Chai tea is a common part of life in India, and it is thought to have health benefits derived both from the tea and the spices used to flavor it. It became common in the U.S. in the 1990s, when popular coffee houses such as Starbucks began serving chai tea lattes. You can prepare a chai tea latte using a mix or concentrate at home, or you can brew your own homemade chai.
What is Chai?
Chai, translated literally, simply means "tea" in many languages. In common usage, the word refers to the traditional spiced milk tea prepared in India. There are many variations of traditional Indian chai, but they all include a rich black tea, a mixture of spices, milk and a sweetener. The spices vary by availability and taste preferences, but most chai recipes include cinnamon, black pepper, fennel and cloves. The amount of caffeine in any cup of chai depends on the ratio of tea to other ingredients.
What is a Chai Tea Latte?
Traditionally, the milk is boiled with water for steeping the tea. Spices are added during the steeping time. The sugar or honey is added at the end. To make a chai tea latte, reserve the milk until after the tea and spices are steeped. Sweeten the tea to taste, then add frothed milk and serve.
Caffeine in a Homemade Chai Tea Latte
The amount of caffeine present in a homemade chai tea latte depends on the strength and amount of tea you use. A typical 8 oz. cup of black tea contains anywhere from 40 to 120mg of caffeine. The longer you let the tea steep, the more caffeine will be extracted. A chai tea will contain less caffeine per cup because much of the volume is taken up by the milk. When you drink chai -- either traditionally prepared or as a latte -- you are really only drinking a partial cup of tea.
Caffeine in Chai Mixes
There are many instant chai mixes available. Oregon Chai Vanilla Chai Tea Latte Mix contains between 35 and 55mg of caffeine per serving. Tazo Chai Tea contains 47mg of caffeine per serving.
Caffeine in a Commercially Prepared Chai Tea Latte
For many people, their first introduction to the chai tea latte came at the local coffee house. The caffeine in a commercially prepared chai tea latte will vary. The chai tea latte prepared by Starbucks, the most ubiquitous coffee house in America, contains 100mg of caffeine per 16 oz. cup.
Member Comments