I’d never had an Iced Dirty Chai Latte up until a few weeks ago. Now, I’m craving it all.the.time.
This book-inspired recipe for A Novel Obsession comes straight from the novel – this refreshing, not-too-sweet treat is main character Naomi’s go-to order at the Brooklyn coffee shops where she stalks Rosemary. And, after tasting a dirty chai latte for myself, I can see why.
You may remember that I’m not a huge fan of chai. But I seriously think that this Iced Dirty Chai Latte is bringing me ‘round to the dark side. Or, the delicious side. With the sweltering heat of summer upon us, this concoction has quickly become my go-to drink when I’m in search of something sweet to beat the heat.
What makes a chai latte “dirty”?
No, this isn’t a commentary on how morally loose the latte is being. Adding a shot of espresso to the drink is what makes a chai latte “dirty.” I don’t have a fancy schmancy coffee machine at home, so I use instant granulated espresso. The instructions for making one shot are right on the container.
If you don’t like espresso, or if you don’t want to have caffeine in your drink, you can always leave out the espresso. Then it just becomes an Iced Chai Latte, which is plenty delicious, too.
Making an Iced Dirty Chai Latte at home
Making an Iced Dirty Chai Latte at home is really easy. I first sampled this drink at a local coffee shop so I knew the flavor I was aiming for. After a little bit of searching online, I was able to concoct my perfect latte recipe.
A lot of recipes want you to create your own chai blend, but I immediately nixed that idea. In the time it takes to assemble and brew my own chai, I can drive to Starbucks and back.
The whole idea of making an Iced Dirty Chai Latte at home is to make life easier. So, I used these chai tea bags to brew chai for this recipe.
If you prep the tea and the espresso while the water boils, assembling the latte goes quickly once your kettle begins whistling. You just pour one liquid after another into a glass filled with ice, and you’re done!
Add a spritz of whipped cream and a sprinkling of ground cinnamon to give your Iced Dirty Chai Latte a coffeehouse feel, and you’re ready to head outside, read a book, and enjoy the summer.
Why I love Iced Dirty Chai Lattes
While I enjoy me a Coconut Iced Caramel Macchiato when summer rolls around, sometimes I want something not so cavity-inducing. What I really love about a dirty chai latte is that it isn’t nearly as sweet as most coffeehouse drinks. I think that’s down to the espresso, but I also think using honey instead of simple syrup to sweeten the latte makes a big difference.
Plus, this recipe is easily customizable. My first batch of Iced Dirty Chai Lattes was a little too bitter, a little light on the chai flavor, and admittedly not sweet enough. So, I tweaked the recipe, and the next batch was the winner.
My preferred Iced Dirty Chai Latte gives you hints of cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger; a nice burst of caffeine; and just enough sweetness to make it feel like a treat but not a guilty pleasure.
Feel free to use my recipe as your base, and then change it any way you want. Like your lattes on the sugary side? Add more honey. Craving a super-chai infused latte? Add another tea bag to the mix.
What pairs well with an Iced Dirty Chai Latte?
So many desserts would be delicious with an Iced Dirty Chai Latte! To tease out those warm cinnamon notes of the chai, you can serve up a slice of Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake (my husband’s favorite!) or Sock It To Me Cake. If you want to add a fruity note to your afternoon treat, try it with some Blueberry Buckle or Jam Thumbprint Cookies. And, if you really want some chai overload, whip up a batch of Chai Latte Bars.
Iced Dirty Chai Latte
Ingredients
- 6 oz boiling water, divided
- 2 chai tea bags
- 1 tsp instant espresso granules
- 2 tsp honey
- 6 oz cold milk (whole or 2% recommended)
- whipped cream (optional)
- ground cinnamon (optional)
Instructions
- Bring 6 oz of water to a boil.
- While water is boiling, place the chai tea bags in a mug and set aside.
- Scoop the instant espresso granules into a small teacup or bowl and set aside.
- Pour 4 oz boiling water into the mug with the chai tea bags. Add the honey to the tea and stir to dissolve. Press down on the teabags with the back of a spoon to make sure they’re submerged, then let steep 5-8 minutes. Remove and discard teabags after steeping.
- Pour the remaining 2 oz boiling water into the teacup with the espresso and stir until granules are completely dissolved.
- At this point, you can either let the chai tea and the espresso cool completely (put it in the freezer for quicker chilling time), or you can assemble your Iced Dirty Chai Lattes. If assembling while liquids are still hot, just use a little extra ice.
- To assemble: Place a generous handful of ice cubes in a 16-oz glass. Pour the chai tea over the ice, followed by the espresso, followed by the milk. Garnish with whipped cream and a sprinkling of ground cinnamon, if desired. Serve immediately.
