Starbucks introduced the Chai Tea Latte in 1999. Drinks often cycle through the Starbucks menu, but the Chai Tea Latte has been a consistent option since its introduction. On Aug. 22, 2024, they introduced the first variation of the drink. Since then, there have been two other seasonal variations, some better than others. I have been enjoying these drinks for over a year now. Almost every week I make my way to Starbucks, and their seasonal Chai is always my drink of choice. 

Fourth place: Iced Gingerbread Oat Milk Chai

This chai was underwhelming. It is composed of the chai itself, regular cold foam and gingerbread spice on top. This variation did not give the Christmas vibe that the rest of the winter menu provided. In the other drinks, the cold foam is flavored, but in this one, it is not. The first few sips would be overpowering cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. The following sips would be just the chai. What is the point of having a flavored chai if the flavor and the chai are not mixed? All of these lead to the Iced Gingerbread Oat Milk Chai in last place. 

Third place: Iced Oat Milk Chai

This chai is a classic, as it is the original drink since 1999. Despite its iced nature, it never fails to leave a warm feeling in your stomach. Having oat milk with the chai elevates the flavor. It is a comforting drink, but compared to the other drinks, it takes third place. It is plain compared to the best chai. 

Second place: Iced Cherry Chai

This drink is near perfect. The combination of the cherry and the cinnamon chai was an unexpected delight. The cold foam is perfectly sweet and encapsulates the spring theme nicely. The cherry and caramel sprinkles on top add both an aesthetically pleasing vibe, as well as a delicious crunch. The presentation is perfect, and the baby pink is incredibly cute and brings a different, more joyful feeling to the usually calming drink. The only downside of this drink is its longevity. Once the ice melts, the drink becomes less enjoyable to drink. It is very easy to drink fast, though, with how tasty it is. 

First place: Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai

When this drink came out, many of my friends and I were hooked. The drink consists of chai, a pumpkin cold foam and pumpkin spice seasoning sprinkled on top. The warm flavors combat the chill of fall, even though the drink is iced. The flavor of the cinnamon and the pumpkin work together insanely well. The only complaint about this drink is the fact it is not bottomless. Seriously, I could drink this for hours; however, it is usually gone within 15 minutes. Between the flavor, presentation and quality, this drink no doubt takes the cake. This fall season, you MUST try the Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai.