Learn how to make a variety of tea lattes at home, from spicy chai to calming chamomile. A Tea Sommelier shares practical tips and simple recipes so you can create smooth, flavorful lattes with milk or plant-based alternatives.
Tea Latte
A tea latte is simply tea combined with steamed or frothed milk instead of espresso. Any tea works — black, green, herbal, or roasted — but to hold up well when mixed with milk, a more robust brew is best. Milk can be dairy or plant-based, such as oat, almond, or soy, depending on your taste and dietary needs.
Note from Jee
As a Tea Sommelier, I recommend these two simple guidelines to improve every tea latte you make:
Choose a tea with a strong profile so the flavor remains distinct after adding milk. Strong black teas and robust herbal blends work much better than delicate whites or lightly flavored greens.
Don’t worry about using expensive loose-leaf teas. For lattes, tea bags or sachets are convenient and cost-effective because milk and sweeteners often mask subtle notes.
17 Tea Latte Recipes
1
Iced Chai Latte
This iced chai latte combines strong black tea with warm spices like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and star anise. Honey and a touch of vanilla round out the flavor while milk creates a creamy texture. It’s a balanced, sweet-spicy cold drink that you can make from scratch in minutes.
Ingredients: Black tea, water, honey, cinnamon stick, star anise, cardamom pods, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, black peppercorns, vanilla, milk, ice
ICED CHAI LATTE
2
Chai Latte
A classic chai latte is warmly spiced and comforting. Black tea is simmered with cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cardamom and other spices, then sweetened and mixed with steamed milk. A dash of brown sugar or honey and a dollop of whipped cream make it indulgent and cozy.
Ingredients: Black tea, water, brown sugar, cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, black peppercorns, vanilla, milk, cream
CHAI LATTE
3
Matcha Latte
A matcha latte is made by whisking powdered green tea with hot water, then adding steamed milk and a touch of sweetener. Matcha delivers a bright color and earthy, vegetal flavor that pairs beautifully with creamy milk and honey. It’s energizing and smooth.
Ingredients: Matcha, water, milk, honey
MATCHA LATTE
4
Iced Matcha Latte
This chilled matcha latte mixes matcha, water, and sweetened milk over ice. To get a layered look, place sweetened milk in the glass first, then pour the matcha mixture slowly over a spoon. It’s a quick, refreshing pick-me-up.
Ingredients: Matcha, water, milk, honey, ice
ICED MATCHA LATTE
5
Chamomile Tea Latte
A chamomile latte is a soothing, caffeine-free option ideal for evenings. Steep chamomile strongly, mix with warm milk and a touch of vanilla, and finish with a sprinkle of cinnamon and cloves for added depth. The result is calming and creamy.
Rooibos makes a naturally caffeine-free, slightly sweet base for a latte. Add vanilla and honey with creamy soy or oat milk for a nutty, comforting beverage that’s perfect any time of day.
A London Fog is an Earl Grey latte, highlighting the bergamot citrus notes of the tea with vanilla and brown sugar. Use gently steamed milk or froth in a French press for a smooth, cafe-style finish.
This chilled Earl Grey latte pairs bergamot-scented tea with a lightly sweetened cream froth. Keep the foam soft so it slowly melds into the drink for a refreshing summer beverage.
Ingredients: Earl Grey, water, heavy cream, sugar, salt, ice
ICED EARL GREY TEA LATTE
9
Iced Brown Sugar Tea Latte
This layered iced latte uses a brown sugar syrup to add toasty sweetness. Pour syrup, then milk, then tea to create attractive layers and a complex, comforting flavor in under ten minutes.
Ingredients: English Breakfast tea, water, brown sugar, milk, ice
ICED BROWN SUGAR TEA LATTE
10
Starbucks Iced Chai Tea Latte
A quick copycat iced chai uses a concentrated chai base mixed with milk and ice. It’s a three-ingredient shortcut that recreates the familiar flavor of the cafe version at home.
Ingredients: Chai concentrate, milk, ice
STARBUCKS ICED CHAI TEA LATTE
11
Iced Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Latte
Butterfly pea flower tea creates a striking blue brew that turns a bright, milky turquoise when mixed with milk. The flavor is earthy and mild; sweetened condensed milk and vanilla help make it creamy and approachable.
Make bubble tea at home by combining vibrant matcha with milk and freshly cooked tapioca pearls. Serve warm pearls with chilled drink for the best texture. It’s playful, visual, and delicious.
Ingredients: Matcha, water, tapioca pearls, dark brown sugar, oat milk, ice
MATCHA BUBBLE TEA
13
Hojicha Latte
Hojicha is a roasted Japanese green tea with toasty, caramel-like notes. It makes a rich, comforting latte, often topped with lightly whipped cream or salted cream froth for a sweet-salty contrast.
Ingredients: Hojicha, water, brown sugar, heavy cream, sugar, vanilla, salt
HOJICHA LATTE
14
Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte
For a fall favorite, add pumpkin puree and warm pumpkin spices to chai. Simmer until fragrant, combine with milk, and froth for a creamy, seasonal beverage that pairs well with crisp mornings.
A chocolate mint latte blends peppermint tea with a stronger black tea and cocoa for a grown-up hot chocolate with a caffeinated kick. Brown sugar and frothed milk make it decadently smooth.
A homemade matcha Frappuccino blends matcha with a simple Frappuccino base, milk, and ice for a blended, creamy cold drink. Making it at home saves money and lets you control sweetness and creaminess.
Ingredients: Frappuccino base syrup, matcha, milk, vanilla syrup, heavy cream, ice
STARBUCKS MATCHA FRAPPUCCINO
17
Thai Tea Frappuccino
This frozen Thai tea drink mixes brewed Thai tea with sweetened condensed and evaporated milk, ice, and a touch of sugar, then blends until smooth for an icy, creamy treat reminiscent of restaurant-style Thai tea.
Ingredients: Thai tea mix, black tea, water, brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, heavy cream, ice
THAI TEA FRAPPUCCINO
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