Iced Decaf Chai Horchata
Cold-brewed decaf chai blended with creamy horchata—a cinnamon-forward, caffeine-free iced drink that's sweet, spicy, and utterly refreshing.
Horchata and chai are a match that feels obvious once you taste it—both revolve around cinnamon, both love sweetness, and together they create something richer than either alone. Using decaf chai means this iced drink works any time of day or night.
Cold-brewing the chai is essential. Hot-brewed and chilled tea turns tannic and flat over ice, but cold-brewing extracts the spices gently, producing a smooth, aromatic concentrate that stays vibrant when diluted.
The horchata base—rice milk blended with cinnamon and vanilla—adds a creamy, slightly grainy sweetness that makes the drink feel substantial. You can use store-bought horchata or make your own by blending soaked rice with water and straining.
Serve over plenty of ice with a cinnamon stick stirrer. This is the kind of drink that disappears fast at a summer gathering—make a double batch and keep it in the fridge.
Ingredients
- 3 decaf chai tea bags
- 2 cups cold water
- 1.5 cups horchata (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 tbsp honey or agave
- Ice cubes
- Cinnamon sticks for garnish
- Ground cinnamon for dusting
How to make it
- 1Cold-brew: place chai tea bags in cold water and refrigerate for 8–12 hours.
- 2Remove tea bags and stir in honey until dissolved.
- 3Fill 2 tall glasses with ice. Pour chai cold brew halfway up each glass.
- 4Top with horchata and stir gently to combine.
- 5Garnish with a cinnamon stick and a light dusting of ground cinnamon.
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