brand, but you can make this work with any brands you have at home. Hot, spicy and a fantastic drink to warm up with on a cool day.

Chocolate Chai Tea Latte
5-oz hot chai tea latte mix
2 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tbsp sugar (or more, to taste)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
5-oz steamed milk

In a large mug, combine chai tea, cocoa powder, sugar and vanilla. Whisk until sugar and cocoa powder are completely dissolved. Top with steamed milk.

Serves 1.