How to Make Dunkin Donuts Chai Latte?

Nothing beats a hot coffee during the cold winter months or an ice-cold latte on a hot summer day. But, your options are limited if you’re not a big fan of coffee. Here’s where chai latte comes in!

Chai latte has increased in popularity significantly over the past few years. Most chain coffee shops have their own version of this sweet drink, including Dunkin Donuts, which offers several chai latte options. But wouldn’t it be better if you could make it at home? Well, you can!

In this article, we’ll thoroughly examine the history of chai latte, what makes the Dunkin Donuts version so popular, as well as how to make it yourself. While you can’t really replicate the exact flavor of the Dunkin Donuts chai latte, the recipe itself is straightforward and will give an equally delicious result!

Keep on reading to learn how to make the best Dunkin Donuts chai latte!

History of Chai Latte

Chai latte, as we know it in the West, is essentially masala chai that originates in India. The word “masala” means a mix of spices, including cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and cardamom. The term “chai” translates to “tea” in several languages like Chinese.

The tea itself is a traditional Indian recipe that manifested when the British East India Company introduced Chinese tea to India. The spices in the recipe are highly variable, with each family having its own spice mix it uses. Nevertheless, some staple components include black tea leaves, water, milk, sugar, ginger, cardamom, and black pepper.

The western version of masala chai is the famous chai latte, also known as a chai tea latte. It’s usually made by mixing chai powder or chai syrup into a large quantity of milk with added sugar. This ends up as a light and sweet drink that most people enjoy.

Every different chain coffee shop has different versions of the chai latte. For instance, there’s Starbucks’ chai latte, Panera’s chai latte, Pete’s chai latte, and, of course, Dunkin’s chai latte. Dunkin’ Donuts also offers a similar drink called the Dunkin vanilla spice, which uses vanilla chai powder instead of syrup, along with more sweet cream and honey.

Ingredients & Supplies

The process of making chai latte at home is straightforward. While it won’t be identical to the Dunkin Donuts one, since you don’t have access to the ingredients they use, you can still make a delicious drink to enjoy. Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make the best chai latte:

For the chai mix:

• 2 tsps ground cinnamon
• 2 tsps ground ginger
• 1 tsp ground cardamom
• 1 tsp ground clove
• ½ tsp ground allspice
• ½ tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 ½ cups unsweetened instant tea of your choice
• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 cup powdered non-dairy creamer
• 1 ½ cup dry French vanilla-flavored powdered non-dairy creamer

For the chai latte:

• 8 oz milk of your choice
• 2 tbsps of your chai mix

Another way to make this recipe is by using chai syrup. To make a chai syrup, you’ll need:

For the chai syrup:

• 1 cup or about 8 sachets of chai tea blend of your choice (leaves)
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups water
• 4 tsps vanilla extract

You can also use the same spices as in the powder chai mix, with 2 cups of sugar, 2 cups of water, 1 cup of black tea leaves, and 4 tsps vanilla extract.

Finally, you’ll need some essential kitchen supplies:

Kitchen Supplies:

• Mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Mason jar (or any other type of glass jar)
• Fine mesh strainer
• Spice grinder (optional)
• Milk frother (optional)
• Small saucepan (if you’re making the syrup)

Step by Step on How to Make Dunkin Donuts Chai Latte

Here’s the step-by-step guide on how to make your own amazing Dunkin Donuts hot chai latte:

1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together all of the spices and powders. Make sure to whisk them well, so you get a homogenous chai mix. You can even use a spice grinder if you have one.
2. Put the chai mix in a mason jar and store it in your cupboard until you’re ready to use it. You can also use an airtight plastic container.
3. When you want to make your chai latte, warm up 8 oz of any milk you prefer. You can do it on the stove, or you can use your microwave oven.
4. Once the milk is warmed up, stir in 2 tablespoons of your chai mix. Whisk the milk to froth it and make it thick. If you have a milk frother, it’ll make the process easier and faster.
5. Finally, strain the milk through a fine mesh strainer to remove any powders that haven’t dissolved. Enjoy your delicious chai latte, just like the Dunkin Donuts one!

If you want to use a chai syrup instead of a chai powder mix, here’s what you’ll need to do:

1. In a small saucepan, mix together 2 cups of sugar with 2 cups of water in a small saucepan until the sugar is mostly dissolved. Don’t worry about dissolving it fully, as it’ll naturally happen when the mixture heats up.
2. Place the pan on the stove over medium heat and bring it up to a boil. Once the mixture has started bubbling, lower the heat and simmer it for about 5 minutes.
3. Then, you can add the chai tea blend or the black tea leaves and spices and let them steep for up to 10 minutes. The longer you let them steep together, the stronger the syrup becomes. Remember that you need a strongly concentrated syrup that resembles the strength of a shot of espresso.
4. Once the ingredients are done steeping, remove the pan from the heat and strain it directly into a clean glass jar, like a Mason jar. At this point, add the vanilla extract, taste it, and adjust the flavor. Start with half the vanilla quantity and add more according to your taste. The syrup can be stored in your fridge for a very long time.
5. Once you’re ready to make your chai latte, warm up 8 ounces of milk. Then add 4-5 tablespoons of your chai syrup according to taste.

Pro tips

• If you have a spice grinder or even a clean coffee grinder, you can mix the spices in there and grind them to get a uniform powder. You can also try whole spices and grind them yourself!
• Both the chai powder and syrup store very well, and you can make large quantities of them in advance. You can even send them to friends and loved ones, along with instructions on how to make chai latte themselves!
• If you’re making a syrup, remember that sugar can burn very quickly. Keep the heat on low, and occasionally stir, so it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan and burn. Also, be careful when transferring the syrup to the jar, as it can be scorching hot and cause severe burns.
• Try adding different flavoring agents to the syrup instead of vanilla extract in order to get a unique flavor combination. Some good alternatives might be honey, maple syrup, or even liquor.
• You can try this drink with many different types of milk, like whole milk, skim milk, or even almond milk. If you have an espresso machine with a steam wand, you can steam the milk and get a thicker drink with more foam. You can even make a cold version of this drink. Don’t warm up the milk; add some ice to get a refreshing iced chai latte.

Conclusion

If you’re a fan of the Dunkin chai latte, then you’re not alone. Numerous people enjoy this seasonal drink, whether it’s hot or cold. However, it can be expensive, especially if you want to drink it daily.

With our recipe, you can make a homemade chai latte that tastes almost exactly as good as the one from Dunkin Donuts. If you don’t believe us, try it out for yourself! Your tastebuds and wallet will be very grateful.

FAQ

What Is Chai Latte?

Chai latte is the western term for masala chai, which is a traditional Indian tea. The original tea has a pungent, spicy flavor with a distinct black-peppery punch. However, Western versions, like the Starbucks version and Dunkin Donuts version, are milder and sweeter in flavor.

Is Dunkin Donuts Chai Latte Healthy?

The Dunkin Donuts chai latte is generally not considered the healthiest drink you can have. This is because a medium-sized drink contains over 40 grams of sugar and almost 300 calories. Ideally, you shouldn’t drink it every day, but you can also try making a healthier version at home.