Kat's Kitchen

Creamy, spiced, and slightly nutty—this drink is fall coziness in a cup, with a summer-friendly iced twist.

Why You’ll Love This Drink

If you’ve ordered a Chai Latte with Horchata Syrup from Starbucks, you already know how delicious this flavor combo is. It’s the perfect fusion of warm chai spices with the sweet, nutty flavor of horchata. But the best part? You can skip the drive-thru and make it right at home in just a few minutes!

This recipe is not only simple to whip up, but it’s also a fun way to use up a bottle of homemade horchata syrup—something you might have made for a single recipe and weren’t quite sure how else to use. Let this drink be your new go-to.

What is Horchata Syrup?

Horchata syrup is a sweet, cinnamon-forward syrup inspired by the classic Mexican beverage made from rice, milk, cinnamon, and vanilla. While traditional horchata is creamy and refreshing on its own, horchata syrup captures those comforting flavors in a more concentrated form—perfect for adding to drinks like coffee, tea, or even smoothies.

This Homemade Horchata Syrup recipe comes together in 20 minutes, and it’s a great addition to any at-home barista setup.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• 1–2 tablespoons horchata syrup (adjust depending on your sweetness preference)
• 2 tablespoons 2% milk for the horchata cold foam (use barista style oat milk for a dairy free version)
• 3 tablespoons heavy cream for the horchata cold foam (use soy milk instead for a dairy free version)
• 6 ounces chai concentrate (unsweetened or lightly sweetened – I like Tazo or Oregon Chai)
• 4 ounces milk (any kind—dairy, oat, almond, or coconut all work beautifully)
• Ice
• Ground cinnamon, for topping

How to Make an Horchata Chai Latte

Fill your glass with ice.
This drink is served iced, so start by filling a tall glass with ice cubes.

Top with milk.
Pour in 4 ounces of your preferred milk. This adds creaminess and balances the spices.

Pour in the chai concentrate.
Add 6 ounces of your favorite chai concentrate.

Stir well.
Give it a good stir to combine all the flavors.

Make the cold foam.
Combine horchata syrup, 2% milk, and heavy cream together in a cup, and froth with a handheld milk frother until thick.

Pour in the cold foam.
Slowly pour the Horchata Cold Foam over the iced chai latte.

Dust with cinnamon.
Sprinkle ground cinnamon on top for that cozy finishing touch.

Customize It

• Make it hot: Warm the chai and milk together, stir in horchata syrup, and serve in a cozy mug.
• Add espresso: Turn it into a dirty chai by adding a shot or two of espresso for an extra caffeine boost.
• Make it dairy-free: Oat milk and almond milk pair especially well with the cinnamon flavor of the horchata.
• Up the sweetness: Add horchata syrup into the chai latte for extra sweetness and more cozy horchata flavor.
• Lower the sugar and calories: For a lower calorie drink, combine ice, 1 tablespoon horchata syrup, 4 ounces unsweetened almond milk, and 6 ounces unsweetened chai concentrate to a cup, and stir to combine. Top with ground cinnamon and enjoy.

Which Chai Concentrate is Best?

When it comes to the best chai concentrate, it really depends on your preference and what you like in a chai flavor. Some of my favorite options include:

• Oregon Chai
• Oregon Chai Sugar Free
• Tazo Chai
• Trader Joes Spiced Chai Concentrate (find at Trader Joes stores in the tea aisle)

Other Ways to Use Horchata Syrup

If you’re wondering what else to do with your bottle of horchata syrup, here are a few ideas:

• Iced Coffee: Add horchata syrup to your cold brew or iced coffee for a cinnamon twist. See my Horchata Cream Cold Brew or my Starbucks Iced Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso recipes for inspo!
• Make Horchata Cold Foam: Combine the syrup with 2% milk and heavy cream and froth with a handheld milk frother for a creamy topping to any iced or hot drink of choice.
• Oatmeal or Overnight Oats: Swirl a little into your breakfast bowl for extra flavor.
• Smoothies: Add it to banana or vanilla smoothies for warm, dessert-like flavor.
• French Toast: Mix it into the egg batter before dipping your bread—it’s a game changer!

More Chai Recipes To Try

• Starbucks Chai Latte
• Starbucks Iced Cherry Chai
• Cinnamon Pecan Dirty Chai
• Dutch Bros Golden Eagle Chai
• Salted Caramel Apple Chai Latte
• Peach Cobbler Chai Latte

This Horchata Chai Latte is proof that your favorite coffee shop drinks can be made at home—and sometimes even better. It’s cozy, sweet, and spiced just right, with a unique twist that makes it feel extra special. Whether you’re looking to save money, avoid the lines, or just experiment with new flavors, this recipe is a delicious way to enjoy the comfort of chai with a horchata-inspired flair.