Homemade Iced Chai Cold Foam (Printable version)

A spiced iced chai drink topped with creamy cold foam for a refreshing, smooth finish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chai Concentrate

01 - 2 cups water
02 - 2 black tea bags
03 - 1 cinnamon stick
04 - 4 whole cloves
05 - 4 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
06 - 4 black peppercorns
07 - 1-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced
08 - 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup, adjusted to taste

→ Cold Foam

09 - 1/2 cup cold heavy cream
10 - 1 tablespoon sugar or honey
11 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ To Serve

12 - Ice cubes
13 - Additional ground cinnamon for dusting (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add tea bags, cinnamon stick, cloves, cardamom pods, peppercorns, and sliced ginger. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
02 - Remove from heat, discard tea bags, and let spices steep for another 5 minutes. Strain mixture into a pitcher, stir in honey or maple syrup while warm. Allow to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until chilled.
03 - Whip cold heavy cream, sugar or honey, and vanilla extract in a bowl or with a milk frother until thick and foamy but not stiff.
04 - Fill two tall glasses with ice and pour chilled chai concentrate over ice, filling each about two-thirds full.
05 - Spoon cold foam generously over chai and optionally dust with ground cinnamon. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The whole spices bloom while simmering, filling your kitchen with an aroma that lingers long after you've finished drinking.
  • Cold foam is ridiculously easy to make and transforms the entire experience into something that feels indulgent but takes barely any extra effort.
  • You can make the concentrate ahead, so on hot days you're just five minutes away from something restaurant-quality at home.
02 -
  • If your foam collapses immediately, your cream might have been too warm or you whipped it too far into butter territory—start fresh with properly chilled cream and stop the moment it holds soft peaks.
  • The chai concentrate gets better after a day in the fridge as the spices continue infusing, so make it ahead if you want deeper, more complex flavor.
03 -
  • The difference between good chai and great chai is patience—don't rush the simmering and steeping stages, as those extra minutes let the spices fully express themselves.
  • If you're making this for guests, whip the foam right before serving so it stays light and airy rather than settling flat into the drink.
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