Chai Tea Health Benefits
Not only is chai tea delicious, but it also has a slew of health benefits! If you are looking to de-bloat or become a little more regular in the loo, add a cup of chai tea to your daily routine!
Good for digestion- Chai tea spices are a combination of some amazing digestive spices that promote healthy bowels, people!
Cinnamon and ginger are said to calm the stomach while spices like cardamom and allspice have properties that help decrease bloating.
Reduced Caffeine- Yes, black tea does have caffeine, but it has half the amount of caffeine than a cup of black coffee.
If you are looking to cut back on your caffeine intake try black tea instead of coffee! Or? Make yourself a delicious chai tea latte, duh!
Antioxidant-rich Black tea is the base of most chai tea and black tea is antioxidant-rich, which support heart health!
Anti Inflammatory Ginger and cinnamon are two of the main ingredients in our DIY chai spices and both ginger and cinnamon are known for their anti-inflammatory properties!
Why Switch From Coffee To Tea
If you are considering the switch from coffee to chai tea, here is a sum of the reasons why you should take the leap:
What Does A Chai Tea Latte Taste Like
First things first, what exactly is a chai tea latte and what does it taste like? This drink is nothing new, but it seems to have rocketed to fame in the past decade or so. As specialty coffee shops and houses started popping up across the country, the menus got longer to attract customers. There needed to be a way to stand out from the typical donut shop coffee, and specialty coffees and teas were the answer.
If we were to describe what a chai tea latte tastes like, it is a balance of sweet and spicy, not like anything else. It’s also very creamy in terms of texture – again, different from a typical tea.
What is a chai latte made of? Well, this is where it gets its unique spiciness from. There are black tea leaves that are blended with black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. With such an extensive list of aromatic spices, it’s clear to see where the flavor profile comes from. Each person will taste a different top note, but the cardamom tends to be a standout flavor.
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How Does Chai Tea Compare To Coffee
Both tea and coffee are traditional morning drinks with the ability to wake you up. But even a strong cup of chai tea has less caffeine than coffee. A typical cup of black chai tea has around 60 milligrams of caffeine, while eight ounces of coffee has 120.
Tea also gives you more of a steady energy boost than coffee, which kicks in faster but spikes and drops quicker. This spike causes unpleasant side effects like jitters and crashes when the caffeine wears off. Drinking chai tea will make those kinds of side effects less pronounced due to the lower levels of caffeine and the slower way our bodies absorb it.
What Is A Chai Tea Latte
The chai latte is hot, milky, aromatic, and somewhat spicy
and it is popular in cafés all over the world. Despite the fact that it is served at coffee shops and is named after the latte, it contains no coffee.
Chai is one of the oldest tea-based beverages in the world. It began thousands of years ago in India and has spread around the world during the last two centuries. However, one major issue remains: how did a beverage that has been relished in India for thousands of years become so popular on coffee shop menus?
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Chai Latte Recipe Tips
- Using a quality black tea for this recipe is key to making the best flavor of chai.
- Make sure your spices are fresh as older spices may not be as potent and will not shine through in the chai tea.
- Always use filtered water when making tea drinks to make sure the taste is clean and pure.
- Do not steep the ingredients too long as the black tea can give off a bitter taste.
- The amount of sweetness is completely up to you. Feel free to use as little or as much sugar as you like or omit it completely for a sugar-free chai latte.
- If you dont have an immersion blender, try adding the tea and milk to a mason jar with a lid and shake it up until the milk is frothy. Make sure it cools a bit first and be careful opening the lid.
How About A Cold Chai Tea Latte
What if you like the flavor of a chai tea latte but its a stifling hot day and youre craving a cold beverage? The key is to think ahead and brew some chai tea in advance that has had time to chill in the fridge. Typically it’s best to brew it the day before so it has time to chill. It needs at least a couple of hours in the fridge.
A good rule of thumb is to use four tea bags per one quart of water. If that’s too strong or mild, you can adjust to taste. Honey syrup is an easy way to sweeten a cold drink and can be mixed when you pour the tea into the glass. Rather than a warm froth, you can simply add cold milk to the top.
If you’re not a fan of honey syrup, there are others you can try. These include agave nectar, maple syrup, simple syrup, date palm sugar or coconut sugar.
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How Is Chai Latte Different To Coffee
Chai latte is waaay different to coffee. Theyre totally different things. In fact, its easier to count the ways theyre similar:
- Theyre both usually served hot
- Theyre served with milk
- They contain caffeine
- Theyre both served at Starbucks
Thats about it. Chai latte isnt coffee, and it doesnt contain coffee .
Whats The Highest Caffeine Drink At Starbucks
1. Coffee made with Clover grounds. Clover Brewed Coffee is the most potent variety of coffee that can be ordered at Starbucks. To be more specific, the Sumatra Roast, French Roast, and Italian Roast produced by Clover are the most caffeinated coffees, each containing 380 mg of caffeine in a grande cup and an astounding 470 mg of caffeine in a venti cup.
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Can You Take It On
Sometimes when you see a creamy style hot or cold beverage you wonder how practical it is for taking on the go. A chai tea latte is known for that foamy/creamy top, but that shouldnt stop you from making it in a to-go mug and taking it with you. You can save yourself a fair amount of money by making it at home in the morning and taking it with you to work.
Do Chai Tea Lattes Have Caffeine
Yes, but not quite as much as coffee. One chai tea bag contains 30-60 mg of caffeine. But, when using two tea bags as instructed in this recipe, your 16 ounce drink will have 60-120 mg of caffeine.
In comparison, a 16 ounce cup of coffee has about 200 mg of caffeine, so about twice the amount as a chai tea latte.
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Is Chai Tea More Caffeine Than Coffee
When prepared using the powdered form, one cup of chai has anywhere from 25 to 55 milligrams of caffeine, however when prepared using the concentrate, the amount is more likely to be in the range of 30 to 35 milligrams.If you compare that to the about 120 milligrams that are found in an ordinary cup of coffee, it becomes abundantly clear that if you want to have the energy of a bag of beans, you should definitely stick to those coffee beans.
Is There The Difference Between A Chai Latte And A Dirty Chai
Somebody might be wondering what the difference between a chai latte and dirty chai is. A chai latte is a type of tea drink containing cinnamon, cardamon, clove, and ginger. Dirty chai is like a chai latte with the addition of espresso. The addition of coffee to the drink gives it a stronger flavour than a regular chai latte. If you cannot choose which to have, a cup of chai latte or coffee, then dirty chai may be the best option. As a coffee lover myself, this drink is a great invention!
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So How Much Caffeine In Chai Latte
Assuming that you drink regular chai lattes, you can expect 70.5 milligrams of caffeine per 12-ounce cup. Then again, on the off chance that you drink grimy chai lattes, there will be 134.5 milligrams of caffeine in a single shot latte and 198.5 in a double shot messy chai latte.
SEE ALSO: Try our handy caffeine calculator!
Is Caffeine From Chai Latte Keeping You Up
Caffeine is the substance in coffee, tea, and soda that keeps you alert. Thats why its usually consumed when feeling drowsy.
What might not be obvious is how long it takes for your body to metabolize one serving of chai latte. Depending on the ingredients, it could take anywhere from two to six hours to metabolize.
If you want to avoid caffeine keeping you up at night, its best to avoid it at least six hours before bedtime. If you want it completely out of your system, ten hours is ideal.
People tend to switch from regular to decaffeinated coffees as they grow older.
But other things can keep you from getting a good nights sleep, like drinking caffeine too close to bedtime. If youve tried putting a reasonable amount of time between your last cup of chai latte and when you go to bed but are still struggling, it might be time to look for other culprits.
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Is 95 Mg Of Caffeine A Lot
In a typical cup of coffee, you may anticipate consuming something in the neighborhood of 95 milligrams of caffeine. However, the quantity of caffeine in a cup of coffee can range from absolutely nothing to well over 500 mg depending on the type of coffee drink. This is a comprehensive guide on the amount of caffeine that may be found in various kinds and brands of coffee.
Is There Caffeine In A Chai Latte
Many latte lovers might wonder there is there caffeine in a chai latte? And how much does it contain? Let me help you out!
chai latte
Chai has many benefits and is an excellent substitute for coffee, but it does not give you as much caffeine. Chai latte is one of the tastest things globally it is full of flavor in a package. Primarily, Chai can improve your clarity and alert your mind for longer and better than even coffee or tea. Some people might think that the latter is related to coffee, and some are confused. Hence, I will make it all clear now about is there caffeine in a chai latte!
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Is Chai Latte Healthy
Black tea is rich in polyphenols and other bioactive compounds with health-promoting benefits. This beverage may protect against cardiovascular disease, improve blood lipids and facilitate weight loss by inhibiting the absorption of sugar and fats. Additionally, black tea polyphenols may help lower the risk of stroke, kill cancer cells and improve insulin response, according to a review published in the May-June 2019 edition of the International Journal of Health Sciences.
The spices in chai latte may have beneficial effects, as well. Cinnamon, saffron, ginger and cardamom, for example, may significantly improve cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Ginger may help relieve nausea and vomiting, while black pepper exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and gastro-protective effects.
All in all, masala chai can be consumed as part of a balanced diet. Make this beverage at home to reap its benefits. Chai tea latte concentrates are often packed with sugar and other additives, so you don’t really know what’s in your cup.
A Cup Of Tea Tea Anyone
Masala Chai literally translates to “Spiced Tea,” with “Chai” as the word for tea and “Masala” referring to any number of traditional Indian spice mixes that generally contain spices like cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, black pepper, and other similar spices . Masala Chai is a combination of this Masala spice mix and Indian black tea, traditionally Assam, though some recipes use Ceylon Orange Pekoe instead.
Referring to Masala Chai as chai tea is a redundant habit that Western tea drinkers have developed due a lot of complicated linguistic and political history. But the gist is that somewhere along the line in late-colonial and post-colonial India, the word “chai” became synonymous for English-speakers with spiced black tea served sweet with warmed milk, instead of the entire phrase: “Masala Chai”. Decades later, Merriam-Webster has officially defined chai in the English language as “a beverage that is a blend of black tea, honey, spices, and milk.” In an effort to avoid confusion and appease the search engines, we will use it that way.
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Tannins May Promote Heart Health
Tannins pack a punch because they contain procyanidins and flavonoids, properties known to work wonders for heart health. Procyanidins are polyphenols that improve blood circulation and blood vessel function, which may prevent heart disease and offer benefits for varicose veins. The flavonoids prevent the production of peptides in the body which affect blood circulation and harden the arteries.
How Much Caffeine Is In A Cup Of Chai
There are 5 milligrams of caffeine in an 8-ounce cup of chai, but there are 95 milligrams in an 8-ounce cup of coffee.There are 70 mg in a single shot of espresso.When compared to chai, coffee has around twice as much caffeine as its counterpart.
And the difference in the quantity of caffeine that is found in caffeinated coffee vs caffeinated tea is much greater: 10 times as much caffeine may be found in coffee.
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Skinny Chai Tea Latte
Starbucks used to have a lightly sweet chai tea latte. However, they no longer carry the less sweet chai concentrate.
This means its not possible to get a skinny chai at Starbucks made from their delicious tea concentrate.
But you can substitute the standard 2% milk for non-fat milk or an alternative such as almond, oat or soy.
And if you can wait a few minutes, your barista can make a skinny chai tea latte by brewing Teavana chai tea bags and adding a steamed non-fat milk or milk of your choice.
Caffeine In Chai Tea Vs Coffee Comparison Chart
| Drink | |
|---|---|
| N/A | N/A |
So, as you can see, the amount of caffeine in a chai latte pales in comparison to what youd get from the equivalent amount of coffee from a drip coffee maker or an espresso made on a super automatic espresso machine.
Of course, what that statement doesnt take into consideration are human habits. Yes, some people drink caffeinated drinks purely for the jolt of energy it gives them. Though, many, if not most, people like the ritual and comfort of sipping on a beverage for a good while.
Thats what sucks us into ordering extraordinarily large sizes of our favorite drinks. In turn, we take in more caffeine than our bodies can handle and end up with negative results. Caffeine, for example, can cause the lower part of your esophagus to relax, thus triggering acid reflux.
For more information on caffeine, check out my caffeine study.
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Chai Latte Vs Dirty Chai
The critical difference between both refreshments is the use of coffee in the drinks. While the former drink contains not even a single drop of coffee, the dirty chai latte has a generous serving of espresso.
Aside from that, chai latte might appeal better to tea connoisseurs due to its dominant tea flavour. Likewise, dirty chai would be a better fit for coffee enthusiasts because of its dominant coffee flavour.
However, we highly recommend Red Eye Chai even if you dislike coffee because the beverage isn’t all that bitter. In addition, it has a burst of varying flavours that might make the regular chai beverage seem bland or even dull.
Serving Size In India Vs The West
In India, masala chai is generally served in four ounce cups. However, in the west, our habit is to oversize pretty much everything. A tall small chai latte at Starbucks is 12 ounces, the equivalent of three servings in India.
That said, a chai latte at Starbucks has roughly six milligrams of caffeine per ounce. Lets look at the caffeine contents for Starbucks chai latte in chart form for comparison. Ill throw in some information on espresso and a standard cup of coffee to help put this in context.
Keep in mind that 400 milligrams of caffeine is the recommended maximum per person per day.
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