How Much Sugar Is in a Chai Latte?
A grande chai latte has about 42 g of added sugar — the spiced tea concentrate is pre-sweetened before the milk even goes in.
in 1 grande (16 fl oz) · about 10 teaspoons
- Per serving
- 42 g
- Per 100 g
- 9 g
- Type
- Added sugar
- In teaspoons
- ≈ 10 tsp
More sugar than most people should have in a whole day.
A grande chai latte has roughly 42 g of added sugar — close to a can of Coke. The warm spices (cinnamon, cardamom, ginger) make it taste comforting rather than sweet, which is exactly why the sugar is easy to underestimate: the chai concentrate most shops use is pre-sweetened before any milk or extra syrup is added.
It's genuinely dessert-in-a-cup dressed up as tea. Asking for a sugar-free or lightly-sweetened chai concentrate, or steeping your own spiced tea and adding milk, keeps the flavour without the syrup base.
How chai latte compares
Out of 114 everyday foods and drinks we track, chai latte ranks #6 for sugar per serving — more than 96% of them.
- Milkshake45g
- Fanta44g
- Chai latte (this page)42g
- Coca-Cola39g
- Sprite38g
Bars show sugar per serving. Tap any food to see its full breakdown.
Lower-sugar swaps
- Steep spiced black tea yourself and add warm milk
- Ask for half the standard chai concentrate, topped up with extra milk
Frequently asked questions
- Why does a chai latte have so much sugar if it isn't sweet-tasting?
- The spices mask the sweetness. Most shops use a pre-sweetened chai concentrate, so the sugar is baked in before you even choose a size.
- Is chai latte better than a Frappuccino for sugar?
- A little — chai typically runs somewhat lower, but both are well above a can of soda in a standard size.
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Sugar values from Typical nutrition label; actual amounts vary by brand, ripeness, and recipe. Last updated 2026-08-28.