Chai Tea: Everything You Need To Know (Milk Tea)
Chai tea, originally prepared for medical benefits, has become a staple drink for every household. Some may enjoy it traditionally, while others may prefer it with blended flavors.
In addition to its delicious taste, chai tea also has several health benefits, making it a beloved choice for tea lovers worldwide.
Today, we will explore what chai tea offers, how it is brewed, its calorie count, caffeine content, and everything about it in this article.
What is chai tea?
The name chai simply refers to tea in Hindi. It could be any tea like black, green, white, etc.
In India, chai tea is usually prepared by mixing strong spices in black tea. The spices include:
- Cardamom
- Black peppercorn
- Cinnamon
- Ginger
- Cloves
- Star anise
Now, its sweetened and creamier version of chai is as popular as the chai latte. So, a chai latte is just a cup of masala tea and there’s no coffee in it.
Benefits of Chai Black Tea
If you’re drinking chai black tea, here are some of the health benefits you may get.
- As chai black tea contains flavonoids, the National Library of Medicine has cited that it helps minimize the stroke risk.
- According to the National Institutes of Health, drinking chai tea might help with weight loss.
- The spices contained in chai black tea could relieve symptoms like bloating, constipation, and nausea.
- Since chai tea has high antioxidants, it may help to boost your immune system.
Masala Chai Tea Calories
The calorie count on your masala chai tea depends on how you brew it, and the level changes with the ingredients you use.
Here’s a little breakdown of what calorie amount you may expect in your tea per 8-ounce cup serving.
- Unsweetened milk chai tea: 30 - 40 calories
- Sweetened milk or black chai tea: 100 - 200 calories
- Instant milk chai tea: 200 calories
- Unsweetened black chai tea: 30 - 50 calories
Caffeine in Chai Tea
On average, the caffeine amount in chai tea ranges from 40 - 60 mg per 8-ounce cup.
Chai Tea Recipe at Home
You can easily prepare an authentic chai tea at your home within just 10 minutes. Below, we’ve listed the ingredients. However, we recommend you use the ingredients that suit your taste preference.
Also, you can adjust the quantity as per your serving size.
Ingredients
For an 8-ounce cup per serving, you’ll need
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup milk (optional)
- 2 black tea bags or 2 teaspoons of loose/ctc black tea
- 3-5 whole cloves
- 1-2 peppercorns
- 1-2 slightly crushed cardamom pods
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1-inch sliced ginger
- 1-2 teaspoons of sugar or honey for sweetness (optional)
Instructions
- Firstly, take your saucepan and keep it in low flame.
- Add 1 cup of water. Then, put in all your preferred spices.
- Once the water starts to boil, put the tea bag, loose leaves, or CTC tea into the saucepan.
- If you want, add the milk and sweetener.
- Now, stir the mixture and let it simmer for 5 - 10 minutes.
- Once the tea boils, you’ll notice a brown color and strong aroma in your brew. That’s the sign your tea is ready.
- Lastly, use a strainer and pour the tea into your cup.
This is one of the traditional ways to brew your chai tea. However, you can also explore various other recipes like a chai latte, dirty iced chai, chai tea martini, chaga chai, and dirty chai to have a flavorful chai experience.
Don’t hesitate to try out these exciting recipes to add new flavors to your tea-drinking experiences.
Chai Tea Flavors
Naturally, you’ll get the main flavor of chai tea from the black tea. But, there are numerous delightful variants of chai tea you can choose from. Each of them offers a distinct and flavorful twist on the classic chai.
Some of the popular blends are lavender chai, chai turmeric, vanilla chai tea, gingerbread oat milk chai, pumpkin chai tea, chai bubble tea, chai green tea, and matcha chai.
For those who are interested in exploring these exciting flavors, you may explore these popular tea brands:
- Rooibos chai tea
- Tiger spice chai
- Oregon chai
- Danfe Tea masala chai
Chai vs Coffee
Although both chai and coffee are caffeinated drinks, they have unique individual tastes.
- Flavor: Chai tea, brewed with black tea and spices, offers a more aromatic and warm flavor. On the other hand, coffee has a bitter, bold, and slightly acidic taste.
- Experience: While chai may provide you with a soothing experience, coffee could give you a more robust sensation, depending on your taste preferences.
- Caffeine: In terms of total caffeine quantity, a cup of chai tea has half the caffeine content than coffee. On average, chai tea has 40 - 60 mg of caffeine, whereas coffee consists of 80 - 100 mg.
FAQs for Chai Tea
What does chai tea taste like?
Chai tea has a very rich, warm, and spicy flavor with a strong aroma of spices. When you add milk and sweeteners to chai tea, you’ll taste a creamy texture.
Does masala chai have caffeine?
Yes, Masala Chai has caffeine ranging from 40 to 60 mg.
Is chai tea safe during pregnancy?
Since chai tea contains caffeine, it might have some effect on women during pregnancy. We advise you to seek professional guidance from their doctor or dietician.
How do you pronounce chai?
Chai is a single-syllable word. You can pronounce it as “chai,” which rhymes with tie, pie, etc.
How much caffeine is in chai tea vs coffee?
In chai tea, caffeine varies from 40 - 60 mg per 8-ounce serving, while coffee has 80 - 100 mg.
Does chai have more caffeine than coffee?
No, chai tea has less caffeine than coffee.
Is chai herbal tea?
No, chai tea is not herbal tea. It is made up of black tea, and it contains caffeine.
Is chai tea gluten free?
Yes, chai tea is gluten-free. However, for people who are intolerant to gluten, we suggest you talk to your doctor or search for certified gluten-free chai products.
How long does it take to steep chai tea?
Usually, you have to steep chai tea for around 5-10 minutes to extract its maximum flavor and caffeine.
Does vanilla chai tea have caffeine?
Yes, vanilla chai tea is also brewed using black tea. So, it has caffeine content from 30 mg to 60 mg.
Is chai black tea?
Yes, traditionally, people make chai with black tea and a combination of spices. In chai, black tea is the main ingredient. However, you could also add milk to your chai if you like.
Conclusion
With its perfect blend of black tea and exotic spices, chai tea brings in rich flavors, health benefits, and a sense of warmth. Whether you prefer traditional chai or vanilla iced chai, this versatile drink could become your new favorite.
For a truly immersive experience of delicious chai, try out our traditional chai tea from Danfe Tea. Each cup offers you an irresistibly aromatic flavor with a blend of spices like cloves, black pepper, and cardamom.
