Chai is literally translated as "tea." In common usage, the word refers to a sweetened, spiced milk tea from India. Traditional chai recipes vary by region and even by household. In American homes, chai is usually prepared from a mix or concentrate.
Serving Size
Lipton Chai Tea is sold in boxes of 20 tea bags. Nutrition information is calculated based on a cup of tea made with one tea bag. Brew your tea in a 6-oz. cup or a 12-oz. one and the nutrition information remains the same.
Health Benefits
Lipton Chai Tea contains no calories. According to MayoClinic.com, adults should drink approximately 64 oz of liquid daily to maintain healthy hydration levels. Two cups of chai tea provide one quarter of your daily recommended liquid.
Tea naturally contains flavonoids, which are micronutrients that have been associated with reducing your risk of some diseases.
Ingredients
Lipton Chai Tea contains Assam black tea and a mixture of spices including cinnamon, allspice, black pepper, ginger and cloves. It also contains soy lecithin, a common emulsifier used in processed foods.
Sweeteners And Milk
Unlike traditional chai, Lipton Chai Tea does not contain sweeteners or milk. To prepare a traditional chai, steep a Lipton Chai teabag in boiling water for three to five minutes, depending on how strong you like your tea.
For traditional chai, you would add milk or half and half to the tea to give it its characteristic creaminess. If you are concerned about fat, you can use skim milk. The tea will not be as rich, but it will still give you a close approximation of chai tea.
You can add sugar, honey or artificial sweetener to your tea to give it sweetness and to balance the spices. Sugar and honey are both traditional, but they will add calories to the final beverage. Artificial sweeteners do not add extra calories.
Caffeine
Lipton Chai Tea bags contain 55 mg of caffeine per serving, according to nutrition information published by the company. The actual amount of caffeine present in any cup of Lipton Chai Tea depends upon the brew strength. A moderate amount of caffeine is about 250 mg per day, according to guidelines published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others. If you feel jittery after drinking a cup of chai tea, consider how much caffeine you have had from various sources. Keep in mind that many soft drinks contain large amounts of caffeine. Some over-the-counter medicines such as cold remedies and pain relievers also contain caffeine.
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