Matcha Chai Latte Starbucks Recipe (Healthy Copycat Version)

Matcha chai latte is a delicious velvety spiced drink encompassed by the earthiness of matcha (Japanese green tea) and the fragrance of chai spices. The finest Asian tea flavours are blended to produce this calming and tranquil latte. It is delectable, both hot in chilly weather or iced in the summer.

The famous Starbucks matcha chai latte inspired our recipe for this spiced green tea drink. This drink provides an exceptional taste as well as a healthy boost. All of it is due to the spice blend and green tea, which is full of antioxidants.

The ingredients in this beverage are all nutritious. Furthermore, making it at home is quick and easy. You can create a latte that matches those seen in coffee shops from the comfort of your own home. Moreover, our homemade recipe is less expensive than a coffee shop and requires no special equipment. So, let's learn how to make matcha chai latte.

Jump to:

• What is a matcha chai latte?
• What does matcha chai latte taste like?
• Matcha chai latte calories
• Matcha chai latte ingredients
• How to make matcha chai latte
• Matcha Chai Latte Starbucks Recipe (Healthy Copycat Version)

What is a matcha chai latte?

This drink is a flavourful combination of matcha and chai that’s blended into a milk latte. Matcha refers to the well-known Japanese ceremonial tea that is made from powdered green tea. Meanwhile, chai is the Indian spice blend often used to make spiced milk tea. Various fresh spices are included in the blend, such as cardamon, cinnamon, black peppercorns, and more. 

While the mixture of matcha latte with chai is not common, we highly recommend you try this drink. The flavours of the East Asian green tea and South Asian spices complement one another even though the flavours are relatively distinct.

What does matcha chai latte taste like?

Green tea chai latte starts with a hint of sweetness and spice followed by the smooth taste of Japanese green tea. The green tea gets a sweet and a slight kick from the spices. Meanwhile, the green tea introduces a mellow earthiness to counter the strength of the spices - resulting in a well-balanced drink. 

Matcha chai latte calories

A grande (medium) sized Starbucks matcha chai latte contains 240 calories in a cup. Meanwhile, our recipe's matcha chai latte calories are only about 158 calories. So, still dashing off to Starbucks? Try making our recipe first.

Matcha chai latte ingredients

The ingredients for this recipe are matcha powder, chai syrup, almond milk, and hot water. Also, prepare ice if you want to make our iced matcha latte recipe. Today, you can find most ingredients at the supermarket or online stores. 

Matcha 

We recommend using culinary-grade matcha powder for our recipe. As the green tea component will be blended with sweet and spicy chai, there is no need to use the more refined ceremonial-grade powder. Culinary-grade powders are cheaper, and they pack enough earthy flavours to balance the taste of the spices.

However, there is an exception. If you decide to reduce the amount of sugar to make the recipe, consider using ceremonial-grade powder. The ceremonial grade type is produced from mostly the youngest and softest green tea leaves. Hence, the drink made from this powder grade tastes naturally sweeter. As a plus, you’ll also get a drink that has a more vibrant green colour.

So, if you decide to make your matcha chai latte low in sugar, use the ceremonial grade matcha powder. 

Chai syrup

To make chai syrup, you first need to create your own spice blend. Then, boil the fresh spices together with water and sweeteners to make it into your own spiced syrup.

For the most potent flavour, we highly recommend grinding cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and fennel into your spice mix. These flavours are combined to make a homemade chai spice combination that will give your drink both sweet and spicy overtones. 

The great thing about homemade blends is that you can easily adjust it to your preferences by adding more or less of your favourite spices. For example, you can also include cloves, star anise and black pepper to add more complex layers to your spice mix. Plus, there are no harmful preservatives.

Check out our chai spice mix recipe to make the best blend at home. 

If you don't have the ingredients to produce your own Indian spice blend, you can also use pre-made chai syrup instead. Another alternative is to use chai tea bags to make the spiced syrup. Please note that doing so will infuse the flavour of black tea into the syrup, hence resulting in a more caffeinated and bitter drink.

Sweetener 

If you prefer a more toffee-like flavour in your homemade chai syrup, use dark brown sugar or maple syrup. Use the same quantity of water and sugar to make the syrup. Reduce the amount of water by half for a thicker syrup.

If you enjoy its natural fragrance, you can also add in honey to your latte. However, please note that we recommend adding honey at the very end before you serve your drink. Adding honey into the syrup when you’re boiling it’s components may alter its flavour and aroma. 

Milk

Our recipe will use almond milk because of its natural nutty and creamy flavour. Besides, it is low-calorie, froths moderately well, and conveniently vegan.

However, whole milk is a great option if you’re not an almond milk fan or want to make a super creamy and foamy latte. When whipped or frothed, the mixture of proteins within whole milk produces a firmer foam. Meanwhile, almond milk lacks these proteins, resulting in less foam. 

Alternatively, we recommend using oat milk or coconut milk for other plant-based milk options. Use oat milk if you prefer a less creamy drink. Otherwise, use full-fat coconut milk if you prefer an extra-rich latte. It is a good substitute that pairs surprisingly well with the spiciness of chai.

Matcha chai latte powder

If you want a super convenient drink straight out with just hot water, use matcha chai latte powder. Please note that the pre-mix powders are usually quite sweet. So, if you’re concerned about sugar intake, making it from scratch is better. Besides, you can adjust our recipe below to your liking too. 

How to make matcha chai latte

Step 1: Prepare Chai Syrup 

• Dry toast the spices over a medium-low temperature. Avoid using a high flame, as spices burn quickly. When spices burn, they taste bitter.  
• After that, gently pound the spices to release their aroma and flavour using a mortar and pestle. However, do not grind them into a fine powder. 
• Once you’ve got your spice blend, add the spices, water, and sweetener to a pot. Stir them together over medium heat. 
• Boil the mixture for 5-10 minutes for a richer, fuller flavour. You are looking to achieve a thick viscous syrup. However, do not boil it for too long because it will become too thick and challenging to use. You may also get a bitter aftertaste if the syrup starts to burn.
• After letting the syrup steep and cool, remove the spices by straining or sieving. You can should use a cheesecloth or nut bag to strain the syrup mixture. 
• Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 24 hours if you make it in advance.

Substitutes

• If you use pre-made spiced syrup, skip this step altogether.
• If you are using chai tea bags to make the syrup, skip to the step of boiling the spices, water, and sweetener together in a pot. Make sure to cut open the tea bags and pour just the ingredients into the pot. Then, add the sugar and heat the mixture to a boil as our recipe instructs.

Step 2: Whisk Matcha

• Matcha should ideally be dissolved in water that is about 70 to 80 degrees Celsius (158-176 degrees Fahrenheit) for it to easily dissolve and produce a soft mellow flavour. If the water is too hot, it may result in a green tea with a bitter aftertaste.
• Once you’ve warmed up the water, add the green tea powder and water into a whisking bowl. You can use an electric milk frother to whisk the tea. But for the best results, we recommend using a bamboo chasen or matcha whisk. To whisk using a chasen, place the chasen tip into the powder-water mixture and then whisk it in a ‘W’-shaped zigzag motion for a few minutes. 
• The green tea is ready when you see no more clumps of powder and the tea foaming slightly at the top.

Step 3: Prepare Milk

• To prepare the hot version of this recipe, heat up the milk for a few minutes but do not boil it.  The ideal temperature range is between 55 and 65 degrees Celsius (or 130 and 150 degrees Fahrenheit). 
• Once warm, use an electric milk frother to whisk the milk to create more foam. The foaminess of the milk will help suspend the matcha and chai syrup slightly longer when poured over. This creates a mini spectacle for you to enjoy before enjoying your beverage. While we recommend this step, it is optional. 
• If you’re preparing an iced matcha chai latte, skip this step.

Step 4: Assemble the Matcha Chai Latte

• For the hot beverage, first pour the milk into a cup. Then, pour in the spiced syrup followed by the green tea. 
• For the iced version, we recommend using a tall glass. Pour milk and then ice up to ¾ of the tall glass. Then, add the spiced syrup before finally pouring the green tea.
• In order to jazz your drink up you can try out some latte art or add other flavours. On top of the foam, sprinkle some green tea powder or brown cinnamon powder for added pzazz. 

This unique beverage that mixes green tea and fresh spices can be described as distinctive, soothing, and energising. If you love the taste of these two flavours separately, you must experience it blended in a latte.

If you liked this drink, check out our vanilla chai latte or our dirty chai latte recipe for more spiced goodness. Follow us @honestfoodtalks on Instagram to keep updated on more delicious drink recipes.