I tried iced chai lattes from 4 coffee chains, and I'd only order 2 again
I tried iced chai lattes from Starbucks, Dunkin', Peet's Coffee, and Panera Bread.
Panera's version didn't really have any of the fundamental flavors of a good iced chai latte.
Even though I wasn't obsessed with any of them, I'd order another one from Starbucks or Peet's.
My go-to caffeinated beverage is typically coffee, but an iced chai latte is a close second.
I like them smooth, creamy, and sweet with plenty of comforting spices like cinnamon, black pepper, ginger, cloves, and cardamom.
Most cafés have their own spin on the drink, so I decided to taste iced chai lattes from four coffee chains — Starbucks, Panera, Dunkin', and Peet's.
Starbucks makes an ultra-creamy chai latte
The iced chai latte at Starbucks is described as a blend of cinnamon, clove, and other warming spices in a chai concentrate combined with 2% milk and chai syrup.
This was the creamiest drink I tried, which I really liked.
Four pumps of syrup gave it plenty of sweetness. But as far as the spices go, I really only tasted black pepper. I wish it had more cinnamon flavor, at least.
Overall, it was a pretty good drink. The sweetness and creaminess helped balance out the black-pepper flavor.
The 16-ounce drink cost $4.85, or $0.30 an ounce.
The iced chai at Dunkin' didn't have much flavor
Dunkin's iced chai latte is supposed to include a blend of cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg. Without modifications, it's made with whole milk, chai syrup, and chai extract.
This was the second lightest in color, so I expected it to be pretty creamy. But it actually wasn't too milky.
I mostly tasted tea. It wasn't very sweet, and I didn't get any hints of the chai spices.
It was the best value, though. The 24-ounce medium cup cost $3.69, or $0.15 an ounce.
Peet's iced chai was heavy on the spices
Peet's Coffee prepares its version with masala chai over ice, 2% milk, and chilled foam.
It mostly tasted like spice with a little sweetness and creaminess to it.
The drink had a thinner consistency, and of all four, it had the deepest, almost orange color.
The 16-ounce medium iced chai came out to $5, or $0.31 an ounce.
Panera's iced chai left much to be desired
Although some may consider Panera more of a fast-casual restaurant than a coffee shop, the café chain sources its own coffee, offers a large menu of typical coffee-shop drinks, and even sells its coffee online.
The description of Panera's iced chai sounded promising: A combination of vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, honey, and foamed milk.
But it was the lightest in color, so I wasn't sure if it would be as flavorful as it sounded.
My hypothesis was correct — it smelled pretty good, but it tasted pretty bland.
I tasted a hint of tea, but overall, the latte wasn't sweet, spicy, or creamy. The consistency seemed thin and watery even though the ice wasn't melting quickly.
I knew right away I wouldn't order this again. But if you're not a fan of really spicy drinks, you might enjoy it more.
Panera's 20-ounce iced chai cost $5.29, or $0.26 an ounce.
I'd order 2 of these iced chai lattes again
Honestly, none of these drinks gave me everything I wanted in an iced chai — a balance of spiciness, creaminess, and sweetness.
Starbucks was my favorite, and I'd order it again, but I still wish it tasted spicier.
Peet's is probably my second choice because it had some spiciness. But next time, I'd order it with extra sweetener and/or milk to balance everything.
Dunkin' at least had some flavor, but that flavor was mostly just plain tea.
I wouldn't order Panera's iced chai latte again. I love a lot of offerings at Panera, but this lacked flavor.
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