Starbucks Gingerbread Chai – Price, Calories & Full Review 2026
$5.25 – 200 Calories
$5.75 – 300 Calories
$6.25 – 400 Calories
Holiday baking spices meet classic chai warmth. The Gingerbread Chai layers Starbucks chai tea concentrate with gingerbread flavored syrup, steamed 2% milk, and a molasses drizzle on top. At $5.75 and 300 calories for a Grande, it doubles down on spice with ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg from both the chai base and the gingerbread syrup.
Gingerbread Chai Quick Facts (2026)
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Drink Type | Hot chai tea latte |
| Tea Base | Starbucks Chai Tea Concentrate |
| Syrup | Gingerbread flavored syrup |
| Milk | 2% milk (default) |
| Topping | Molasses drizzle |
| Sizes | Tall, Grande, Venti |
| Caffeine (Grande) | About 95 mg |
| Calories (Grande) | 300 calories |
| Price Range 2026 | $5.25 to $6.25 |
What Is the Starbucks Gingerbread Chai?
A holiday twist on the classic Chai Tea Latte. Starbucks chai tea concentrate — already loaded with cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and black pepper — is combined with gingerbread flavored syrup for a double dose of warming baking spices. Steamed 2% milk creates the creamy body, and a molasses drizzle on top adds depth and a dark, caramelized sweetness.
Part of the Hot Tea menu during the holiday season. The gingerbread syrup adds notes of ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg that amplify the chai spice blend rather than fighting it. Also available iced as the Iced Gingerbread Chai.
Gingerbread Chai Price 2026 (All Sizes)
| Size | Volume | Price 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Tall | 12 fl oz | $5.25 |
| Grande | 16 fl oz | $5.75 |
| Venti | 24 fl oz | $6.25 |
What Affects Pricing?
- Gingerbread syrup is a seasonal specialty ingredient
- Chai tea concentrate is already a premium base
- Molasses drizzle is included in the standard build
- Milk swaps are free
- Adding espresso shots costs about $1.25 each (dirty chai)
Gingerbread Chai Calories by Size
| Size | Calories | Sugar |
|---|---|---|
| Tall (12 oz) | 200 calories | 32 g |
| Grande (16 oz) | 300 calories | 47 g |
| Venti (24 oz) | 400 calories | 63 g |
Higher in calories than a regular Chai Tea Latte because of the added gingerbread syrup and molasses drizzle. The sugar adds up quickly — a Grande has 47g of sugar. Requesting fewer syrup pumps or a lighter milk can help.
Gingerbread Chai Nutrition Facts (Grande)
| Nutrient | Amount (Grande) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 300 |
| Total Fat | 7 g |
| Saturated Fat | 4.5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 53 g |
| Sugar | 47 g |
| Protein | 8 g |
| Sodium | 170 mg |
| Caffeine | 95 mg |
Gingerbread Chai Caffeine Content
| Size | Caffeine |
|---|---|
| Tall | About 70 mg |
| Grande | About 95 mg |
| Venti | About 120 mg |
Caffeine comes from the black tea in the chai concentrate. Less than half the caffeine of a coffee-based latte, making it a good afternoon option for those watching caffeine intake.
Gingerbread Chai Ingredients
Core Ingredients
- Chai tea concentrate (water, black tea, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, star anise, black pepper)
- Gingerbread flavored syrup (sugar, water, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, natural flavors)
- 2% milk (default)
- Molasses drizzle
Allergen Information
Contains MILK from 2% milk. Free of nuts, eggs, soy, and wheat in the standard build. Swap to oatmilk, coconutmilk, or almondmilk for a dairy-free version. The chai concentrate and gingerbread syrup are dairy-free on their own.
Flavor Profile and Taste Review
A spice explosion in a cup. The chai concentrate already brings warmth from cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, and black pepper. The gingerbread syrup doubles down on ginger and cinnamon while adding nutmeg and a buttery, baked quality. The result is intensely spiced — like drinking a gingerbread cookie that was infused with chai tea. The molasses drizzle on top adds a dark, bitter-sweet depth that grounds all the sweetness and keeps it from being one-note. The steamed 2% milk smooths everything into a creamy, warming drink.
Who Will Love It
- Chai lovers who want extra holiday spice
- Gingerbread fans who prefer tea over coffee
- People who enjoy intensely spiced, warming drinks
- Low-caffeine drinkers who want holiday flavor without coffee jitters
Who Might Not Like It
- People who find regular chai already too spicy
- Customers who are sugar-conscious (47g per Grande)
- Those who prefer subtle, delicate tea flavors
- Anyone who dislikes molasses or dark bitter-sweet notes
How to Order the Gingerbread Chai at Starbucks
- Say your size: Tall, Grande, or Venti
- Say “Gingerbread Chai” or “Gingerbread Chai Tea Latte”
- Molasses drizzle is added automatically
- Mention any milk swap or syrup adjustments
Popular Customizations
- Oatmilk swap — Dairy-free, adds natural oat sweetness that pairs well with gingerbread
- Half sweet — Fewer gingerbread syrup pumps to reduce sugar
- Dirty chai — Add a shot of espresso for a coffee-chai-gingerbread triple threat
- Extra molasses drizzle — More depth and dark sweetness
- Iced version — Order the Iced Gingerbread Chai for a cold option
Gingerbread Chai vs Other Chai Drinks
| Drink | Calories (Grande) | Caffeine | Price | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gingerbread Chai | 300 | 95 mg | $5.75 | Holiday seasonal |
| Chai Tea Latte | 240 | 95 mg | $5.25 | Year-round |
| Iced Gingerbread Chai | 250 | 95 mg | $5.75 | Holiday seasonal |
| Chai Creme Frappuccino | 340 | 40 mg | $5.95 | Year-round |
About 60 calories more than a regular Chai Tea Latte due to the gingerbread syrup and molasses. The iced version is lighter because cold milk is less dense than steamed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Gingerbread Chai seasonal?
Yes. It launches in early November with the Starbucks holiday menu and stays available through early January or until gingerbread syrup runs out at your location.
Does the Gingerbread Chai have coffee in it?
No. The Gingerbread Chai is tea-based, not coffee-based. Caffeine comes from the black tea in the chai concentrate — about 95 mg per Grande, roughly half of what a coffee latte has. You can add an espresso shot to make it a dirty chai.
Can I get the Gingerbread Chai iced?
Yes. Order the Iced Gingerbread Chai for the cold version. Same chai concentrate and gingerbread syrup served over ice with cold milk instead of steamed.
Is the Gingerbread Chai dairy-free?
Not in the standard build — it uses 2% milk. But you can swap to oatmilk, coconutmilk, almondmilk, or soymilk for a dairy-free version at no extra charge. Oatmilk is the most popular dairy-free choice for chai.
How spicy is the Gingerbread Chai?
Intensely spiced. Both the chai concentrate and the gingerbread syrup contain ginger and cinnamon, so the spice level is noticeably higher than a regular Chai Tea Latte. If you find regular chai mild, this will give you the kick you are looking for. If regular chai is already at your spice limit, this may be too much.
