Are Chai Tea Lattes Sweet?

Last updated on August 26th, 2022 at 06:55 am

What better way to enjoy a chilly day than a warm drink in your hand. Fall and winter are seasons for hot chocolate, coffee, and hot teas. 

If you are a fan of teas and lattes, at some point you have probably tried chai. 

Chai is a blend of black tea infused with cinnamon, clove, and other warming spices usually made with milk and sweetener. For the latte version of the drink, these are then combined with steamed milk topped with foam. 

Chai contains caffeine and so it is a good substitute for coffee. Providing an energizing pick-me-up, chai helps you focus along with having nutritional benefits. 

Many coffee shops also offer their customers this delicious drink, Starbucks being a popular chai latte destination. If you like your drinks tasting sweet and are wanting to try a chai latte you could be wondering, are chai lattes sweet?

Chai lattes are sweet depending on how they are made. Starbucks makes their chai lattes pretty sweet but when you make the drink at home you can adjust how much sugar you want to add.

Chai lattes are the perfect blend of sweet and spicy. They can be made with cinnamon, clove, ginger, nutmeg, cardamon, and black pepper for that spicy kick. For the sweet side, some sugar, sweetener, or honey is added in. 

Many use vanilla as well for flavoring. These drinks tend to be richer than regular chai tea. 

Creamy and rich, chai lattes are absolutely delicious. While they don’t contain any coffee, they are a healthier substitute to the stimulant.   

Chai has a little bit of caffeine in it for a more focused and energizing yet relaxing drink instead of the jitteriness you get with coffee. 

Now, there is such a thing as a chai latte with espresso in it. This is made up of chai tea, sweetener, steamed milk, and espresso and tastes a little more smokey than a regular chai latte. 

Chia lattes are usually sweet but if you are making this wonderful beverage at your humble abode you can make it however you wish. Ordering this chai latte from a coffee shop, you can expect it to be pretty sweet. That is, unless you prefer yours to be more spicy in which case you can ask for how much sweetness you want. 

They should be able to make it just the way you like it. Have a sweet tooth but want something with a little kick as well? Chai lattes are for you!

What Does A Chai Latte Taste Like? 

Never tried Chai? It may be difficult for someone to explain the exact flavor and to know if you will like it or not until you taste it for yourself. But describing it may help you to want to drop by a local coffee shop for a chai latte later. 

So, what exactly does a chai latte taste like?

Chai lattes have a rich and bold flavor that is both sweet and spicy. They will taste somewhat like some cinnamon candy that you may have eaten before. 

If you are new to the tea world, it can get a bit overwhelming with all of the different types. Not 

knowing what you like, you may choose the safest option. It’s okay to branch out because who knows, you may find a tea that you love. 

Chai is one of those many types of teas and one you should definitely take part in. It black tea combines dynamic flavors of spices with sweetener and milk for a mug of comfort. 

The main flavor of the drink is most undoubtedly cinnamon. Other spices such as clove, cardamom, ginger, peppercorn, and sometimes even star anise can be tasted. 

Bu wel when  you take a sip of that spicy sweet beverage you initially will recognize the soothing and warm cinnamon. 

If you are making a chai latte at home, first go get some chai. There are several blends of chai so when you are out shopping for some, choose whichever you think you will like the best. An infuser will work great too for when you make your tea. 

Make the chai and then experiment with different milks and sweeteners. If you have an espresso machine, steam that milk to a foam and pour into the tea. 

Then add in your sweetener. 

Sweeteners can be sugar, sugar substitutes, or even honey. No need to add any more spices in since the chai already has all the spices you need. 

Now enjoy your chai latte and experience all the fireworks of flavor it has to offer.

What Is The Difference Between Chai Tea And A Chai Tea Latte? 

Originating from India, chia is a favorite drink and has become more and more popular over recent years. When you want some chai and are craving that sweet and spicy flavor of the drink, you may be conflicted between choosing a chai tea or chai latte. 

What’s the difference?

Chai tea is black tea with flavored spice that is brewed in hot milk and served with honey or sugar. A chai latte is the same tea but with steamed milk poured in and sweetener already added.

Okay, I know, these sound like the same thing. So, let me clarify the difference. There really isn’t one. Yes, you heard me right. 

Chai tea and chai lattes are pretty much the same thing. When you say “Chai tea” you are really saying “tea tea” since chai means tea. 

The drink is usually served with milk and sweetener. A chai latte is also served with milk and sweetener making them the same thing. 

The only possible difference between chai tea and a chai latte may be that the milk in a latte is steamed and foamy and the milk in the tea is just poured right in. 

An article from Aura Chai explains in more depth about chai saying, “when people say ‘chai latte’ and ‘chai tea’ they usually mean the same thing. They’re referring to that warm, comforting, spicy, milky deliciousness. The one that feels like a lovely big hug in a mug. 

They sound the same, and they are the same…Real chai is aromatic and fragrant. As soon as you open the packet, you’re transported to another world. It’s a treat for allll the senses – made with whole spices you can actually see, and loose leaf black tea.” 

So chai is chai and it is deliciously made with milk either way whether in tea or latte form.

Final Thoughts 

Chai is tasty with its bold and rich flavor of spices and its soft and soothing sweetness. Chai tea is the same as a chai lattes since they both are made with all of the same ingredients. 

Chai lattes are made sweet and when ordering one from a coffee shop you can expect it to be pretty sweet. If you make your own at home you can determine how sweet you want the drink to be. 

Overall, the taste of a chai latte is mainly cinnamon but is bursting with so many other dynamic flavors to complete an invigorating and calming beverage. 

The blend of spice and sweetness in chai lattes make an incredible drink that should be missed out on.