Chai Iced Tea is a refreshing way to start the day! Made with black tea, agave nectar (or your choice of sweetener), cinnamon and other favorite spices, and coconut milk, this quick, easy drink recipe is super-satisfying! {Gluten-Free + Dairy-Free}
Comforting AND refreshing. That’s how I’d describe Chai Iced Tea. This drink is a creamy, spicy blend of black tea, coconut milk (the creamy portion), and cinnamon. Ooh, and, if you have one on hand, a star anise. So pretty and so delicious. Chai Iced Tea is also really easy to make, which is, more often than not, my favorite kind of recipe to try.
Let me put this drink another way. If you need to get ALL THE THINGS DONE but you also just really want a hug or a soft, comfy blanket, then this Chai Iced Tea totally gets your vibes. The tea is your pick-me-up while the coconut milk, cinnamon spices, and sweetener combine to form one big hug JUST FOR YOU and anyone else you want to SHARE this with.
Spiriteds, this drink is one incredible AND/BOTH recipe. We don’t need to pick between getting a move on and stopping for a hug. We get both with each sip of Chai Iced Tea.
So let’s get boiling and steeping and enjoy a cup full of creamy, cinnamon-y goodness!
CHAI ICED TEA INGREDIENTS:
The ingredient list for Chai Iced Tea is straightforward. And much of it you can adapt to your own palate!
- Black tea. I use about 5-6 tea bags. Add more or fewer, depending on how strong you want your chai to be.
- Water. I add six cups. But like the tea, add as much or as little as you like. Keep in mind, you’ll lose some liquid through evaporation, so you may want a little more.
- Cinnamon sticks. As they warm, the cinnamon stick flavors will flood the chai for a delicious, spicy result.
- Sweetener. Agave nectar, 100% pure honey, or maple syrup will work. I have not tried monkfruit sweetener or stevia in this recipe, but you could definitely give it a go! And if you do, then please tell me how it worked out!
- Spices. In addition to the cinnamon sticks, you can also add ground cardamom, allspice, or nutmeg. I usually add a pinch or two of whichever spices I’m in the mood to enjoy. A little goes a long way.
- Canned coconut milk. I chill a can of coconut milk overnight, skim the cream off the top the next morning, and add that to my chai. It’s delicious!
HOW TO MAKE CHAI ICED TEA:
Here are the steps to make your own Chai Iced Tea recipe!
- Bring water to a boil and then add the tea bags, cinnamon sticks, sweetener, and spices. Remove from heat and let steep covered for 10 minutes. Remove tea bags and cinnamon sticks. Strain the tea through a wire mesh strainer, if desired.
- Then pour the tea into mugs filled halfway with ice cubes. Top with two tablespoons of coconut milk, sprinkle with cardamom, allspice, nutmeg, or cinnamon. Add a star anise and enjoy.
- Refrigerate leftovers in glass jars for 1-2 weeks. During storage, contents will settle. Stir before serving.
MORE THIRST-QUENCHING DRINKS!!!
Chai Iced Tea is comforting, energizing, and satisfying. But it’s not the only choice you have on the Spirited blog! Here are a few more tasty drinks to satiate your thirst!
- Dairy-Free Chai Tea
- Homemade Iced Coffee
- Lemon Ginger Tea
- Homemade Pineapple Iced Tea
- Cinnamon Orange Tea
- 3-Ingredient Pineapple Fresca Mocktail
- Dairy-Free Vanilla Cashew Coffee

Friends, as always, I’m glad you’re here. Take care of yourselves. ❤️
PrintChai Iced tea
Chai Iced Tea is a refreshing way to start the day! Made with black tea, agave nectar (or your sweetener of choice), cinnamon and other favorite spices, and coconut milk, this quick, easy drink recipe is super-satisfying! {Gluten-Free + Dairy-Free}
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 5 cups tea 1x
- Category: Beverages (Non-Alcoholic)
- Method: Stovetop
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 6 cups water
- 5–6 black tea bags
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1/4 cup agave nectar, 100% pure honey, or maple syrup
- A pinch of cardamon, allspice, and/or nutmeg
- 2–3 tablespoons full fat coconut milk (per cup of tea)
- Garnish with star anise, optional
Instructions
- Bring water to a boil and then add the tea bags, cinnamon sticks, sweetener, and spices. Remove from heat and let steep covered for 10 minutes. Remove tea bags and cinnamon sticks. Strain the tea through a wire mesh strainer, if desired.
- Then pour the tea into mugs filled halfway with ice cubes. Top with two tablespoons of coconut milk, sprinkle with cardamom, allspice, nutmeg, or cinnamon. Add a star anise and enjoy.
- Refrigerate leftovers in glass jars for 1-2 weeks. During storage, contents will settle. Stir before serving.
Notes
- The longer the tea steeps, the stronger and bitterer it will be.
- Use full-fat coconut milk, chilled overnight, and skim off the cream that rises to the top. Add that cream to your tea. Alternatively, use canned coconut cream.
- If the coconut milk clumps when added to the tea, then stir the chai briskly, even with a fork, until the coconut milk blends into the drink.
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