Brown Sugar Shaken Chai Tea

Have you ever tried the brown sugar shaken espresso from Starbucks? If you have, then you know this sweet, foamy drink is as refreshing as it is addicting. This Brown Sugar Shaken Chai Tea is a play on the coffee shop favorite. Instead of espresso, you add concentrated chai tea, homemade brown sugar simple syrup, and a touch of cinnamon.

If you've been following our blog, you probably know that we hate coffee. But we love all the coffee-flavored things. Despite our hatred toward coffee, we had to try the Starbucks Shaken Espresso and see what all the fuss was about. And of course, we needed to do our research. Like, why is it so dang good?

What we learned in our extensive (gulp, gulp...) research (aside from the fact that we are not meant to drink 2 shots of espresso hello hyper Jenn!) is that the foam is all the rage. And let's be honest, it's plain fun! So, we set out to create a chai tea version for all the chai lovers out there (like us)! And so the brown sugar shaken chai tea was born.

What makes the drink special is the aeration from all the shaking, along with the dilution and chilling that gives this tea drink its light, frothy smoothness. Topping it off with milk helps to stabilize the foam, and adds another layer of frothy goodness.

So if you want to feel like a barista, (and save a few bucks), then you have to give this easy chai tea drink a try!

So, isn't this a chai latte?

Although the ingredients are similar, the technique for making the two are different. A chai tea latte combines equal parts chai tea concentrate, and milk, and can be made hot or iced.

In this shaken version, chai tea, brown sugar syrup, and ice are mixed in a cocktail shaker, which allows microbubbles to form and produce a foamy top. In the shaken version, milk is added after shaking, which adds a creamy, frothy finish.

Don't let a cocktail shaker scare you- this drink is easy to make. a few ingredients and some ice, and you are a few minutes away from becoming a barista!

• Chai tea bags Easy to find anywhere, choose your favorite brand. Two of our favorites are Tazo and Stash. It may be tempting to use chai concentrate, but these often contain sugar and milk powders already mixed in. If you have chai concentrate and want to use it, we would omit the brown sugar syrup or cut back to only 1 tablespoon.
• Brown sugar syrup dark brown sugar and water combined over heat until the sugar is dissolved and thickens slightly. Instructions are included below. You can use commercial-bought brown sugar syrup if you wish.
• Cinnamon Ground cinnamon is a must and adds some extra warmth to the drink.
• Milk Use your milk of choice to top the drink.
• Ice

See recipe card for quantities.

How to make a brown sugar shaken chai tea

Follow these steps for an easy chai drink in a few minutes.

Step 1. Brew the tea. Place 4 tea bags in a heat-proof container with 1 cup of boiling water. We use a heatproof 1-cup glass measuring cup. Let steep for 15 minutes.

Step 2. In a lidded mason jar or cocktail shaker, add 3 tbsps. of brown sugar syrup, half of the tea concentrate, 2 dashes of cinnamon, and ice. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds.

Step 3. Pour the mixture into a glass. Look at that foam!

Step 4. Top with milk, and add a dash of cinnamon. Drink immediately.

Expert tips

• Squeeze out excess water. When removing your steeped tea bags from the hot water, squeeze out the extra liquid. You will still have less volume than you started with, but that's ok! You will get some dilution from the ice hitting the hot tea to make up for it.
• Freeze the glass. If you want to make sure your drink is extra cold, try freezing your glass first. Make sure the glass is large enough to hold 12 ounces.
• Avoid plastic containers. Try to avoid using anything that might have leftover food odors (like plastic containers), to ensure no food odors seep into your drink.
• Don't strain liquid from the cocktail shaker. Be sure not to strain the liquid out, or you will lose the foam that you created! Instead, pop the top, pour the drink into a glass, and then top with milk.

Substitutions

Here are a couple of variations you can try to make it your own.

• Oat milk Feel free to use oat milk like the Starbucks version.
• You can infuse your brown sugar syrup with a cinnamon stick or add a dash of vanilla extract for even more spice.
• You can use light brown sugar instead of dark brown sugar when making the syrup, note it won't be as rich, since light brown sugar contains less molasses than dark brown sugar.
• If you want to use store-bought chai concentrate you may need to omit the brown sugar syrup or decrease the amount used. This might take some experimenting depending on the sweetness of your concentrate and your desired final level of sweetness.
• If you want to try the original espresso version, swap out the chai tea for 2 shots of freshly brewed espresso.
• Add eggnog for a festive spin with this easy chai eggnog drink.

Make ahead

This shaken brown sugar chai tea drink is meant to be enjoyed right away, but you can certainly make it even easier by preparing the brown sugar simple syrup and the chai concentrate in advance. If you want to enjoy these good drinks anytime, then we definitely recommend you make the syrup and tea in advance.

The brown sugar syrup can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to one month. It can also be enjoyed in regular coffee, tea, and cocktails.

The chai concentrate can be made ahead and stored in a glass pitcher or jar for up to 5 days in the fridge.

Kitchen questions

Is masala chai and chai the same?

Masala chai is tea made with a combination of spices and is popular in Indian cuisines. It translates to "spiced tea", and both terms are often used interchangeably in Western cultures.

What kind of milk is best with chai?

You can use any milk to fit your diet and preferences. Experimenting with different milk is the best way to find what works best.

Can we stir instead of shake?

Nope. You will not get that signature foam you need that sets this drink apart.

Here are some other chai-inspired fall recipes that you may love.

Ingredients

Makes 1 (12-ounce drink)

• 4 standard chai tea bags
• 1 cup hot water
• 3-6 tbsp brown sugar syrup (*recipe below)
• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon, plus extra for garnishing
• 1½ cups ice
• milk of choice

Brown Sugar Syrup

• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 1 cup water

Equipment

• cocktail shaker or mason jar with lid

Method

Brown Sugar Simple Syrup

1. In a medium saucepan, whisk the brown sugar and water. Simmer the mixture over medium heat until the sugar is completely dissolved, stirring once or twice. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool slightly.

Make the Chai Tea Concentrate

1. Combine 1 cup of hot water and the 4 tea bags in a heat-proof glass. Let it stand for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, remove the tea bags, squeezing out as much liquid as you can. Set aside to cool slightly.

Prepare the Drink

1. In a cocktail shaker or lidded glass jar, add the brown sugar syrup, tea concentrate, cinnamon, and ice. Cover and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. (If using a cocktail shaker- do not strain the liquid, pour it out instead).

2. Add the contents to a drinking glass. Top with milk and an additional dusting of cinnamon if using. Serve immediately.

Kitchen notes

• How much brown sugar syrup you add will depend on personal taste. Our sweet spot is about 5 tablespoons per serving, but you may prefer it more or less sweet. You can always add more syrup after you've shaken it.
• One serving equals about 12 ounces with the foam (before adding the milk).
• The tea concentrate can be made ahead. Pour it into a glass container and place it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• The brown sugar syrup can be made ahead and stored in a glass jar in the refrigerator for up to one month. Use it in coffee, tea, lattes, and cocktails!