Name: Iced Lavender Cream Chai (Starbucks Copycat)
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 1
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons heavy cream; 1 tablespoon whole milk; 1 tablespoon lavender syrup; ½ cup chai concentrate; ½ cup milk; 1 cup ice; Purple food coloring (optional)

This iced lavender cream chai is inspired by the newest drink on the Starbucks spring menu. It combines cozy spiced chai with a subtle floral lavender cold foam topping. It’s simple to assemble at home and tastes just like a café drink.

Layered iced lavender cream chai latte with light purple lavender cold foam over spiced chai, topped with dried lavender flowers, with milk pitcher and lavender plant in background.

The newest spring drink from Starbucks, the Iced Lavender Cream Chai, feels like it was made for this time of year.

It starts with everything we love about an iced chai latte. Bold, caffeinated black tea. Cozy spices like cinnamon, clove, cardamom, and ginger. Then it’s topped with a soft layer of sweet floral lavender cream cold foam that looks just like blooming spring flowers.

I’ve loved chai for years, long before it felt trendy. As a tea drinker, I’m always drawn to those warm, spiced flavors. I even created my own homemade chai concentrate and several iced chai variations.

Over time, I’ve learned two things. Iced chai is incredible with a creamy cold foam on top. And chai pairs beautifully with slightly unexpected flavors, especially delicate fruity or floral notes.

So when I saw the lavender version appear on the Starbucks spring menu, I knew I had to recreate it at home.

A little fair warning here though: this drink looks so pretty, you might take a photo before you even taste it!

Collage showing iced lavender cream chai latte, ingredients, lavender cold foam being frothed, and finished Starbucks copycat spring drink with text overlay that reads, "Lavender Cream Chai Latte. Make this Starbucks spring drink at home."

Why You’ll Love This Iced Lavender Chai Recipe

Tastes just like the Starbucks lavender chai.
Easy to assemble in minutes with no special café equipment.
Soft, pastel layers that are perfect for Easter or Mother’s Day brunch.
A lightly caffeinated afternoon pick-me-up.
Customize the strength and sweetness using your favorite chai and milk.
Make it at home for a fraction of the coffee shop price.

If you love making Starbucks copycat drinks at home, this one is about as simple as it gets. It’s more about technique than complicated steps.

Top view of iced lavender cream chai topped with light purple lavender cold foam and sprinkled dried lavender flowers over ice.

Love layered spring and summery drinks? Try my Iced Cherry Cream Chai (Starbucks copycat) with its soft pink cherry cold foam over spiced chai. It’s fruity, creamy, and just as pretty as this lavender version. If you’re in the mood for something a little more tropical, try my Iced Mango Cream Chai for a fruity twist on this layered drink.

How to Make the Best Lavender Cream Cold Foam (Starbucks Style)

After years of testing Starbucks copycat recipes with my daughter, who worked as a barista for a long time, we learned that you don’t need their fancy equipment to make homemade cold foam.

What matters most is achieving that smooth, café-style texture, and there are a few simple tricks that make all the difference.

Start with cold ingredients and tools.
Heavy cream, milk, and syrup should be cold. I even pop the cup I’m frothing in into the freezer for a few minutes. If you think ahead, you can chill the measured syrup briefly too. Not frozen. Just cold.

Use both heavy cream and whole milk.
The cream gives the foam structure so it floats. The milk thins it just enough to create that smooth, pourable, melted ice-cream consistency.

Don’t over-froth.
As soon as it reaches that soft, thick texture, stop. Over-frothing can pop the air bubbles and cause it to deflate. A handheld milk frother is all you need.

If it won’t thicken, it’s probably too warm.
Slide everything into the freezer for two minutes, then try again. That quick chill usually fixes it.

Thick lavender cold foam being poured over iced chai latte to create layered Starbucks-style lavender cream chai.

Iced lavender cream chai topped with thick purple lavender cold foam, next to bottle of lavender syrup and bowl of dried lavender flowers.

Ingredients Needed for Iced Lavender Cream Chai

Heavy cream
Whole milk
Lavender syrup
Purple food coloring (optional)
Chai concentrate
Milk (for the latte)
Ice

Overhead photo of ingredients for Starbucks copycat iced lavender cream chai, including lavender syrup, violet food coloring, chai concentrate, milk, heavy cream, and ice cubes.

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions for Lavender Chai

Heavy cream
There really isn’t a substitute if you want true cold foam texture. It’s what makes the foam thick enough to float.

Whole milk (for the foam)
This thins the heavy cream. Without it, the foam can be too dense.

Lavender syrup
I use Monin lavender syrup, which I’ve found at TJ Maxx and HomeGoods. I personally prefer it over other brands. You can make homemade lavender syrup, but you’ll likely need to order culinary-grade lavender petals, which can cost about the same as buying a bottle of syrup.

Food coloring
If your syrup doesn’t tint the foam a soft lavender shade, add one tiny drop of purple food coloring. I’ve found great options at Michael’s in the baking aisle.

Chai concentrate
Use your favorite carton or bottle. I like Tazo and Oregon Chai. You can also use my homemade chai concentrate, but it needs to be made and fully chilled ahead of time.

Milk for the latte
I use 2% dairy milk. Use whatever you prefer. Just note that even with plant-based milk, the drink isn’t dairy-free because of the cream foam on top.

Light purple and tan layered iced lavender cream chai on white marble coaster with lavender syrup, milk pitcher, dried lavender, and lavender plant in background.

How to Make Iced Lavender Cream Chai

Detailed recipe and instructions are in recipe card at bottom of post.

Make the lavender cold foam first.
In a small cold cup, combine the heavy cream, whole milk, and lavender syrup. Add a tiny drop of purple food coloring if desired. Froth until thick but still pourable. It should look like melted ice cream, not whipped cream.
Add chai concentrate and milk to your glass.
Pour the chai concentrate into a 16-ounce glass. Add the milk and stir to combine. This recipe is sized for a grande-style drink.
Add ice second, not first.
This is important. Add ice after the liquids so you can control the level. Fill the cup with ice, leaving about one inch of space from the top. That space is for your cold foam. Using regular ice cubes is best. Tiny ice chips melt faster and can water down your chai.
Top with lavender cream cold foam.
Slowly pour the foam over the top. It should sit beautifully on the ice before gently cascading down.
Sip and admire your spring masterpiece.
Give it a quick stir before drinking or let the foam slowly mix in as you go.

Nine-step grid showing how to make lavender cold foam and assemble a Starbucks copycat iced lavender cream chai from ingredients to finished drink.

Recipe Notes & Tips for the Perfect Iced Lavender Chai

Assembling tip: Always build drinks with layered foam by adding liquids first, then ice, then foam. This ensures proper proportions and space for that pretty top layer.
Make-ahead tip: You can pre-mix a larger batch of cream, milk and syrup, store it in the refrigerator, then froth the amount you need when ready to make a drink.
Variation idea: For classic vanilla chai flavor, try my Iced Vanilla Sweet Cream Chai, or for a mash-up of two teas, try my Iced Matcha Cream Chai.

Top-down view of iced lavender cream chai with dried lavender flowers on purple cold foam, surrounded by lavender syrup, milk, and lavender plant.

FAQs About Iced Lavender Chai

Does this taste exactly like the Starbucks lavender chai?
It’s very close. Using a good lavender syrup and getting the cold foam texture right makes all the difference.

Can I make this dairy-free?
The latte portion can use plant-based milk, but traditional cold foam requires heavy cream to float properly.

Can I use homemade chai instead of store-bought?
Yes. Just make sure it’s fully chilled before building the iced drink.

Starbucks copycat iced lavender cream chai showing two-tone layers, beside carton of chai concentrate and pitcher of milk.

More Iced Chai Drinks to Make at Home