My go-to caffeinated beverage is typically coffee, but an iced chai latte is a close second.
I like them smooth, creamy, and sweet with plenty of comforting spices like cinnamon, black pepper, ginger, cloves, and cardamom.
Most cafés have their own spin on the drink, so I decided to taste iced chai lattes from four coffee chains — Starbucks, Panera, Dunkin, and Peets.
Peet’s iced chai was heavy on the spices
Peets Coffee prepares its version with masala chai over ice, 2% milk, and chilled foam.
It mostly tasted like spice with a little sweetness and creaminess to it.
The drink had a thinner consistency, and of all four, it had the deepest, almost orange color.
The 16-ounce medium iced chai came out to $5, or $0.31 an ounce. Advertisement
Panera’s iced chai left much to be desired
The description of Paneras iced chai sounded promising: A combination of vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, honey, and foamed milk.
But it was the lightest in color, so I wasnt sure if it would be as flavorful as it sounded.
My hypothesis was correct — it smelled pretty good, but it tasted pretty bland. Advertisement
I tasted a hint of tea, but overall, the latte wasnt sweet, spicy, or creamy. The consistency seemed thin and watery even though the ice wasnt melting quickly.
I knew right away I wouldnt order this again. But if youre not a fan of really spicy drinks, you might enjoy it more.
Paneras 20-ounce iced chai cost $5.29, or $0.26 an ounce.
How to make Hot chai latte at DUNKIN DONUTS #Dunkin #Donuts…. #chailatte #latte
FAQ
What chai do they use at Dunkin?
What are the ingredients in Dunkin Donuts vanilla chai?
Is Dunkin Donuts chai tea healthy?
What chai tea base does Starbucks use?
Does Dunkin Donuts have skim milk in Chai Lattes?
Dunkin usually includes skim milk in their chai lattes. This type of milk provides the best balance of sweetness. You can substitute it with whole milk or coconut milk if you want a vegan version. But beware that this switch will affect the creaminess and sweetness of the drink.
Is chai gluten free?
Masala Chai is a drink that has as ingredients milk, water, black tea and brown sugar and aromatic herbs that can vary, but usually include cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper, cloves and fennel. None of these ingredients have gluten, so it would be gluten free, but you have to pay attention to the ingredients used if you are going to make any changes to the recipe.
What is a Dunkin chai latte?
Dunkin’s take on chai latte features tea, a blend of spices, and steamed or chilled milk. Cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger makes up the main flavor profile of this drink. It comes in an iced or hot version. At first it was only available at Dunkin’ as part of their fall menu but it’s grown so much in popularity it’s now a mainstay.
How do you make chai tea?
To prepare the syrup, mix the sugar and water in a small saucepan. Place it on medium heat and mix until the sugar is dissolved. Once the mixture comes to a boil, reduce the heat and let it simmer for 5 minutes. Later add the loose tea leaves and let them steep them for 10 more minutes. You want a concentrated chai flavor.